Now we are making a
little progress. Our lady enters the room, advances to the
bureau, and either opens it or tries to do so. While she is
thus engaged young Willoughby Smith enters the room. In her
hurry to withdraw the key she makes this scratch upon the door.
He seizes her, and she, snatching up the nearest object, which
happens to be this knife, strikes at him in order to make him
let go his hold. The blow is a fatal one. He falls and she
escapes, either with or without the object for which she has
come. Is Susan the maid there? Could anyone have got away
through that door after the time that you heard the cry, Susan?"
"No sir; it is impossible. Before I got down the stair I'd have
seen anyone in the passage. Besides, the door never opened,
for I would have heard it."
"That settles this exit. Then no doubt the lady went out the
way she came. I understand that this other passage leads only
to the Professor's room. There is no exit that way?"
"No, sir."
"We shall go down it and make the acquaintance of the Professor.
Halloa, Hopkins! this is very important, very important indeed.
The Professor's corridor is also lined with cocoanut matting.
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