"Hell and furies!" ejaculated Dick Flairer, dropping his dark lantern and a bunch of skeleton keys upon the floor, while his face was suddenly distorted with an expression of indescribable horror; then, in obedience to the natural impulse of his alarm, he rushed towards the window, the shutters and casement of which had been forced open, leapt through it, and disappeared amidst the darkness of the night. Astonished by this strange event, Bill Bolter instantly turned his eyes from Montague, whom he was at that moment about to attack, towards the Cracksman and Walter Sydney. The colour fled from the murderer's cheeks, as if a sudden spell had fallen upon him: his teeth chattered--his knees trembled--and he leant against the table for support. There was the identical being whom four years and five months before, they had hurled down the trap-door of the old house in Chick Lane:--and who, that had ever met that fate as yet, had survived to tell the tale? For an instant the entire frame of the murderer was convulsed with alarm: the apparition before him--the vision of his assassinated wife--and the reminiscences of other deeds of the darkest dye, came upon him with the force of a whirlwind. For an instant, we say, was he convulsed with alarm;--in another moment he yielded to his fears, and, profiting by his companion's example, disappeared like an arrow through the window. Amongst persons engaged in criminal pursuits, a panic-terror is very catching. The Cracksman--formidable and daring as he was--suddenly experienced an unknown and vague fear, when he perceived the horror and unassumed alarm which had taken possession of his comrades. He loosened his grasp upon his intended victim: Walter made a last desperate effort, and released himself from the burglar's power. "Approach me, and I will blow your brains out," cried Montague, pointing his pistol at the Cracksman. Scarcely were these words uttered, when the burglar darted forward, dashed the lamp from the hands of Montague, and effected his escape by the window. Montague rushed to the casement, and snapped the pistol after him: the weapon only flashed in the pan. Montague closed the window and fastened the shutters. He then called Walter by name; and, receiving no answer, groped his way in the dark towards the door. His feet encountered an obstacle upon the carpet: he stooped down and felt with his hands;--Walter Sydney had fainted. Scarcely two minutes had elapsed since Montague had entered the room; for the confusion and flight of the burglars had not occupied near so much time to enact as to describe. The entire scene had moreover passed without any noise calculated to disturb the household. There were consequently no servants at hand to afford Walter the succour which he required. For a moment Montague hesitated what course to pursue; but, after one instant's reflection, he took her in his arms, and carried her up into her own enchanting and delicious boudoir. CHAPTER XXI.