Inthisperversestateofmymind，therecollectionofwhathadpassedsincethemorningwouldnotcomebacktome，andtherewasnoresourcebuttoclosemyjournalandtogetawayfromitforalittlewhile。
　　Iopenedthedoorwhichledfrommybedroomintomysitting-room，andhavingpassedthrough，pulledittoagain，topreventanyaccidentincaseofdraughtwiththecandleleftonthedressing-table。Mysitting-roomwindowwaswideopen，andIleanedoutlistlesslytolookatthenight。
　　Itwasdarkandquiet。Neithermoonnorstarswerevisible。Therewasasmelllikeraininthestill，heavyair，andIputmyhandoutofthewindow。No。Therainwasonlythreatening，ithadnotcomeyet。
　　[NextChapter][TableofContents]WomaninWhite：Chapter21[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]Chapter21Iremainedleaningonthewindow-sillfornearlyaquarterofanhour，lookingoutabsentlyintotheblackdarkness，andhearingnothing，exceptnowandthenthevoicesoftheservants，orthedistantsoundofaclosingdoor，inthelowerpartofthehouse。
　　JustasIwasturningawaywearilyfromthewindowtogobacktothebedroomandmakeasecondattempttocompletetheunfinishedentryinmyjournal，Ismelttheodouroftobacco-smokestealingtowardsmeontheheavynightair。ThenextmomentIsawatinyredsparkadvancingfromthefartherendofthehouseinthepitchdarkness。Iheardnofootsteps，andIcouldseenothingbutthespark。Ittravelledalonginthenight，passedthewindowatwhichIwasstanding，andstoppedoppositemybedroomwindow，insidewhichIhadleftthelightburningonthedressing-table。
　　Thesparkremainedstationaryforamoment，thenmovedbackagaininthedirectionfromwhichithadadvanced。AsIfolloweditsprogressI
　　sawasecondredspark，largerthanthefirst，approachingfromthedistance。
　　Thetwomettogetherinthedarkness。Rememberingwhosmokedcigarettesandwhosmokedcigars，IinferredimmediatelythattheCounthadcomeoutfirsttolookandlistenundermywindow，andthatSirPercivalhadafterwardsjoinedhim。Theymustbothhavebeenwalkingonthelawn——orIshouldcertainlyhaveheardSirPercival’sheavyfootfall，thoughtheCount’ssoftstepmighthaveescapedme，evenonthegravelwalk。
　　Iwaitedquietlyatthewindow，certainthattheycouldneitherofthemseemeinthedarknessoftheroom。
　　`What’sthematter？’IheardSirPercivalsayinalowvoice。`Whydon’tyoucomeinandsitdown？’
　　`Iwanttoseethelightoutofthatwindow，’repliedtheCountsoftly。
　　`Whatharmdoesthelightdo？’
　　`Itshowssheisnotinbedyet。Sheissharpenoughtosuspectsomething，andboldenoughtocomedownstairsandlisten，ifshecangetthechance。
　　Patience，Percival——patience。’
　　`Humbug！You’realwaystalkingofpatience。’
　　`Ishalltalkofsomethingelsepresently。Mygoodfriend，youareontheedgeofyourdomesticprecipice，andifIletyougivethewomenoneotherchance，onmysacredwordofhonourtheywillpushyouoverit！’
　　`Whatthedevildoyoumean？’
　　`Wewillcometoourexplanations，Percival，whenthelightisoutofthatwindow，andwhenIhavehadonelittlelookattheroomsoneachsideofthelibrary，andapeepatthestaircaseaswell。’
　　Theyslowlymovedaway，andtherestoftheconversationbetweenthemwhichhadbeenconductedthroughoutinthesamelowtonesceasedtobeaudible。Itwasnomatter。IhadheardenoughtodeterminemeonjustifyingtheCount’sopinionofmysharpnessandmycourage。BeforetheredsparkswereoutofsightinthedarknessIhadmadeupmymindthatthereshouldbealistenerwhenthosetwomensatdowntotheirtalk——andthatthelistener，inspiteofalltheCount’sprecautionstothecontrary，shouldbemyself。Iwantedbutonemotivetosanctiontheacttomyownconscience，andtogivemecourageenoughforperformingit——andthatmotiveIhad。
　　Laura’shonour，Laura’shappiness——Laura’slifeitself——mightdependonmyquickearsandmyfaithfulmemorytonight。
　　IhadheardtheCountsaythathemeanttoexaminetheroomsoneachsideofthelibrary，andthestaircaseaswell，beforeheenteredonanyexplanationwithSirPercival。Thisexpressionofhisintentionswasnecessarilysufficienttoinformmethatthelibrarywastheroominwhichheproposedthattheconversationshouldtakeplace。TheonemomentoftimewhichwaslongenoughtobringmetothatconclusionwasalsothemomentwhichshowedmeameansofbafflinghisPrecautions——or，inotherwords，ofhearingwhatheandSirPercivalsaidtoeachother，withouttheriskofdescendingatallintothelowerregionsofthehouse。
　　InspeakingoftheroomsonthegroundfloorIhavementionedincidentallytheverandahoutsidethem，onwhichtheyallopenedbymeansofFrenchwindows，extendingfromthecornicetothefloor。Thetopofthisverandahwasflat，therain-waterbeingcarriedofffromitbypipesintotankswhichhelpedtosupplythehouse。Onthenarrowleadenroof，whichranalongpastthebedrooms，andwhichwasratherless，Ishouldthink，thanthreefeetbelowthesillsofthewindow，arowofflowerpotswasranged，withwideintervalsbetweeneachpot——thewholebeingprotectedfromfallinginhighwindsbyanornamentalironrailingalongtheedgeoftheroof。
　　Theplanwhichhadnowoccurredtomewastogetoutatmysitting-roomwindowontothisroof，tocreepalongnoiselesslytillIreachedthatpartofitwhichwasimmediatelyoverthelibrarywindow，andtocrouchdownbetweentheflower-pots，withmyearagainsttheouterrailing。IfSirPercivalandtheCountsatandsmokedtonight，asIhadseenthemsittingandsmokingmanynightsbefore，withtheirchairscloseattheopenwindow，andtheirfeetstretchedonthezincgardenseatswhichwereplacedundertheverandah，everywordtheysaidtoeachotheraboveawhisperandnolongconversation，asweallknowbyexperience，canbecarriedoninawhispermustinevitablyreachmyears。If，ontheotherhand，theychosetonighttositfarbackinsidetheroom，thenthechanceswerethatIshouldhearlittleornothing——andinthatcase，Imustrunthefarmoreseriousriskoftryingtooutwitthemdownstairs。
　　StronglyasIwasfortifiedinmyresolutionbythedesperatenatureofoursituation，IhopedmostferventlythatImightescapethislastemergency。Mycouragewasonlyawoman’scourageafterall，anditwasveryneartofailingmewhenIthoughtoftrustingmyselfonthegroundfloor，atthedeadofnight，withinreachofSirPercivalandtheCount。
　　Iwentsoftlybacktomybedroomtotrythesaferexperimentoftheverandahrooffirst。
　　Acompletechangeinmydresswasimperativelynecessaryformanyreasons。
　　Itookoffmysilkgowntobeginwith，becausetheslightestnoisefromitonthatstillnightmighthavebetrayedme。Inextremovedthewhiteandcumbersomepartsofmyunderclothing，andreplacedthembyapetticoatofdarkflannel。OverthisIputmyblacktravellingcloak，andpulledthehoodontomyhead。InmyordinaryeveningcostumeItookuptheroomofthreemenatleast。Inmypresentdress，whenitwasheldcloseaboutme，nomancouldhavepassedthroughthenarrowestspacesmoreeasilythanI。Thelittlebreadthleftontheroofoftheverandah，betweentheflower-potsononesideandthewallandthewindowsofthehouseontheother，madethisaseriousconsideration。IfIknockedanythingdown，ifImadetheleastnoise，whocouldsaywhattheconsequencesmightbe？
　　IonlywaitedtoputthematchesnearthecandlebeforeIextinguishedit，andgropedmywaybackintothesitting-room。Ilockedthedoor，asIhadlockedmybedroomdoor——thenquietlygotoutofthewindow，andcautiouslysetmyfeetontheleadenroofoftheverandah。
　　Mytworoomswereattheinnerextremityofthenewwingofthehouseinwhichwealllived，andIhadfivewindowstopassbeforeIcouldreachthepositionitwasnecessarytotakeupimmediatelyoverthelibrary。
　　Thefirstwindowbelongedtoaspareroomwhichwasempty。ThesecondandthirdwindowsbelongedtoLaura’sroom。ThefourthwindowbelongedtoSirPercival’sroom。ThefifthbelongedtotheCountess’sroom。Theothers，bywhichitwasnotnecessaryformetopass，werethewindowsoftheCount’sdressing-room，ofthebathroom，andofthesecondemptyspareroom。
　　Nosoundreachedmyears——theblackblindingdarknessofthenightwasallroundmewhenIfirststoodontheverandah，exceptatthatpartofitwhichMadameFosco’swindowoverlooked。There，attheveryplaceabovethelibrarytowhichmycoursewasdirected——thereIsawagleamoflightITheCountesswasnotyetinbed。
　　Itwastoolatetodrawback——itwasnotimetowait。Ideterminedtogoonatallhazards，andtrustforsecuritytomyowncautionandtothedarknessofthenight。`ForLaura’ssake！’Ithoughttomyself，asItookthefirststepforwardontheroof，withonehandholdingmycloakcloseroundme，andtheothergropingagainstthewallofthehouse。Itwasbettertobrushclosebythewallthantoriskstrikingmyfeetagainsttheflowerpotswithinafewinchesofme，ontheotherside。
　　Ipassedthedarkwindowofthespareroom，tryingtheleadenroofateachstepwithmyfootbeforeIriskedrestingmyweightonit。IpassedthedarkwindowsofLaura’sroom`Godblessherandkeephertonight！’。
　　IpassedthedarkwindowofSirPercival’sroom。ThenIwaitedamoment，kneltdownwithmyhandstosupportme，andsocrepttomyposition，undertheprotectionofthelowwallbetweenthebottomofthelightedwindowandtheverandahroof。
　　WhenIventuredtolookupatthewindowitselfIfoundthatthetopofitonlywasopen，andthattheblindinsidewasdrawndown。WhileI
　　waslookingIsawtheshadowofMadameFoscopassacrossthewhitefieldoftheblind——thenpassslowlybackagain。Thusfarshecouldnothaveheardme，ortheshadowwouldsurelyhavestoppedattheblind，evenifshehadwantedcourageenoughtoopentheWindowandlookout？
　　Iplacedmyselfsidewaysagainsttherailingoftheverandah——firstascertaining，bytouchingthem，thepositionoftheflowerpotsoneithersideofme。Therewasroomenoughformetositbetweenthemandnomore。
　　Thesweet-scentedleavesofthefloweronmylefthandjustbrushedmycheekasIlightlyrestedmyheadagainsttherailing。