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。