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betraying him。
Through the gap thus made he thrust his arm and made sure there were
no alarms fitted and no obstacles in the way of his easy entrance。
Cautiously he unfastened the window and cautiously and silently
lifted the sash； and when he had done so he paused and listened for
a space to make sure no one was stirring and that no alarm had been
caused within the house。
Still very cautiously and with the utmost precaution to avoid making
even the least noise； he put one knee upon the window…sill；
preparatory to climbing in； and as he did so Dunn touched him lightly
on the shoulder。
〃Well； my man； what are you up to？〃 he said softly。 And without a
word； without giving the least warning； the burglar； a man evidently
of determination and resource； swung round and aimed at Dunn's head
a tremendous blow with the heavy iron jemmy he held in his right
hand。
But Dunn was not unprepared for an attack and those bright； keen
eyes of his seemed able to see as well in the dark as in the light。
He threw up his left hand and caught the other's wrist before that
deadly blow he aimed could descend and at the same instant he
dashed his own clenched fist full into the burglar's face。
As it happened； more by good luck than intended aim； the blow took
him on the point of the chin。 He dropped instantly； collapsing in
on himself as falls a pole…axed bullock； and lay； unconscious； in a
crumpled heap on the ground。
For a little Dunn waited； crouching above him and listening for the
least sound to show that their brief scuffle had been heard。
But it had all passed nearly as silently as quickly。 Within the
house everything remained silent； there was no sound audible； no
gleam of light to show that any of the inmates had been disturbed。
Taking from his pocket a small electric flash…lamp Dunn turned its
light on his victim。
He seemed a man of middle age with a brutal； heavy…jawed face and a
low； receding forehead。 His lips； a little apart； showed yellow；
irregular teeth； of which two at the front of the lower jaw had been
broken； and the scar of an old wound； running from the corner of his
left eye down to the centre of his cheek； added to the sinister and
forbidding aspect he bore。
His build was heavy and powerful and near by； where he had dropped
it when he fell； lay the jemmy with which he had struck at Dunn。
It was a heavy； ugly…looking thing； about two feet in length and
with one end nearly as sharp as that of a chisel。
Dunn picked it up and felt it thoughtfully。
〃Just as well I got my blow in first；〃 he mused。 〃If he had landed
that fairly on my skull I don't think anything else in this world
would ever have interested me any more。〃
Stooping over the unconscious man； he felt in his pockets and found
an ugly…looking revolver； fully loaded； a handful of cartridges； a
coil of thin rope； an electric torch； a tiny dark lantern no bigger
than a match…box； and so arranged that the single drop of light it
permitted to escape fell on one spot only； a bunch of
curiously…shaped wires Dunn rightly guessed to be skeleton keys
used for opening locks quietly； together with some tobacco； a pipe；
a little money； and a few other personal belongings of no special
interest or significance。
These Dunn replaced where he had found them； but the revolver； the
rope； the torch； the dark lantern； and the bunch of wires he took
possession of。
He noticed also that the man was wearing rubber…soled boots and
rubber gloves； and these last he also kept。 Stooping； he lifted the
unconscious man on to his shoulder and carried him with perfect ease
and at a quick pace out of the garden and across the road to the
common opposite； where； in a convenient spot； behind some furze
bushes； he laid him down。
〃When he comes round；〃 Dunn muttered。 〃He won't know where he is
or what's happened； and probably his one idea will be to clear off
as quickly as possible。 I don't suppose he'll interfere with me at
all。〃
Then a new idea seemed to strike him； and he hurriedly removed his
own coat and trousers and boots and exchanged them for those the
burglar was wearing。
They were not a good fit； but he could get them on and the idea in
his mind was that if the police of the district began searching； as
very likely they would； for Mr。 John Clive's assailant； and if they
had discovered any clues in the shape of footprints or torn bits of
clothing or buttons … and Dunn knew his attire had suffered
considerably during the struggle … then it would be as well that
such clues should lead not to him； but to this other man； who； if
he were innocent on that score； had at any rate been guilty of
attempting to carry out a much worse offence。
〃I'm afraid your luck's out； old chap；〃 Dunn muttered； apostrophizing
the unconscious man。 〃But you did your best to brain me； and that
gives me a sort of right to make you useful。 Besides； if the police
do run you in； it won't mean anything worse than a few questions it'll
be your own fault if you can't answer。 Anyhow； I can't afford to run
the risk of some blundering fool of a policeman trying to arrest me
for assaulting the local magnate。〃
Much relieved in mind； for he had been greatly worried by a fear that
this encounter with John Clive might lead to highly inconvenient legal
proceedings； he left the unlucky burglar lying in the shelter of the
furze bushes and returned to the house。
All was as he had left it； the open window gaped widely； almost
inviting entrance； and he climbed silently within。 The apartment
in which he found himself was apparently the drawing…room and he
felt his way cautiously and slowly across it； moving with infinite
care so as to avoid making even the least noise。
Reaching the door； he opened it and went out into the hall。 All
was dark and silent。 He permitted himself here to flash on his
electric torch for a moment； and he saw that the hall was spacious
and used as a lounge； for there were several chairs clustered in
its centre； opposite the fireplace。 There were two or three doors
opening from it； and almost opposite where he stood were the stairs；
a broad flight leading to a wide landing above。
Still with the same extreme silence and care； he began to ascend
these stairs and when he was about half…way up he became aware of
a faint and strange sound that came trembling through the silence
and stillness of the night。
What it was he could not imagine。 He listened for a time and then
resumed his silent progress with even more care than previously；
and only when he reached the landing did he understand that this
faint and low sound he heard was caused by a woman weeping very
softly in one of the rooms near by。
Silently he crossed the landing in the direction whence the sound
seemed to come。 Now； too； he saw a thread of light showing beneath
a door at a little distance； and when he crept up to it and listened
he could hear for certain that it was from within this room that
there came the sound of muffled； passionate weeping。
The door was closed； but he turned the handle so carefully that he
made not the least sound and very cautiously he began to push the
door back； th