“But you don’t think there is any danger of my doing so?”

“No,” said the old gentleman.  “Though our acquaintance is so recent, I feel great confidence in you.  As I cannot see the face, I have learned to judge of the character by the tone of the voice, and I am very much mistaken if you are not thoroughly honest and trustworthy.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Herbert, his face flushed with pleasure at this evidently sincere commendation.  “You shall not repent your confidence.”

“I am sure of that, Herbert,” said Mr. Carroll, kindly.  “But I must bid you good-night.  This has been a fatiguing day, and I shall lose no time in getting to sleep.”

“Good-night.  I hope you will sleep well, sir,” said Herbert.  “There won’t be much sleep for me,” he thought.

Mr. Carroll lay down, and his deep, tranquil breathing soon assured our hero that he was asleep.  He rose from his bed and examined the windows.  All but one were provided with fastenings.  But the one on the right-hand side of his bed could be raised from the outside without difficulty.

“I wish I had a nail,” thought Herbert.  “I could soon make it fast.”

But there was none in the room, and he did not wish to go downstairs for one, since he would probably meet the stranger, who would then learn what precautions he was taking, and so, perhaps, vary his attack.

“That window will need watching,” thought Herbert.  “I wonder whether I shall be able to keep awake.”

The excitement of his situation, and, perhaps, the strong tea, to which he was unaccustomed, helped him to remain vigilant.  His mind was active and on the alert, and his ears were open to catch the least sound.

It was only half-past ten.  Probably the attempt to enter the room would not be made before twelve, at least, in order to insure their being asleep.

Herbert examined his pistol.  It was in excellent order, and was provided with two barrels, both of which he loaded.  Thus, he would have a double chance to defend himself.  He did not remove all his clothing, but kept on his pants, in order to be prepared for emergencies.

There was an hour and a half to wait before midnight.  The minutes passed slowly.  Herbert for a time heard the murmur of voices in the barroom below, then steps ascended the stairs, and, after a while, all was hushed.

“I wish the fellow would come quick,” he thought, “if he is coming at all, so that it might be all over, and I might go to sleep.”

Time sped on.  Herbert could hear the village clock striking twelve; but still all around remained quiet.

It might have been a half an hour later when he heard a slight noise, as he thought, under the window.  Jumping softly out of bed, he took a peep out.  It was just light enough for him to distinguish a dark form moving about, bearing something, which he soon perceived to be a ladder.  That it was the black-whiskered man who had followed them, he did not doubt, and he felt confident that he intended to place the ladder against the window.  He was not mistaken.  He heard the top of the ladder softly inclined against the house, and then he felt that the critical moment, which was to test his courage, was close at hand.