"Then he is near here!" exclaimed Becky. She could not restrain herself from looking this way and that through the darkness, but she saw nothing but shadows. Not a human being except the man beside her was visible to her sight. "O, if I could see him only for a moment!" she murmured softly, but not so softly that the detective did not hear the words. "Best not, Miss," he said; "I've known the finest schemes upset just in the same way. There's only one thing to be thought of--when that's done, the time is all before you." "You are right, I feel," said Becky, with a sigh. "I'll go in now, and do what you want." The detective stepped on to the pavement, and when the street door was closed, stationed himself by the railings of the parody of a garden which occupied the centre of the Square. He kept his eyes fixed on the first floor window until he saw fluttering from it a piece of newspaper. His professional instinct caused him to pick this piece of paper from the ground, so that it should not fall into the hands of an enemy; then he took from his pocket a pocket-handkerchief and waved it in the air. During his conversation with Becky, and up to this moment, his movements had not been disturbed, and no man or woman had appeared in the Square; but now, in answer to his signal, a man made his way towards him. "All's well," said the detective; "get in as quickly as you can." The man did not reply; accompanied by the detective, he walked up to the house in which the murder had been committed, and inserted the key in the street door. The lock was rusty, and he could not turn the key. "I thought of that," said the detective; "take the key out, sir." Producing a small bottle of oil and a feather, he oiled the wards of the lock, without allowing his attention to be distracted from his observation of the first floor windows of Mrs. Preedy's house; he then rubbed a little oil into the wards of the key, and putting it in, turned the lock. The door of No. 119 was open to receive the new tenant. "A word, sir," said the detective; "there's no danger at present. Nothing can come within fifty yards of us without my being warned of it. Are you quite determined to pass these two nights in the house alone?" "I am quite determined--this night and to-morrow night, and as many more as may be necessary." "I've got a man handy--a man you can trust, sir." "I require no one." "Very good, sir. Don't forget the whistle if you require help. There'll be no danger in the day; it's the night you'll have to be careful of. At one o'clock in the morning you'll find the basket lowered into the area." "That is well; but you had best remain on the spot for a few moments till I see if I can get into the area."