Keep them from the bed! Say that her eyes are weak and cannot bear the light." He slipped behind the curtain into the embrasure, picturing to himself the disposition of the room, lest he should have left behind a trifle to betray him.

He had in a supreme degree that gift of recollection which takes the form of a mental vision.

He did not have to count over the details of the room; he summoned a picture of it to his mind, and saw it and its contents from corner to corner.

And thus while the footsteps yet sounded on the stair, he saw Clementina's bundle lying forgotten on a couch.

He darted from his hiding-place, seized it, and ran back.