The latter might be
locked. This I was able to ascertain only by experiment. If it were so,
yet the key was probably in the lock, and might be used without much
noise. I waited till their slow and hoarser inspirations showed them to be both
asleep. Just then, on changing my position, my head struck against some
things which depended from the ceiling of the closet. They were
implements of some kind which rattled against each other in consequence
of this unlucky blow. I was fearful lest this noise should alarm, as the
closet was little distant from the bed. The breathing of one instantly
ceased, and a motion was made as if the head were lifted from the
pillow. This motion, which was made by the husband, awaked his
companion, who exclaimed, "What is the matter?" "Something, I believe," replied he, "in the closet. If I was not
dreaming, I heard the pistols strike against each other as if some one
was taking them down." This intimation was well suited to alarm the lady. She besought him to
ascertain the matter. This, to my utter dismay, he at first consented to
do, but presently observed that probably his ears had misinformed him. It was hardly possible that the sound proceeded from them. It might be a
rat, or his own fancy might have fashioned it. It is not easy to
describe my trepidations while this conference was holding. I saw how
easily their slumber was disturbed. The obstacles to my escape were less
surmountable than I had imagined. In a little time all was again still. I waited till the usual tokens of
sleep were distinguishable. I once more resumed my attempt. The bolt was
withdrawn with all possible slowness; but I could by no means prevent
all sound. My state was full of inquietude and suspense; my attention
being painfully divided between the bolt and the condition of the
sleepers. The difficulty lay in giving that degree of force which was
barely sufficient. Perhaps not less than fifteen minutes were consumed
in this operation. At last it was happily effected, and the door was
cautiously opened. Emerging as I did from utter darkness, the light admitted into three
windows produced, to my eyes, a considerable illumination. Objects
which, on my first entrance into this apartment, were invisible, were
now clearly discerned. The bed was shrouded by curtains, yet I shrunk
back into my covert, fearful of being seen. To facilitate my escape, I
put off my shoes. My mind was so full of objects of more urgent moment,
that the propriety of taking them along with me never occurred. I left
them in the closet. I now glided across the apartment to the door. I was not a little
discouraged by observing that the key was wanting. My whole hope
depended on the omission to lock it. In my haste to ascertain this
point, I made some noise which again roused one of the sleepers. He
started, and cried, "Who is there?" I now regarded my case as desperate, and detection as inevitable. My
apprehensions, rather than my caution, kept me mute. I shrunk to the
wall, and waited in a kind of agony for the moment that should decide my
fate. The lady was again roused. In answer to her inquiries, her husband said
that some one, he believed, was at the door, but there was no danger of
their entering, for he had locked it, and the key was in his pocket. My courage was completely annihilated by this piece of intelligence. My
resources were now at an end. I could only remain in this spot till the
morning light, which could be at no great distance, should discover me. My inexperience disabled me from estimating all the perils of my
situation. Perhaps I had no more than temporary inconveniences to dread. My intention was innocent, and I had been betrayed into my present
situation, not by my own wickedness, but the wickedness of others. I was deeply impressed with the ambiguousness which would necessarily
rest upon my motives, and the scrutiny to which they would be subjected. I shuddered at the bare possibility of being ranked with thieves. These
reflections again gave edge to my ingenuity in search of the means of
escape. I had carefully attended to the circumstances of their entrance. Possibly the act of locking had been unnoticed; but was it not likewise
possible that this person had been mistaken? The key was gone. Would
this have been the case if the door were unlocked? My fears, rather than my hopes, impelled me to make the experiment. I
drew back the latch, and, to my unspeakable joy, the door opened. I passed through and explored my way to the staircase. I descended till
I reached the bottom. I could not recollect with accuracy the position
of the door leading into the court, but, by carefully feeling along the
wall with my hands, I at length discovered it. It was fastened by
several bolts and a lock. The bolts were easily withdrawn, but the key
was removed. I knew not where it was deposited. I thought I had reached
the threshold of liberty, but here was an impediment that threatened to
be insurmountable. But, if doors could not be passed, windows might be unbarred. I
remembered that my companion had gone into a door on the left hand, in
search of a light. I searched for this door. Fortunately it was fastened
only by a bolt. It admitted me into a room which I carefully explored
till I reached a window. I will not dwell on my efforts to unbar this
entrance. Suffice it to say that, after much exertion and frequent
mistakes, I at length found my way into the yard, and thence passed into
the court. CHAPTER V.


Now I was once more on public ground. By so many anxious efforts had I
disengaged myself from the perilous precincts of private property. As
many stratagems as are usually made to enter a house had been employed
by me to get out of it. I was urged to the use of them by my fears; yet,
so far from carrying off spoil, I had escaped with the loss of an
essential part of my dress. I had now leisure to reflect. I seated myself on the ground and reviewed
the scenes through which I had just passed. I began to think that my
industry had been misemployed. Suppose I had met the person on his first
entrance into his chamber? Was the truth so utterly wild as not to have
found credit? Since the door was locked, and there was no other avenue,
what other statement but the true one would account for my being found
there? This deportment had been worthy of an honest purpose. My betrayer
probably expected that this would be the issue of his jest. My rustic
simplicity, he might think, would suggest no more ambiguous or elaborate
expedient. He might likewise have predetermined to interfere if my
safety had been really endangered. On the morrow the two doors of the chamber and the window below would be
found unclosed. They will suspect a design to pillage, but their
searches will terminate in nothing but in the discovery of a pair of
clumsy and dusty shoes in the closet. Now that I was safe I could not
help smiling at the picture which my fancy drew of their anxiety and
wonder.