While she was turning these things over in her mind it occurred to her that "man's extremity is God's opportunity." Sending up a silent prayer to heaven for help at need, she suddenly thought of a plan--it was full of difficulty, uncertainty and peril, affording not one chance in fifty of success, yet the only possible plan of escape! It was to find some plausible pretext for leaving the room without exciting suspicion, which would be fatal. Controlling her tremors, and speaking cheerfully, she asked: "Patty, do you know whether there were any of those nice quince tarts left from dinner?" "Lor', yes, miss, a heap on 'em! Ole Mis' put 'em away in her cubberd." "Was there any baked custard left?" "Lor', yes Miss Caterpillar; dere was nobody but we-dens three, and think I could eat up all as was left?" "I don't know but you might! Well, is there any pear sauce?" "Yes, miss, a big bowl full." "Well, I wish you'd go down and bring me up a tart, a cup of custard and a spoonful of pear sauce. Sitting up so late makes me as hungry as a wolf! Come, Patty, go along!" "Deed, miss, I'se 'fraid!" whimpered the little maid. "Afraid of what, you goose?" "'Fraid of meeting of a ghose in the dark places!" "Pooh! you can take the light with you! I can stay here in the dark well enough." "'Deed, miss, I'se 'fraid!" "What! with the candle, you blockhead?" "Lors, miss, de candle wouldn't be no 'tection! I'd see de ghoses all de plainer wid de candle!" "What a provoking, stupid dolt! You're a proper maid--afraid to do my bidding! Afraid of ghosts, forsooth. Well, I suppose I shall have to go myself--plague on you for an aggravating thing! There--take the candle and come along!" said Capitola, in a tone of impatience. Pitapat took up the light and stood ready to accompany her mistress, Capitola, humming a gay tune, went to the door and unlocked and opened it. She wished to withdraw the key, so as to lock it on the other side and secure the robbers and insure the safety of her own retreat; but to do this without betraying her purpose and destroying her own life seemed next to impossible. Still singing gayly she ran over in her mind with the quickness of lightning every possible means by which she might withdraw the key silently, or without attracting the attention of the watchful robbers. It is difficult to say what she would have done, had not chance instantly favored her. At the same moment that she unlocked and opened the door and held the key in her hand fearful of withdrawing it, Pitapat, who was hurrying after her with the candle, tripped and fell against a chair, with a great noise, under cover of which Capitola drew forth the key.