time after Martin had left me in carefully thinking over the remaining
steps in my plan, while I unloaded and thoroughly cleaned the revolver,
using my handkerchief and a penholder from the desk. I also placed the
packets of notes, the note-case and the diamonds in the roll-top desk,
which I opened and re-locked with Manderson's key. When I went upstairs
it was a trying moment, for though I was safe from the eyes of Martin as
he sat in his pantry, there was a faint possibility of somebody being
about on the bedroom floor. I had sometimes found the French maid
wandering about there when the other servants were in bed. Bunner, I
knew, was a deep sleeper. Mrs. Manderson, I had gathered from things I
had heard her say, was usually asleep by eleven; I had thought it
possible that her gift of sleep had helped her to retain all her beauty
and vitality in spite of a marriage which we all knew was an unhappy
one. Still, it was uneasy work mounting the stairs and holding myself
ready to retreat to the library again at the least sound from above. But
nothing happened.

"The first thing I did on reaching the corridor was to enter my room and
put the revolver and cartridges back in the case. Then I turned off the
light and went quietly into Manderson's room.

"What I had to do there you know. I had to take off the shoes and put
them outside the door, leave Manderson's jacket, waistcoat, trousers and
black tie, after taking everything out of the pockets, select a suit and
tie and shoes for the body, and place the dental plate in the bowl,
which I moved from the washing-stand to the bedside, leaving those
ruinous finger-marks as I did so. The marks on the drawer must have been
made when I shut it after taking out the tie. Then I had to lie down in
the bed and tumble it. You know all about it--all except my state of
mind, which you couldn't imagine, and I couldn't describe.

"The worst came when I had hardly begun my operations; the moment when
Mrs. Manderson spoke from the room where I supposed her asleep. I was
prepared for it happening; it was a possibility; but I nearly lost my
nerve all the same. However....

"By the way, I may tell you this: in the extremely unlikely contingency
of Mrs. Manderson remaining awake and so putting out of the question my
escape by way of her window, I had planned simply to remain where I was
a few hours, and then, not speaking to her, to leave the house quickly
and quietly by the ordinary way. Mar