The night was so dark and so still that, for a moment, I thought the windows were shuttered, and was stupidly astonished to find the timbers gone: and, when I looked out, I might have been gazing into a bottomless pit. However, I took my seat in the middle embrasure and, cupping my chin in my palm, stared resolutely into the darkness, with my ears pricked to gather the faintest sound. But all I could hear was the regular lap of the water against the face of the cliff.
It had all along been in my mind that Mansel and Hanbury would cross: and, when, but a short five minutes after the former had left, the bell from the shoot announced the latter’s return, I was less surprised than provoked by this well-worn trick of Fortune: for there was Mansel gone out on a sleeveless errand into the midst of some danger he could not read, and that at a time when the last thing we needed to do was to play the spy and everything was to be gained by lying close below ground.
However, the milk was spilt: and, since to tread water is a laborious exercise, I lost no time in setting aside the flap and letting the ladder down.
It was immediately clear that George was very near spent, for, when I called to him he had not the breath to answer and when at last he was fairly upon the ladder, he hung there, panting, like a dog on a sultry day. I asked if I should come down, but he took no notice, and, after a little while, he began to ascend. I was alarmed by his demeanour, which was that of the survivor of some catastrophe, and, squatting down at the head of the ladder, reached out my hands to help him out of the shoot.
Now, I had intended to set my hands under his arms, but the moment I touched him he threw an arm round my neck. To save myself from falling I instinctively flung myself back and, since in that instant he heaved, the two of us fell down together on to the flags.
“Thanks very much,” said Rose Noble.
Then I felt the mouth of a pistol pressed tight against my throat.
I can never describe the disgust and the horror I felt: but the brain is a curious member, and, as I lay there on the pavement, with the bulk of his body upon me, I could not help thinking that Rose Noble’s ascent of the shoot was a remarkable feat for a man of his corpulent habit, and wondering how he had made it without the support of an oath.
He was lightly clad, but the clothes he was wearing were drenched; and the absurd conceit that I was in the clutches of some aquatic monster was most repugnant. Nevertheless, I had the sense to lie still: and, after a little, Rose Noble got to his knees.
For a moment he fumbled: then the bright eye of a torch illumined the chamber.
At this my heart leaped up, for, had he desired to apprise Mansel of his entry, he could not have found a surer or swifter way; for all the three windows were open, and their sudden radiance was bound to publish my plight.
Rose Noble got to his feet and bade me do the same. I was glad to obey. Then he stepped back and looked about him.
“So,” he said, after a while. Then he leaned forward and spoke down the shoot. “Bunch.”
“Hullo,” said Bunch from below.
“You saw me ring that bell?”
“Yes,” said Bunch.
“Fetch Ellis and Job over here. When you’re back, ring three times.”
“Right-o.”
Rose Noble straightened his back.
“Pull up that ladder,” he said.
“Not on your life,” said I. “You’ve come to the wrong house.”
I could hardly see him, for the light was full in my face: but I felt his eyes upon mine.
At length he took a deep breath.
Then:
“Stand back,” he said, thickly.
I did so, folding my arms.
At once he straddled the shoot, and, putting the torch in his teeth, with his free hand felt for the ladder and pulled it up. Then he picked up the flap and sank this into its place.
This show of strength surprised me, for the flap was very heavy, and I would never have believed that a man so fat and flabby could have made light of such a task.
Rose Noble took the torch from his mouth and leaned his back against the wall.
“When Ellis comes,” said he, “I shall ask you to show us around. I like to think that you will grant that request.” I said nothing, and after a moment he continued slowly enough. “Nobody likes getting stuck: but, when he’s stuck good and proper, the wise guy swallows his dose. And now, listen to me, you young fool. I’ve taken possession here, and here I stay: so long as I stay, Mansel will remain outside: he’s very welcome to get up that drain—if he can; but, short of the ladder, I don’t believe he’ll try. If he wants the well, he can have it: but I rather fancy he’ll be thinking more about you—they say blood’s thicker than water … Well, he’s welcome to think. If he asks me, I haven’t seen you: I found the ladder waiting and came right up.”
“D’you think he’ll believe you?” said I.
“Why not?” said Rose Noble.
I had no answer to make, for, as I spoke, I saw the force of his words. Here truth was stranger than fiction: and Mansel would never believe that I had handed him in.
“And so,” said Rose Noble quietly, “I guess we can count Mansel out.”
“Don’t you believe it,” said I. “He’s made rings round you in the past, and he’ll
