Chapter 16 - Page 2

creaked, the door whined, and they
were at the front room window. Monica closed it gently
down, and fastened the snib.

"What a beautiful moon!" said she, looking out. "We
can see as clearly as if it were day. How peaceful and
quiet the three houses are over yonder! It seems quite
sad to see that 'To Let' card upon number one. I wonder
how number two will like their going. For my part I
could better spare that dreadful woman at number three
with her short skirts and her snake. But, oh, Bertha,
look! look!! look!!!" Her voice had fallen suddenly to
a quivering whisper and she was pointing to the
Westmacotts' house. Her sister gave a gasp of horror,
and stood with a clutch at Monica's arm, staring in the
same direction.

There was a light in the front room, a slight,
wavering light such as would be given by a small candle
or taper. The blind was down, but the light shone dimly
through. Outside in the garden, with his figure outlined
against the luminous square, there stood a man, his back
to the road, his two hands upon the window ledge, and his
body rather bent as though he were trying to peep in past
the blind. So absolutely still and motionless was he
that in spite of the moon they might well have overlooked
him were it not for that tell-tale light behind.

"Good heaven!" gasped Bertha, "it is a burglar."

But her sister set her mouth grimly and shook her
head. "We shall see," she whispered. "It may be
something worse."

Swiftly and furtively the man stood suddenly erect,
and began to push the window slowly up. Then he put one
knee upon the sash, glanced round to see that all was
safe, and climbed over into the room. As he did so he
had to push the blind aside. Then the two spectators saw
where the light came from. Mrs. Westmacott was standing,
as rigid as a statue, in the center of the room, with a
lighted taper in her right hand. For an instant they
caught a glimpse of her stern face and her white collar.
Then the blind fell back into position, and the two
figures disappeared from their view.

"Oh, that dreadful woman!" cried Monica. "That
dreadful, dreadful woman! She was waiting for him. You
saw it with your own eyes, sister Bertha!"

"Hush, dear, hush and listen!" said her more
charitable companion. They pushed their own window up
once more, and watched from behind the curtains.

For a long time all was silent within the house. The
light still stood motionless as though Mrs. Westmacott
remained rigidly in the one position, while from time to
time a shadow passed in front of it to show that her
midnight visitor was pacing up and down in front of her.
Once they saw his outline clearly, with his hands