Fortunately for the preservation of my reason, at
that instant the moon, gleaming from behind a cloud, revealed a long
ladder planted against Mr. Maitland's dressing-room window.
In a moment I recovered my self-possession.
"Stay still--I am going to leave you for a short time," I whispered.
Irene clung to me with both hands, and expressed a fear that the
outraged spirits would tear us in pieces if we moved.
"Bother the spirits!" I replied, in a gruff whisper. "I swear it will be
the worse for you if you make a fuss now!"
She sobbed and wrung her hands, but the time was past for that to have
any effect upon me, and, disengaging myself from her grasp, I crept
away, hiding as well as I could behind the scattered ruins.
In this manner I contrived almost to reach the foot of the ladder
without being discovered. I had a strange fancy for capturing the thief
single-handed and monopolising all the glory of saving the famous
diamonds. Waiting patiently until he had just reached the window, I
rushed forward and seized the ladder.
"It's no use resisting," I shouted; "if you don't give up quietly, I'll
shake."
At this point a second figure stepped out from behind a laurel bush and
effectually silenced any further threats by dealing me a heavy blow on
the head.
* * * * *
For days I lay insensible from concussion of the brain.
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