I heard Big Ben strike half-past
twelve, and then I put the book down, and went out on to the
balcony of my window for a little fresh air before going to bed. I
leaned over the balcony very quietly - you will remember that I am
on the third floor now - and looked down below into the little sunk
yard which separates the wall of the hotel from Salisbury Lane. I
was rather astonished to see a figure creeping across the yard. I
knew there was no entrance into the hotel from that yard, and
besides, it is fifteen or twenty feet below the level of the street. So
I watched. The figure went close up against the wall, and
disappeared from my view. I leaned over the balcony as far as I
dared, but I couldn't see him. I could hear him, however.'
'What could you hear?' questioned Racksole sharply.
'It sounded like a sawing noise,' said Nella; 'and it went on for
quite a long time - nearly a quarter of an hour, I should think - a
rasping sort of noise.'
'Why on earth didn't you come and warn me or someone else in the
hotel?'
asked Racksole.
'Oh, I don't know, Dad,' she replied sweetly. 'I had got interested in
it, and I thought I would see it out myself. Well, as I was saying,
Mr Babylon,'
she continued, addressing her remarks to Felix , with a dazzling
smile, 'that noise went on for quite a long time. At last it stopped,
and the figure reappeared from under the wall, crossed the yard,
climbed up the opposite wall by some means or other, and so over
the railings into Salisbury Lane.
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