om and
a big man sitting at a table littered with papers.

I watched him, fascinated, as he turned to consult some document and
made a marking on the map before him. Then he suddenly rose, stretched
himself, cast a glance at the window, and went out of the room, making
a great clatter in descending the wooden staircase. He left the door
ajar and the lamp burning.

I guessed he had gone to have a look at his prisoners, in which case
the show was up. But what filled my mind was an insane desire to get a
sight of his map. It was one of those mad impulses which utterly cloud
right reason, a thing independent of any plan, a crazy leap in the
dark. But it was so strong that I would have pulled that window out by
its frame, if need be, to get to that table.

There was no need, for the flimsy clasp gave at the first pull, and the
sashes swung open. I scrambled in, after listening for steps on the
stairs. I crumpled up the map and stuck it in my pocket, as well as
the paper from which I had seen him copying. Very carefully I removed
all marks of my entry, brushed away the snow from the boards, pulled
back the curtain, got out and refastened the window. Still there was no
sound of his return. Then I started off to catch up the others.

I found them shivering in the roof pavilion. 'We've got to move pretty
fast,' I said, 'for I've just been burgling old Stumm's private
cabinet. Hussin, my lad, d'you hear that? They may be after us any
moment, so I pray Heaven we soon strike better going.'

Hussin understood. He led us at a smart pace from one roof to another,
for here they were all of the same height, and only low parapets and
screens divided them. We never saw a soul, for a winter's night is not
the time you choose to saunter on your housetop. I kept my ears open
for trouble behind us, and in about five minutes I heard it. A riot of
voices broke out, with one louder than the rest, and, looking back, I
saw lanterns waving. Stumm had realized his loss and found the tracks
of the thief.

Hussin gave one glance behind and then hurried us on at break-neck
pace, with old Blenkiron gasping and stumbling. The shouts behind us
grew louder, as if some eye quicker than the rest had caught our
movement in the starlit darkness. It was very evident that if they
kept up the chase we should be caught, for Blenkiron was about as
useful on a roof as a hippo.

Presently we came to a big drop, with a kind of ladder down it