Blodget carefully now laid hold of the handle of the bed-room door, and gave it a quick, sharp turn at once. He knew that that was the best way to prevent it from making any rattling or squeaking sound. The door remained fast. Blodget turned the handle again to its proper position, and stood quiet for a moment. It was quite clear that the bed-room door was fast on the inside in some way, and if it was a night bolt, the difficulty of getting rid of such an obstruction was rather serious. That is to say, it was serious as regarded time, for he was well prepared with any means for getting over such an obstacle, if he had but the time given him to do it in. ‘Step this way,’ he whispered to the man who was with him. ‘Yes—yes.’ Blodget led him to the top of the staircase, and then added— ‘You will stay here till I come to you again—keep your eyes and your ears open. There is a night-bolt to the room door, and I have the job of cutting my way to it. It will take me five minutes.’ ‘Yes—yes.’ ‘Be vigilant and quiet.’ ‘I will, Captain.’ ‘And don’t stir from this spot.’ ‘Trust me for that. I will sit down on the top stair here.’ Not a sound came from whoever slept in that apartment, and Blodget congratulated himself upon having got so far without his giving the smallest possible alarm. Passing his arm through the little hole in the door, now, he carefully lifted the night-bolt, and the door was, in a moment, open. ‘It is done,’ thought he. As he now paused for a moment he took a half mask of black crape from his pocket and put it over his face, so that he was effectually disguised and then he stepped back to the stair head where he had left his assistant, Ben. Ben was still sitting on the topmost stair, and leaning forward to catch any sounds that might come from the lower part of the mansion. Blodget placed his hand upon Ben’s shoulder, and whispered in his ear the one word— ‘Now!’ Ben started, and turning his head, the first thing he saw was the black mask, and not expecting it he gave such a start of surprise and terror that he was on his feet in a moment. No doubt he thought his infernal majesty had all of a sudden found him out. ‘Murder!’ he said. ‘Oh, Lord; no!’ ‘Silence, idiot!’ muttered Blodget, as he placed his hand over Ben’s mouth and cautioned him to quietness. The sudden consternation of Ben all evaporated before the sounds of Blodget’s voice. ‘You cursed fool,’ said Blodget in his ear, ‘what do you mean by uttering an exclamation of that sort?’ ‘I—I didn’t know.’ ‘You didn’t know?’ ‘No, captain; I think I was in a sort of a brown study, you see, and so I—’ ‘Silence!’ ‘Yes, captain.’ ‘Who is there?’ said a voice from the room, ‘who is there?’ ‘Hush,’ said Blodget as he clutched the arm of Ben, and they both stood like statues. Ben shook in every limb. ‘Did you speak?’ said the voice again. ‘Be still,’ said Blodget. ‘Don’t move, on your life, Ben.’ ‘I won’t. Oh—oh! It’s all—’ ‘What?’ ‘Up with us.’