She had put the key in the door, and
was in the act of turning it when she heard a noise upstairs. She
opened the door and stood looking up the stairs. In a moment she saw a
light, and directly afterward Miss Penfold appeared at the top holding
a candle in her hand. Knowing she was as yet unseen, Mrs. Conway
entered the library and closed the door behind her. Then she hurried
to the fireplace, touched the two springs, pulled the bookcase open
and entered the secret chamber, and closed the bookcase behind her.
She had often examined the lock, thinking that the secret spring of
the closet might be concealed here. It was a large old-fashioned one,
and moved two bolts, one at the top of the door and one at the bottom.
These she had already discovered could be easily opened from the
inside. She imagined that Miss Penfold was merely going round the
house to see that all was secure, and she had, contrary to her
practice, taken the key from the door of the library in order that
Miss Penfold might enter it if she chose. But the thought now flashed
across her that possibly she might intend to open the secret room; and
to prevent this she now thrust the barrel of the pistol she carried in
between the back of the bolt and the piece of iron against which it
shot, so that the action of the springs could not throw it out of its
place.
Pages:
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391