It was, perhaps, about two in the morning when a man, very efficient at
the trade which he was then following, knelt outside Lady Eustace's door,
and, with a delicately-made saw, aided probably by some other equally
well-finished tools, absolutely cut out that portion of the bedroom door
on which the bolt was fastened. He must have known the spot exactly, for
he did not doubt a moment as he commenced his work; and yet there was
nothing on the exterior of the door to show where the bolt was placed. The
bit was cut out without the slightest noise, and then, when the door was
opened, was placed just inside upon the floor. The man then with perfectly
noiseless step entered the room, knelt again--just where poor Lizzie had
knelt as she said her prayers--so that he might the more easily raise the
iron box without a struggle, and left the room with it in his arms without
disturbing the lovely sleeper. He then descended the stairs, passed into
the coffee-room at the bottom of them, and handed the box through an open
window to a man who was crouching on the outside in the dark. He then
followed the box, pulled down the window, put on a pair of boots which his
friend had ready for him; and the two, after lingering a few moments in
the shade of the dark wall, retreated with their prize round a corner.
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