"I see! How did she get hold of it ?" "By accident.

When Wrent--I mean Clyne--and Mrs.Bensusan went to bed on Christmas Eve, Rhoda thought she would have some of her devil dances in the haunted house; so she slipped out of bed and into the yard, and dropped down into the cellar, whence she went up to Clear's rooms." "Was Clear in bed ?" "No; but he was in his bedroom, and, according to Rhoda, furiously drunk.

You know that Clyne said the man had been drinking all day.

On this night he had left his sitting-room door open, and the lamp burning.
On the table was the silver-handled stiletto, with the ribbon; and when Rhoda peered into the room to see what she could pick up, she thought she would like this pretty toy.

She stole forward softly and took the stiletto, but before she could get back to the door, Clear, who had been watching her, reeled out and rushed at her." "Did she run away ?" "She couldn't.