Now, on this wall, reflecting the firelight and the open door behind me, hung a small Venetian mirror, which I had bought from a number of such toys brought in by the Southampton, and had given to Mistress Percy.

My eyes rested upon it, idly at first, then closely enough as I saw within it a man enter the room.

I had heard no footfall; there was no noise now behind me.

The fire was somewhat sunken, and the room was almost in darkness; I saw him in the glass dimly, as shadow rather than substance.

But the light was not so faint that the mirror could not show me the raised hand and the dagger within its grasp.