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imagination in your fancy；' she said。
He still contemplated the clock。
'Then； again； the general finish of the face has a great effect upon
the eye。 This old…fashioned brass…faced one we have here； with its
arched top； half…moon slit for the day of the month； and ship
rocking at the upper part； impresses me with the notion of its being
an old cynic； elevating his brows； whose thoughts can be seen
wavering between good and evil。'
A thought now enlightened her： the clock was behind her； and he
wanted to get her back turned。 She dreaded turning； yet； not to
excite his suspicion； she was on her guard； she quickly looked
behind her at the clock as he spoke； recovering her old position
again instantly。 The time had not been long enough for any action
whatever on his part。
'Ah；' he casually remarked； and at the same minute began to pour her
out a glass of wine。 'Speaking of the clock has reminded me that it
must nearly want winding up。 Remember that it is wound to…night。
Suppose you do it at once； my dear。'
There was no possible way of evading the act。 She resolutely turned
to perform the operation： anything was better than that he should
suspect her。 It was an old…fashioned eight…day clock； of
workmanship suited to the rest of the antique furniture that Manston
had collected there； and ground heavily during winding。
Anne had given up all idea of being able to watch him during the
interval； and the noise of the wheels prevented her learning
anything by her ears。 But； as she wound； she caught sight of his
shadow on the wall at her right hand。
What was he doing？ He was in the very act of pouring something into
her glass of wine。
He had completed the manoeuvre before she had done winding。 She
methodically closed the clock…case and turned round again。 When she
faced him he was sitting in his chair as before she had risen。
In a familiar scene which has hitherto been pleasant it is difficult
to realize that an added condition； which does not alter its aspect；
can have made it terrible。 The woman thought that his action must
have been prompted by no other intent than that of poisoning her；
and yet she could not instantly put on a fear of her position。
And before she had grasped these consequences； another supposition
served to make her regard the first as unlikely； if not absurd。 It
was the act of a madman to take her life in a manner so easy of
discovery； unless there were far more reason for the crime than any
that Manston could possibly have。
Was it not merely his intention； in tampering with her wine； to make
her sleep soundly that night？ This was in harmony with her original
suspicion； that he intended secretly to abscond。 At any rate； he
was going to set about some stealthy proceeding； as to which she was
to be kept in utter darkness。 The difficulty now was to avoid
drinking the wine。
By means of one pretext and another she put off taking her glass for
nearly five minutes； but he eyed her too frequently to allow her to
throw the potion under the grate。 It became necessary to take one
sip。 This she did； and found an opportunity of absorbing it in her
handkerchief。
Plainly he had no idea of her countermoves。 The scheme seemed to
him in proper train； and he turned to poke out the fire。 She
instantly seized the glass； and poured its contents down her bosom。
When he faced round again she was holding the glass to her lips；
empty。
In due course he locked the doors and saw that the shutters were
fastened。 She attended to a few closing details of housewifery； and
a few minutes later they retired for the night。
5。 FROM ELEVEN O'CLOCK TO MIDNIGHT
When Manston was persuaded； by the feigned heaviness of her
breathing； that Anne Seaway was asleep； he softly arose； and dressed
himself in the gloom。 With ears strained to their utmost she heard
him complete this operation； then he took something from his pocket；
put it in the drawer of the dressing…table； went to the door； and
down the stairs。 She glided out of bed and looked in the drawer。
He had only restored to its place a small phial she had seen there
before。 It was labelled 'Battley's Solution of Opium。' She felt
relieved that her life had not been attempted。 That was to have
been her sleeping…draught。 No time was to be lost if she meant to
be a match for him。 She followed him in her nightdress。 When she
reached the foot of the staircase he was in the office and had
closed the door； under which a faint gleam showed that he had
obtained a light。 She crept to the door； but could not venture to
open it； however slightly。 Placing her ear to the panel； she could
hear him tearing up papers of some sort； and a brighter and
quivering ray of light coming from the threshold an instant later；
implied that he was burning them。 By the slight noise of his
footsteps on the uncarpeted floor； she at length imagined that he
was approaching the door。 She flitted upstairs again and crept into
bed。
Manston returned to the bedroom close upon her heels； and entered
itagain without a light。 Standing motionless for an instant to
assure himself that she still slept； he went to the drawer in which
their ready…money was kept； and removed the casket that contained
it。 Anne's ear distinctly caught the rustle of notes； and the chink
of the gold as he handled it。 Some he placed in his pocket； some he
returned to its place。 He stood thinking； as it were weighing a
possibility。 While lingering thus； he noticed the reflected image
of his own face in the glasspale and spectre…like in its
indistinctness。 The sight seemed to be the feather which turned the
balance of indecision： he drew a heavy breath； retired from the
room； and passed downstairs。 She heard him unbar the back…door； and
go out into the yard。
Feeling safe in a conclusion that he did not intend to return to the
bedroom again； she arose； and hastily dressed herself。 On going to
the door of the apartment she found that he had locked it behind
him。 'A precautionit can be no more；' she muttered。 Yet she was
all the more perplexed and excited on this account。 Had he been
going to leave home immediately； he would scarcely have taken the
trouble to lock her in； holding the belief that she was in a drugged
sleep。 The lock shot into a mortice； so that there was no
possibility of her pushing back the bolt。 How should she follow
him？ Easily。 An inner closet opened from the bedroom： it was
large； and had some time heretofore been used as a dressing or bath
room； but had been found inconvenient from having no other outlet to
the landing。 The window of this little room looked out upon the
roof of the porch； which was flat and covered with lead。 Anne took
a pillow from the bed； gently opened the casement of the inner room
and stepped forth on the flat。 There； leaning over the edge of the
small parapet that ornamented the porch； she dropped the pillow upon
the gravel path； and let herself down over the parapet by her hands
till her toes swung about two feet from the ground。 From this
position she adroitly alighted upon the pillow； and stood in the
path。
Since she had come indoors from her walk in the early part of the
evening the moon had risen。 But the thick clouds overspreading the
whole landscape rendered the dim light pervasive and grey： it
appeared as an attribute of the air。 Anne crept round to the back
of the house； listening intently。 The steward had had at least ten
minutes' start of her。 She had waited here whilst one might count
fifty； when she heard a movement in the outhousea fragment once
attached to the main building。 This outhouse was partitioned into
an outer and an inner room； which had been a kitchen and a scullery
before the connecting erections were pulled down； but they were now
used respectively as a brewhouse and workshop； the only means of
access to the latter being through the brewhouse。 The outer door of
this first apartment was usually fastened by a padlock on the
exterior。 It was now closed； but not fastened。 Manston was
evidently in the outhouse。
She slightly moved the door。 The interior of the brewhouse was
wrapped in gloom； but a streak of light fell towards her in a line
across the floor from the inner or workshop door； which was not
quite closed。 This light was unexpected； none having been visible
through hole or crevice。 Glancing in； the woman found that he had
placed cloths and mats at the various apertures； and hung a sack at
the window to prevent the egress of a single ray。 She could also
perceive from where she stood that the bar of light fell across the
brewing…copper just outside the inner door； and that upon it lay the
key of her bedroom。 The illuminated interior of the workshop was
also partly visible from her position through the two half…open
doors。 Manston was engaged in emptying a large cupboard of the
tools； gallipots； and old iron it contained。 When it was quite
cleared he took a chisel； and with it began to withdraw the hooks
and shoulder…nails holding the cupboard to the wall。 All these
being loosened； he extended his arms； lifted the cupboard bodily
from the brackets under it； and deposit