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I have said that there was no real affection between this man and
me； but； had I loved him like a brother； I was then so much more in
love with solitude that I should none the less have shunned his
company。 As it was； I turned and ran for it； and it was with
genuine satisfaction that I found myself safely back beside the
fire。 I had escaped an acquaintance； I should have one more night
in comfort。 In the morning； I might either slip away before
Northmour was abroad； or pay him as short a visit as I chose。
But when morning came； I thought the situation so diverting that I
forgot my shyness。 Northmour was at my mercy； I arranged a good
practical jest； though I knew well that my neighbor was not the man
to jest with in security； and； chuckling beforehand over its
success； took my place among the elders at the edge of the wood；
whence I could command the door of the pavilion。 The shutters were
all once more closed； which I remember thinking odd； and the house；
with its white walls and green venetians； looked spruce and
habitable in the morning light。 Hour after hour passed； and still
no sign of Northmour。 I knew him for a sluggard in the morning；
but； as it drew on toward noon； I lost my patience。 To say the
truth； I had promised myself to break my fast in the pavilion； and
hunger began to prick me sharply。 It was a pity to let the
opportunity go by without some cause for mirth； but the grosser
appetite prevailed； and I relinquished my jest with regret； and
sallied from the wood。
The appearance of the house affected me； as I drew near； with
disquietude。 It seemed unchanged since last evening； and I had
expected it； I scarce knew why； to wear some external signs of
habitation。 But no： the windows were all closely shuttered； the
chimneys breathed no smoke； and the front door itself was closely
padlocked。 Northmour； therefore； had entered by the back； this was
the natural； and indeed； the necessary conclusion； and you may
judge of my surprise when； on turning the house； I found the back
door similarly secured。
My mind at once reverted to the original theory of thieves； and I
blamed myself sharply for my last night's inaction。 I examined all
the windows on the lower story； but none of them had been tampered
with； I tried the padlocks； but they were both secure。 It thus
became a problem how the thieves； if thieves they were； had managed
to enter the house。 They must have got； I reasoned； upon the roof
of the outhouse where Northmour used to keep his photographic
battery； and from thence； either by the window of the study or that
of my old bedroom； completed their burglarious entry。
I followed what I supposed was their example； and； getting on the
roof； tried the shutters of each room。 Both were secure； but I was
not to be beaten； and； with a little force； one of them flew open；
grazing； as it did so； the back of my hand。 I remember； I put the
wound to my mouth； and stood for perhaps half a minute licking it
like a dog； and mechanically gazing behind me over the waste links
and the sea； and； in that space of time； my eye made note of a
large schooner yacht some miles to the north…east。 Then I threw up
the window and climbed in。
I went over the house； and nothing can express my mystification。
There was no sign of disorder； but； on the contrary； the rooms were
unusually clean and pleasant。 I found fires laid； ready for
lighting； three bedrooms prepared with a luxury quite foreign to
Northmour's habits； and with water in the ewers and the beds turned
down； a table set for three in the dining…room； and an ample supply
of cold meats； game； and vegetables on the pantry shelves。 There
were guests expected； that was plain； but why guests； when
Northmour hated society？ And； above all； why was the house thus
stealthily prepared at dead of night？ and why were the shutters
closed and the doors padlocked？
I effaced all traces of my visit； and came forth from the window
feeling sobered and concerned。
The schooner yacht was still in the same place； and it flashed for
a moment through my mind that this might be the Red Earl bringing
the owner of the pavilion and his guests。 But the vessel's head
was set the other way。
II
I returned to the den to cook myself a meal； of which I stood in
great need； as well as to care for my horse； whom I had somewhat
neglected in the morning。 From time to time I went down to the
edge of the wood； but there was no change in the pavilion； and not
a human creature was seen all day upon the links。 The schooner in
the offing was the one touch of life within my range of vision。
She； apparently with no set object； stood off and on or lay to；
hour after hour； but as the evening deepened； she drew steadily
nearer。 I became more convinced that she carried Northmour and his
friends； and that they would probably come ashore after dark； not
only because that was of a piece with the secrecy of the
preparations； but because the tide would not have flowed
sufficiently before eleven to cover Graden Floe and the other sea
quags that fortified the shore against invaders。
All day the wind had been going down； and the sea along with it；
but there was a return towards sunset of the heavy weather of the
day before。 The night set in pitch dark。 The wind came off the
sea in squalls； like the firing of a battery of cannon； now and
then there was a flaw of rain； and the surf rolled heavier with the
rising tide。 I was down at my observatory among the elders； when a
light was run up to the masthead of the schooner； and showed she
was closer in than when I had last seen her by the dying daylight。
I concluded that this must be a signal to Northmour's associates on
shore； and； stepping forth into the links； looked around me for
something in response。
A small footpath ran along the margin of the wood； and formed the
most direct communication between the pavilion and the mansion…
house； and； as I cast my eyes to that side； I saw a spark of light；
not a quarter of a mile away； and rapidly approaching。 From its
uneven course it appeared to be the light of a lantern carried by a
person who followed the windings of the path； and was often
staggered and taken aback by the more violent squalls。 I concealed
myself once more among the elders； and waited eagerly for the
newcomer's advance。 It proved to be a woman； and； as she passed
within half a rod of my ambush； I was able to recognise the
features。 The deaf and silent old dame； who had nursed Northmour
in his childhood； was his associate in this underhand affair。
I followed her at a little distance； taking advantage of the
innumerable heights and hollows； concealed by the darkness； and
favored not only by the nurse's deafness； but by the uproar of the
wind and surf。 She entered the pavilion； and； going at once to the
upper story； opened and set a light in one of the windows that
looked toward t