CHAPTER II

INSIDE

I realised, and, so to speak, mentally photographed all the little details of the house in front of which I was standing with what almost amounted to a gleam of preternatural perception.  An instant before, the world swam before my eyes.  I saw nothing.  Now I saw everything, with a clearness which, as it were, was shocking.

Above all, I saw the open window.  I stared at it, conscious, as I did so, of a curious catching of the breath.  It was so near to me; so very near.  I had but to stretch out my hand to thrust it through the aperture.  Once inside, my hand would at least be dry.  How it rained out there!  My scanty clothing was soaked; I was wet to the skin!  I was shivering.  And, each second, it seemed to rain still faster.  My teeth were chattering.  The damp was liquefying the very marrow in my bones.

And, inside that open window, it was, it must be, so warm, so dry!

There was not a soul in sight.  Not a human being anywhere near.  I listened; there was not a sound.  I alone was at the mercy of the sodden night.  Of all God’s creatures the only one unsheltered from the fountains of Heaven which He had opened.  There was not one to see what I might do; not one to care.  I need fear no spy.  Perhaps the house was empty; nay, probably.  It was my plain duty to knock at the door, rouse the inmates, and call attention to their oversight,—­the open window.  The least they could do would be to reward me for my pains.  But, suppose the place was empty, what would be the use of knocking?  It would be to make a useless clatter.  Possibly to disturb the neighbourhood, for nothing.  And, even if the people were at home, I might go unrewarded.  I had learned, in a hard school, the world’s ingratitude.  To have caused the window to be closed—­the inviting window, the tempting window, the convenient window!—­and then to be no better for it after all, but still to be penniless, hopeless, hungry, out in the cold and the rain—­better anything than that.  In such a situation, too late, I should say to myself that mine had been the conduct of a fool.  And I should say it justly too.  To be sure.

Leaning over the low wall I found that I could very easily put my hand inside the room.  How warm it was in there!  I could feel the difference of temperature in my fingertips.  Very quietly I stepped right over the wall.  There was just room to stand in comfort between the window and the wall.  The ground felt to the foot as if it were cemented.  Stooping down, I peered through the opening.  I could see nothing.  It was black as pitch inside.  The blind was drawn right up; it seemed incredible that anyone could be at home, and have gone to bed, leaving the blind up, and the window open.  I placed my ear to the crevice.  How still it was!  Beyond doubt, the place was empty.

I decided to push the window up another inch or two, so as to enable me to reconnoitre.  If anyone caught me in the act, then there would be an opportunity to describe the circumstances, and to explain how I was just on the point of giving the alarm.  Only, I must go carefully.  In such damp weather it was probable that the sash would creak.