From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once
at our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that
the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the deep
tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of an
hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and one
and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever
might befall.
Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the
direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was
succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal.
Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle
sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the
smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears.
