第26章

but，asitdrewontowardnoon，Ilostmypatience。Tosaythetruth，Ihadpromisedmyselftobreakmyfastinthepavilion，andhungerbegantoprickmesharply。Itwasapitytolettheopportunitygobywithoutsomecauseformirth；butthegrosserappetiteprevailed，andIrelinquishedmyjestwithregret，andsalliedfromthewood。

Theappearanceofthehouseaffectedme，asIdrewnear；withdisquietude。Itseemedunchangedsincelastevening；andIhadexpectedit，Iscarceknewwhy，towearsomeexternalsignsofhabitation。Butno:thewindowswereallcloselyshuttered，thechimneysbreathednosmoke，andthefrontdooritselfwascloselypadlocked。Northmour，therefore，hadenteredbytheback；thiswasthenatural，andindeed，thenecessaryconclusion；andyoumayjudgeofmysurprisewhen，onturningthehouse，Ifoundthebackdoorsimilarlysecured。

Mymindatoncerevertedtotheoriginaltheoryofthieves；andI

blamedmyselfsharplyformylastnight’sinaction。Iexaminedallthewindowsonthelowerstory，butnoneofthemhadbeentamperedwith；Itriedthepadlocks，buttheywerebothsecure。Itthusbecameaproblemhowthethieves，ifthievestheywere，hadmanagedtoenterthehouse。Theymusthavegot，Ireasoned，upontheroofoftheouthousewhereNorthmourusedtokeephisphotographicbattery；andfromthence，eitherbythewindowofthestudyorthatofmyoldbedroom，completedtheirburglariousentry。

IfollowedwhatIsupposedwastheirexample；and，gettingontheroof，triedtheshuttersofeachroom。Bothweresecure；butIwasnottobebeaten；and，withalittleforce，oneofthemflewopen，grazing，asitdidso，thebackofmyhand。Iremember，Iputthewoundtomymouth，andstoodforperhapshalfaminutelickingitlikeadog，andmechanicallygazingbehindmeoverthewastelinksandthesea；and，inthatspaceoftime，myeyemadenoteofalargeschooneryachtsomemilestothenorth-east。ThenIthrewupthewindowandclimbedin。

Iwentoverthehouse，andnothingcanexpressmymystification。

Therewasnosignofdisorder，but，onthecontrary，theroomswereunusuallycleanandpleasant。Ifoundfireslaid，readyforlighting；threebedroomspreparedwithaluxuryquiteforeigntoNorthmour’shabits，andwithwaterintheewersandthebedsturneddown；atablesetforthreeinthedining-room；andanamplesupplyofcoldmeats，game，andvegetablesonthepantryshelves。Therewereguestsexpected，thatwasplain；butwhyguests，whenNorthmourhatedsociety？And，aboveall，whywasthehousethusstealthilypreparedatdeadofnight？andwhyweretheshuttersclosedandthedoorspadlocked？

Ieffacedalltracesofmyvisit，andcameforthfromthewindowfeelingsoberedandconcerned。

Theschooneryachtwasstillinthesameplace；anditflashedforamomentthroughmymindthatthismightbetheRedEarlbringingtheownerofthepavilionandhisguests。Butthevessel’sheadwassettheotherway。

II

Ireturnedtothedentocookmyselfameal，ofwhichIstoodingreatneed，aswellastocareformyhorse，whomIhadsomewhatneglectedinthemorning。FromtimetotimeIwentdowntotheedgeofthewood；buttherewasnochangeinthepavilion，andnotahumancreaturewasseenalldayuponthelinks。Theschoonerintheoffingwastheonetouchoflifewithinmyrangeofvision。

She，apparentlywithnosetobject，stoodoffandonorlayto，hourafterhour；butastheeveningdeepened，shedrewsteadilynearer。IbecamemoreconvincedthatshecarriedNorthmourandhisfriends，andthattheywouldprobablycomeashoreafterdark；notonlybecausethatwasofapiecewiththesecrecyofthepreparations，butbecausethetidewouldnothaveflowedsufficientlybeforeeleventocoverGradenFloeandtheotherseaquagsthatfortifiedtheshoreagainstinvaders。

Alldaythewindhadbeengoingdown，andtheseaalongwithit；

buttherewasareturntowardssunsetoftheheavyweatherofthedaybefore。Thenightsetinpitchdark。Thewindcameofftheseainsqualls，likethefiringofabatteryofcannon；nowandthentherewasaflawofrain，andthesurfrolledheavierwiththerisingtide。Iwasdownatmyobservatoryamongtheelders，whenalightwas

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