oach. I had charged all those
under my command on no account to use violence, whatever might occur,
unless in our own defence, should we be attacked by the enemy.

As we drew near I saw that the house was a large one, and that it had
all the appearance of a gentleman's country seat. We found ourselves
also in a good road leading apparently into the interior. I therefore
called a halt, and, leaving some of the men where we were, I led the
rest round so as closely to surround the premises on the land side. I
also bethought me of placing a guard to watch the approach by the river,
for I thought it very likely that if any one wished to escape there
would be a boat concealed under the banks by which they might effect
their object. While I was making these dispositions the barking of the
dog continued, but as he did not rush out on us I concluded that he was
chained. He had, however, aroused the inmates, for as I passed through
the garden I saw a light in one of the rooms down-stairs and other
lights, passing the windows of the upper storey. From the situation of
the lower room down-stairs I suspected that it must be the drawing-room
or one of the sitting-rooms, and, halting my men under the shadow of a
shrubbery, with directions to remain there till I summoned them, I
approached the window for the purpose of trying if I could see any of
the people within. There were two windows to the room. The blind
before one of them was drawn down, so I went to the other. The lower
shutter to that was also closed, but by standing up on the window-sill I
could look into the room. What was my surprise to see a lady sitting at
a table, on which stood a lamp, with a book in her hand, reading. Her
back was towards me, but from her figure and dress I thought she was
young. What surprised me was to find a lady sitting up at that hour,
for it was now between two and three o'clock in the morning. Something
unusual must, I suspected, be going on in the house. I was afraid that
the sudden appearance of a body of armed men would seriously frighten
the lady, and so I resolved to enter the house alone and take my chance
of meeting with opposition from any man who might be there. A door
opened into the garden. It was not bolted. I lifted the latch and
entered. A light stood in the hall. I was not mistaken as to the
character of the house; it was evidently that of people of fortune. On
my right hand was a door which I conceived led in