Theupperpartofthehousewas，sunkinsilence，butrisingfromthedining—roombelow，throughtheopeningmadebythestairs，camethevoicesofProtheroandPearsall。Andmixedwiththeirvoicescamealsothesharphissofwaterissuingfromasiphon。Thesoundwasreassuring。Apparently，overtheirwhiskey—and—sodathetwomenwerestilllingeringatthedinner—table。Forthemoment，then——sofar，atleast，astheywereconcerned——thecoastwasclear。
　　Steppingcautiously，andkeepingclosetothewall，Fordranlightlyupthestairstothehallofthethirdfloor。Itwaslitbrightlybyagas—jet，butnoonewasinsight，andthethreedoorsopeninguponitwereshut。Attherearofthehallwasawindow;
　　theblindwasraised，andthroughthepanes，drippingintherain，Fordcaughtaglimpseoftherigidironrodsofafire—escape。Hisspiritsleapedexultantly。Ifnecessary，bymeansofthisscalingladder，hecouldworkentirelyfromtheoutside。Greatlyelated，hetiptoedpastthecloseddoorsandmountedtothefourthfloor。Thisalsowaslitbyagas—jetthatshowedatoneendofthehallatableonwhichweremedicine—bottlesandatraycoveredbyanapkin;andattheotherend，pileduponeachotherandblockingthehall—window，werethreesteamer—trunks。Paintedoneachweretheinitials，"D。D。"Fordbreathedanexclamation。
　　"DosiaDale，"hemuttered，"Ihavefoundyou！"Hewasagainconfrontedbythreecloseddoors，oneleadingtoaroomthatfacedthestreet，anotheropeninguponaroomintherearofthehouse，andopposite，acrossthehallway，stillanotherdoor。Heobservedthatthefirsttwodoorswereeachfastenedfromtheoutsidebyboltsandaspringlock，andthatthekeytoeachlockwasinplace。Thefactmovedhimwithindecision。Ifhetookpossessionofthekeys，hecouldentertheroomsathispleasure。Ontheotherhand，shouldtheirlossbediscovered，analarmwouldberaisedandhewouldinevitablycomeundersuspicion。Theverypurposehehadinviewmightbefrustrated。Hedecidedthatwheretheywerethekeyswouldservehimaswellasinhispocket，andturnedhisattentiontothethirddoor。Thiswasnotlocked，and，fromitsposition，Fordguesseditmustbeanentrancetoaservants’
　　stairway。
　　Confidentofthis，heopenedit，andfoundadark，narrowlanding，aflightofstepsmountingfromthekitchenbelow，and，tohisdelightanironladderleadingtoatrap—door。Hecouldhardlyforegoacheer。Ifthetrap—doorwerenotlocked，hehadfoundathirdlineofretreat，ameansofescapebywayoftheroof，farsuperiortoanyhemightattemptbythemainstaircaseandthestreet—door。
　　Fordsteppedintothelanding，closingthedoorbehindhimandthoughthislefthimincompletedarkness，heclimbedtheladder，andwitheagerfingersfeltforthefasteningsofthetrap。Hehadfearedtofindapadlock，but，tohisinfiniterelief，hisfingersclosedupontwobolts。Noiselessly，andsmoothly，theydrewbackfromtheirsockets。Underthepressureofhishandthetrapdoorlifted，andthroughtheopeningsweptabreathofchillnightair。
　　Fordhookedonelegoveraroundoftheladderand，withhandsfreesmovedthetraptooneside。Aninstantlaterhehadscrambledtotheroof，and，aftercarefullyreplacingthetrap，roseandlookedabouthim。Tohissatisfaction，hefoundthattheroofuponwhichhestoodranlevelwiththeroofsadjoiningitstoasfarasDevonshireStreet，wheretheyencounteredthewallofanapartmenthouse。Thiswasofsevenstories。Onthefifthstoryarowofwindows，brilliantlylighted，openedupontheroofsoverwhichheplannedtomakehisretreat。Fordchuckledwithnervousexcitement。
　　"Beforelong，"heassuredhimself，Iwillbevisitingthemanwhoownsthatflat。HewillthinkIamaburglar。Hewillsendforthepolice。ThereisnooneintheworldIshallbesogladtosee！"
　　Fordconsideredthatrunningoverroofs，evenwhentheirpitfallswerenotconcealedbyayellowfog，wasanawkwardexercise，anddecidedthatbeforehemadehisdashforfreedom，thepartofacarefuljockeywouldbetotakeapreliminarycanteroverthecourse。Accordingly，amongpartywallsofbrick，rain—pipes，chimney—pipes，andtelephonewires，hefelthiswaytothewalloftheapartmenthouse;andthen，withaclearerideaoftheobstaclestobeavoided，racedbacktothepointwhencehehadstarted。
　　Next，todiscovertheexactpositionofthefire—escape，hedroppedtohiskneesandcrawledtotherearedgeoftheroof。Thelightfromthebackwindowsofthefourthfloorshowedhimanironladderfromtheedgeoftherooftotheplatformofthefire—escape，andtheplatformitself，stretchingbelowthewindowsthewidthofthebuilding。Hegaveasighofsatisfaction，butthesameinstantexclaimedwithdismay。Thewindowsopeninguponthefire—escapewerecloselybarred。Foramomenthewasunabletograspwhyafire—escapeshouldbeplacedwhereescapewasimpossible，untilherecognizedthattheladdermusthavebeenerectedfirstandtheironbarslater;probablyonlysinceMissDalehadbeenmadeaprisoner。
　　Buthenowappreciatedthatinspiteoftheironbarshewasnearerthatprisonerthanhehadeverbeen。Shouldhereturntothehallbelow，evenwhilehecouldunlockthedoors，hewasindangerofdiscoverybythoseinsidethehouse。Butfromthefire—escapeonlyawindow—panewouldseparatehimfromtheprisoner，andthoughthebarswouldkeephimatarm’s—length，hemightatleastspeakwithher，andassureherthathercallforhelphadcarried。Hegraspedthesidesoftheladderanddroppedtotheplatform。Ashehadalreadyseenthatthewindowfarthesttotheleftwasbarricadedwithtrunks，hedisregardedit，andpassedquicklytothetwoothers。Behindbothofthese，linenshadeswerelowered，but，tohisrelief，hefoundthatinthemiddlewindowthelowersash，asthoughforventilation，wasslightlyraised，leavinganopeningofafewinches。Kneelingonthegridironplatformofthefire—escape，andpressinghisfaceagainstthebars，hebroughthiseyeslevelwiththisopening。Owingtotheloweredwindow—blind，hecouldseenothingintheroom，norcouldhedistinguishanysounduntilabovethedripandpatteroftheraintherecametohimthepeacefultickingofaclockandtherattleofcoalfallingtothefender。
　　Butofanysoundthatwashumantherewasnone。Thattheroomwasempty，andthatthegirlwasinthefrontofthehousewaspossible，andthetemptationtostretchhishandthroughthebarsandlifttheblindwasalmostcompelling。Ifhedidso，andthegirlwereinside，shemightmakeanoutcry，or，guardingher，theremightbeanattendant，whoatoncewouldsoundthealarm。Theriskwasevident，but，encouragedbythesilence，Forddeterminedtotakethechance。Slippingonehandbetweenthebarshecaughttheendoftheblind，and，pullingitgentlydown，letthespringdrawitupward。Throughanopeningofsixinchestheroomlayopenbeforehim。Hesawadoorleadingtoanotherroom，atonesideanironcot，andinfrontofthecoalfire，facinghim，agirlseatedinadeeparm—chair。Abooklayonherknees，andshewasintentlyreading。
　　Thegirlwasyoung，andherface，inspiteofanunnaturalpallorandanexpressionofdeepmelancholy，wasoneofextremebeauty。
　　Sheworeoveranight—dressalongloosewrappercordedatthewaist，and，asthoughinreadinessforthenight，herblackhairhadbeendrawnbackintosmooth，heavybraids。ShemadesosweetandsadapicturethatFordforgothiserrand，forgothisdampandchilledbody，aridforamomentinsheerdelightknelt，withhisfacepressedclosetothebars，andgazedather。
　　Amovementonthepartofthegirlbroughthimtohissenses。Sheclosedthebook，and，leaningforward，restedherchinuponthehollowofherhandandstaredintothefire。Herlookwasoneofcompleteandhopelessmisery。Forddidnothesitate。Thegirlwasalone，butthatatanymomentanattendantmightjoinherwasprobable，andtherarechancethatnowofferedwouldbelost。Hedidnotdaretospeak，orbyanysoundattractherattention，butfromhisbreast—pockethetooktheglovethrowntohimfromthewindow，and，withajerk，tosseditthroughthenarrowopening。Itfelldirectlyatherfeet。Shehadnotseenthegloveapproach，buttheslightsounditmadeinfallingcausedhertostartandturnhereyestowardit。Throughthewindow，breathless，andwitheverynervedrawntaut，Fordwatchedher。
　　Foramoment，partlyinalarm，partlyinbewilderment，shesatmotionless，regardingtheglovewitheyesfixedandstaring。Thensheliftedthemtotheceiling，inquicksuccessiontoeachofthecloseddoors，andthentothewindow。InhisraceacrosstheroofsFordhadlackedtheprotectionofahat，andhishairwasplasteredacrosshisforehead;hisfacewasstreakedwithsootandsnow，hiseyesshonewithexcitement。Butatsightofthisstrangeapparitionthegirlmadenosign。Heralertmindhadinaninstanttakeninthesignificanceoftheglove，andforherwhatfollowedcouldhavebutonemeaning。Sheknewthatnomatterinwhatguisehecamethemanwhosefacewasnowpressedagainstthebarswasafriend。
　　Withaswift，gracefulmovementsherosetoherfeet，crossedquicklytothewindow，andsankuponherknees。
　　"Speakinawhisper，"shesaid;"andspeakquickly。Youareingreatdanger！"
　　ThatherfirstthoughtwasofhissafetygaveFordathrillofshameandpleasure。
　　UntilnowMissDosiaDalehadbeenonlythechieffeatureinanewspaperstory;theunknownquantityinaproblem。Shehadmeantnomoretohimthanhadtheinitialsonhersteamer—trunk。Now，throughherbeauty，throughthedistressinhereyes，throughherwarmandgenerousnaturethathaddiscloseditselfwithherfirstwords，shebecamealiving，breathing，lovely，andlovablewoman。
　　Alloftheyoungman’schivalryleapedtothecall。Hehadgonebackseveralcenturies。Infeeling，hewasaknight—errantrescuingbeautyindistressfromadungeoncell。Tothegirl，hewasarecklessyoungpersonwithadirtyfaceandeyesthatgaveconfidence。But，thoughaknight—errant，Fordwasamodernknight—errant。Hewastednotimeinexplanationsorprettyspeeches。
　　"Intwominutes，"hewhispered，"I’llunlockyourdoor。There’saladderoutsideyourroomtotheroof。Oncewegettotherooftherest’seasy。Shouldanythinggowrong，I’llcomebackbythisfire—escape。Waitatthewindowuntilyouseeyourdooropen。Doyouunderstand？"
　　Thegirlansweredwithaneagernod。Thecolorhadflowntohercheek。Hereyesflashedinexcitement。AsuddendoubtassailedFord。
　　"You’venotimetoputonanymoreclothes，"hecommanded。
　　"Ihaven’tgotany！"saidthegirl。
　　Theknight—errantranupthefire—escape，pulledhimselfovertheedgeoftheroof，and，crossingit，droppedthroughthetraptothelandingofthekitchenstairs。Hereheexpendedthegreaterpartofthetwominuteshehadallowedhimselfincautiouslyopeningthedoorintothehall。Heaccomplishedthiswithoutasound，andinonestepcrossedthehalltothedoorthatheldMissDaleaprisoner。
　　Slowlyhedrewbackthebolts。Onlythespringlocknowbarredhimfromher。Withthumbandforefingerheturnedthekey，pushedthedoorgentlyopen，andranintotheroom。
　　Atthesameinstantfrombehindhim，withinsixfeetofhim，heheardthestaircasecreak。Abombburstingcouldnothaveshakenhimmorerudely。Heswungonhisheelandfound，blockingthedoor，thegiantbulkofProtheroregardinghimoverthebarrelofhispistol。
　　"Don’tmove！"saidtheJew。
　　Atthesoundofhisvoicethegirlgaveacryofwarning，andsprangforward。
　　"Goback！"commandedProthero。Hisvoicewaslowandsoft，andapparentlycalm，buthisfaceshowedwhitewithrage。
　　Fordhadrecoveredfromtheshockofthesurprise。He，also，wasinarage——arageofmortificationandbitterdisappointment。
　　"Don’tpointthatgunatme！"heblustered。
　　ThesoundofleapingfootstepsandthevoiceofPearsallechoedfromthefloorbelow。
　　"Haveyougothim？"hecalled。
　　Protheromadenoreply，nordidhelowerhispistol。WhenPearsallwasathisside，withoutturninghishead，heaskedinthesamesteadytone:
　　"Whatshallwedowithhim？"
　　ThefaceofPearsallwaswhite，andfuriouswithfear。
　　"Itoldyou"hestormed。
　　"Nevermindwhatyoutoldme，"saidtheJew。"Whatshallwedowithhim？Heknows！"
　　Ford’smindwasworkingswiftly。Hehadnorealfearofpersonaldangerforthegirlorhimself。TheJew，heargued，wasnofool。Hewouldnotriskhisneckbyopenmurder。And，ashesawit，escapewiththegirlmightstillbepossible。HehadonlytoconcealfromProtherohisknowledgeofthelineofretreatoverthehouse—tops，explainhisrain—soakedcondition，andwaitabetterchance。
　　Tothisendheproceededtoliebrisklyandsmoothly。
　　"OfcourseIknow，"hetaunted。Hepointedtohisdrippinggarments。"DoyouknowwhereI’vebeen？Inthestreet，placingmymen。Ihavethishousesurrounded。Iamgoingtowalkdownthosestairswiththisyounglady。IfyoutrytostopmeIhaveonlytoblowmypolice—whistle"
　　"AndIwillblowyourbrainsout！"interruptedtheJew。Itwasamostunsatisfactoryclimax。
　　"Youhavenotbeeninthestreet，"saidProthero。"Youarewetbecauseyouhungoutofyourwindowsignallingtoyourfriend。Doyouknowwhyhedidnotansweryoursecondsignal？Becauseheislyinginanarea，withaknifeinhim！"
　　"Youlie！"criedFord。
　　"YOUlie，"retortedtheJewquietly，"whenyousayyourmensurroundthishouse。Youarealone。YouareNOTinthepoliceservice，youareabusybodymeddlingwithmenwhothinkaslittleofkillingyouastheydidofkillingyourfriend。Myservantwasplacedtowatchyourwindow，sawyoursignal，reportedtome。AndIfoundyourassistantandthrewhimintoanarea，withaknifeinhim！"
　　Fordfeltthestorywasuntrue。Protherowastryingtofrightenhim。Outofpurebravadonosanemanwouldboastofmurder。
　　But——andatthethoughtFordfeltatouchofrealfear——wasthemansane？Itwasamostunpleasantcontingency。Betweenafightwithanangrymanandaninsanemanthedifferencewasappreciable。Fromthisnewview—pointFordregardedhisadversarywithincreasedwariness;hewatchedhimashewouldamaddog。Heregrettedextremelyhehadnotbroughthisrevolver。
　　WithhisautomaticpistolstillcoveringFord，ProtherospoketoPearsall。
　　"Ifoundhim，"herecited，asthoughtestingthestoryhewouldtelllater，"prowlingthroughmyhouseatnight。Mistakinghimforaburglar，Ikilledhim。Thekitchenwindowwillbefoundopen，withthelockbroken，showinghowhegainedanentrance。"Whynot？"
　　hedemanded。
　　"Because，"protestedPearsall，interror，"themanoutsidewilltell"
　　Fordshoutedingenuinerelief。
　　Exactly！"hecried。"Themanoutside，whoisnotdownanareawithaknifeinhim，butwhoatthismomentisbringingthepolice—hewilltell！"
　　Asthoughhehadnotbeeninterrupted，Protherocontinuedthoughtfully:
　　"Whattheymaysayheexpectedtofindhere，Icanexplainawaylater。ThepointisthatIfoundastrangeman，hatless，dishevelled，prowlinginmyhouse。Icalledonhimtohalt;heran，Ifired，andunfortunatelykilledhim。AnEnglishman’shomeishiscastle;anEnglishjury"
　　"AnEnglishjury，"saidFordbriskly，"isthelastthingyouwanttomeetItisn’taChicagojury。"
　　TheJewflungbackhisheadasthoughFordhadstruckhimintheface。
　　"Ah！"hepurred，"youknowthat，too，doyou？"Thepurrincreasedtoasnarl。"Youknowtoomuch！"
　　ForPearsall，histoneseemedtobearanalarmingmeaning。HesprangtowardProthero，andlaidbothhandsuponhisdisengagedarm。
　　"ForGod’ssake，"hepleaded，"comeaway！Hecan’thurtyou——notalive;butdead，he’llhangyou——hangusboth。Wemustgo，now，thismoment。"Hedraggedimpotentlyattheleftarmofthegiant。
　　"Come！"hebegged。
　　WhethermovedbyPearsall’swordsorbysomethoughtofhisown，Protheronoddedinassent。HeaddressedhimselftoFord。
　　"Idon’tknowwhattodowithyou，"hesaid，"soIwillconsultwithmyfriendoutsidethisdoor。Whilewetalk，wewilllockyouin。Wecanhearanymoveyoumake。IfyouraisethewindoworcallIwillopenthedoorandkillyou——youandthatwoman！"
　　Withaquickgesture，heswungtothedoor，andthespringlocksnapped。Aninstantlatertheboltswerenoisilydrivenhome。
　　Whenthesecondboltshotintoplace，FordturnedandlookedatMissDale。
　　Thisisahellofanote！"hesaidIII
　　Outsidethelockeddoorthevoicesofthetwomenroseinfiercewhispers。ButFordregardedthemnotatall。Withtheswiftnessofasquirrelcaughtinacage，hedartedontiptoefromsidetosidesearchingtheconfinesofhisprison。HehaltedclosetoMissDaleandpointedatthewindows。
　　"Haveyouevertriedtoloosenthosebars？"hewhispered。
　　Thegirlnoddedand，inpantomimethatspokeoffailure，shruggedhershoulders。
　　"Whatdidyousee？"demandedFordhopefully。
　　Thegirldestroyedhishopewithashakeofherheadandaswiftsmile。
　　"Scissors，"shesaid;"buttheyfoundthemandtookthemaway。"
　　Fordpointedattheopengrate。
　　"Where’sthepoker？"hedemanded。
　　"Theytookthat，too。Ibentittryingtoprythebars。Sotheyknew。"
　　Themangaveheraquick，pleasedglance，thenturnedhiseyestothedoorthatledintotheroomthatlookeduponthestreet。