eft him awake
throughout the night, devising plans for the coming day. He arose about
half-past four o'clock, but, as it was still raining heavily, he crept
silently through the hallway of the west wing to Ashton's door, hoping
to find it unfastened. Upon finding it bolted, he had gone to the window
at the end of the hall, unfastened it, raised the sash and looked out.
It was still raining, although not so heavily, and the light of early
dawn was beginning to show in the sky. He made a quick decision to climb
out upon the roof, enter Ashton's room by means of the window, secure
the emerald and make his way as quickly as possible to the town, where
he could place the jewel in safe hands. But, fearing lest, in the early
morning light, he might be recognized by some chance early riser among
the stablemen or gardeners, he descended swiftly to the main hall, threw
on a long tan rain-coat and tweed cap belonging to Major Temple and, so
disguised, returned once more to the upper floor and thence by way of
the window to the porch roof. He was making his way quietly along to the
window of Mr. Ashton's room when seen by Miss Temple, but he was so
absorbed in his work that he did not observe her. Arriving at Mr.
Ashton's window, he had tried it, only to find it bolted on the inside.
The increasing light showed him dimly the interior of the room, with
Ashton lying asleep in the bed. In trying to force the window he had cut
his hand badly upon a projecting nail or bit of glass, but in his
excitement he failed to realize it, and had rested his palm, covered
with blood upon the window sill, his fingers pointing inward. His
efforts to open the window had also resulted in some noise, which awoke
the sleeping man within. What followed I will try to tell in Li Min's
own words as rendered into English by the interpreter. "I saw the man
(Mr. Ashton) rolling about in his bed. He seemed to be suffering, and I
heard him groan and once cry out in his sleep. I pushed the window
again, and it made a loud noise. The man jumped up quickly, and started
toward the window. His face was white, and terrible. And, as he jumped
from the bed, the hand of Buddha, the mighty, the wonderful one, who
knows all things, smote him like a flash of fire. He fell upon the
floor, uttering a loud cry. I was frightened, and ran along the roof and
climbed into the house through the hall window. I heard sounds of
someone moving about in the room of the young man (Mr. Morga