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And at clock…like intervals a harmless but dirty idiot； who was allowed to roam the ward； came and chanted through the keyhole； 〃Everything is nothing； and nothing is everything。〃
This was the only observation he had made for many years。
His ears assailed with horrors； of which you have literally no conception； or shadow of a conception； his nose poisoned with ammoniacal vapours； and the peculiar wild…beast smell that marks the true maniac； Alfred ran wildly about his cell trying to stop his ears； and trembling for his own reason。 When the fearful night rolled away； and morning broke； and he could stand on his truckle…bed and see the sweet hoar…frost on a square yard of grass level with his prison bars； it refreshed his very soul； and affected him almost to tears。 He was then； to his surprise； taken out； and allowed to have a warm bath and to breakfast with David and the rest； but I suspect it was done to watch the effect of the trial he had been submitted to。 After breakfast； having now no place to go； he lay on a bench； and there exhausted nature overpowered him； and he fell fast asleep。
Mrs。 Archbold came by on purpose； and saw him。 He looked very pale and peaceful。 There was a cut on his forehead due to Rooke's knuckles。 Mrs。 Archbold looked down； and the young figure and haughty face seemed so unresisting and peaceful sad； she half relented； and shed some bitter tears。 That did not； however； prevent her setting her female spies to watch him more closely than ever。
He awoke cold but refreshed； and found little Beverley standing by him with wet eyes。 Alfred smiled and held out his hand like a captive monarch to his faithful vassal。 〃They shan't put you in the noisy ward again；〃 sobbed Frank。 〃This is your last night here。〃
〃Hy； Frank； you rascal； my boots！〃 roared Rooke from an open window。
〃Coming； sircoming！〃
Alfred's next visitor was the Robin。 He came whispering； 〃It is all right with Garrett； sir； and he has got a key of the back gate； but you must get back to your old room； or we can't work。〃
〃Would to Heaven I could； Robin； another night or two in the noisy ward will drive me mad； I think。〃
〃Well； sir； I'll tell you what you do： which we all have to do it at odd times： hold a candle to the devil： here she comes： I think she is everywhere all at one time。〃 The Robin then sauntered away； affecting nonchalance： and Alfred proceeded to hold the candle as directed。 〃Mrs。 Archbold；〃 said he timidly rising from his seat at her approach。
〃Sir；〃 said she haughtily； and affecting surprise。
〃I have a favour to ask you； madam。 Would you be so kind as to let me go back to my room？〃
〃What； you have found I am not so powerless as you thought！〃
〃I find myself so weak； and you so powerful thatyou can afford to be generous。〃
〃I have no more power over you than you have over me。〃
〃I wish it was so。〃
〃I'll prove it；〃 said she。 〃Who has got the key of your room？ Hayes？〃 She whistled； and sent for him； and gave him the requisite order before Alfred。 Alfred thanked her warmly。
She smiled； and went away disposed to change her tactics； and； having shown him how she could torment； try soothing means； and open his heart by gratitude。
But presently looking out of her window she saw the Robin and him together； and somehow they seemed to her subtle； observant eyes； to be plotting。 The very suspicion was fatal to that officer。 His discharge was determined on。 Meantime she set her spies to watch him； and tell her if they saw or heard anything。
Now Mrs。 Archbold was going out to tea that evening； and； as soon as ever this transpired； the keepers secretly invited the keeperesses to a party in the first…class patients drawing…room。 This was a rare opportunity； and the Robin and Garrett put their heads together accordingly。
In the dusk of the evening the Robin took an opportunity and slipped a new key of the back gate into Alfred's hand； and told him 〃the trick was to be done that very night：〃 he was to get Thompson to go to bed early； and； instead of taking off his clothes； was to wait in readiness。 〃We have been plying Hayes already； 〃 said the Robin； 〃and； as soon as _she_ is off； we shall hocuss him； and get the key； and； while they are all larking in the drawing…room； off you go to Merrimashee。〃
〃Oh； you dear Robin！ You have taken my breath away。 But how about Vulcan？〃
〃Oh； we know how to make him amiable： a dog…fancier； a friend of mine； has provided the ondeniable where dogs is concerned： whereby Garrett draws the varmint into the scullery； and shuts him in； while I get the key from the other。 _It's_ all right。〃
〃Ah； Robin；〃 said Alfred； 〃it sounds too good to be true。 What？ this my last day here！〃
The minutes seemed to creep very slowly till eight o'clock came。 Then he easily persuaded David to go to bed； Hayes went up and unlocked the door for them： it closed with a catch…lock。 Hayes was drunk； but full of discipline； and insisted on the patients putting out their clothes； so Alfred made up a bundle from his portmanteau； and threw it out。 Hayes eyed it suspiciously； but was afraid to stoop and inspect it closer： for his drunken instinct told him he would pitch on his head that moment： so he retired grumbling and dangling his key。
At the end of the corridor he met Mrs。 Archbold full dressed； and with a candle in her hand。 She held the candle up and inspected him； and a little conversation followed that sobered Mr。 Hayes for a minute or two。
Mrs。 Archbold was no sooner gone to her little tea…party than all the first…class ladies and gentlemen were sent to bed to get a good sleep for the good of their health； and the keepers and keeperesses took their place and romped； and made such a row； sleep was not easy within hearing of them。 They sat on the piano； they sang songs to a drum accompaniment played on the table； they danced； drank； flirted； and enjoyed themselves like schoolboys。 Hayes alone was gloomy and morose： so the Robin and Garrett consoled him； drank with him； and soothed him with the balm of insensibility： in which condition they removed him under charitable pretences； and searched his pockets in the passage for the key of Alfred's room。
To their infinite surprise and disappointment it was not upon him。
The fact is； Mrs。 Archbold had snatched it from him in her wrath； and put it in her own pocket。 How far her suspicions went； how much her spies had discovered； I really don't know； but somehow or other she was uneasy in her mind； and； seeing Hayes in such a state； she would not trust him during her absence； but took the key away with her。
The Robin and Garrett knew nothing of this； and were all abroad； but they thought Rooke must have the key； so they proceeded to drink with him； and were just about to administer a really effective soporific in his grog； when they and all the merry party were suddenly startled by violent ringing at the bell； and thundering and halloaing at the hall door。 The men jumped to their feet and balanced themselves； and looked half wild； half stupid。 The women sat； and began to scream： for they had heard a word that has terrors for us all： peculiar terrors for them。
This alarm was due to a personage hitherto undervalued in the