Inanumbedway，mechanically，sheretreatedtothedoor；and，withtheflashlightplayinguponit，shenoticedforthefirsttimethatthelockhadbeenroughlyforced。Itwasbutcorroborativeofthedespoileddrawer；and，atthesametime，theobviousreasonwhythedoorhadnotbeenrelockedwhenwhoeverhadcomeherehadgoneoutagain。
Whoeverhadcomehere！Shecouldhavelaughedouthysterically。
Wasthereanydoubtastowhoitwas？OneofDanglar’semissaries；
theCricket，perhaps-orperhapsevenDanglarhimself！Theyhadseentoitthatlackofpromptaction，atleast，wouldnotbethecauseofmarringtheirplans。
Alittledazed，overwrought，confusedatthegroundbeingcutfromunderherwhereshehadbeensoconfidentofasurefooting，shemadeherwayoutofthebuilding，andtothestreet-andforablockwalkedalmostaimlesslyalong。Andthensuddenlysheturnedhurriedlyintoacrossstreet，andheadedovertowardtheEastSide。
Theexperiencehadnotbeenapleasantone，andithadupsetmostthoroughlyallhercalculations；butitwasveryfar，afterall，frombeingdisastrous。ItmeantsimplythatshemustnowfindNickyVinerhimselfandwarntheman，andtherewasampletimeinwhichtodothat。ThecodemessagespecificallystatedmidnightasthehouratwhichtheyproposedtofavoroldVinerwiththeirunhallowedattentions，andasitwasbutalittleaftertennow，shehadnearlyafulltwohoursinwhichtoaccomplishwhatshouldnottakehermorethanafewminutes。
RhodaGray’slipstightenedalittle，asshehurriedalong。OldNickyVinerstilllivedinthesamedisreputabletenementinwhichhehadlivedonthenightofthatmurdertwoyearsago，andshecouldnotwardoffthethoughtthatithadbeen-yes，andwas-anidealplaceforamurder，fromthemurderer’sstandpoint！TheneighborhoodwasoneofthetoughestinNewYork，andthetenementitselfwasfranklynothingmorethanadenofcrooks。True，shehadvisitedtheremorethanonce，hadvisitedNickyVinerthere；
butshehadgonetherethenastheWhiteMoll，towhomeventhemostabandonedwouldhavetouchedhiscap。To-nightitwasverydifferent-shewentthereasawoman。Andyet，afterall-sheamendedherownthoughts，smilingalittleseriously-surelyshecoulddiscloseherselfastheWhiteMollthereagainto-nightiftheactualnecessityarose，forsurelycrooks，pokegetters，shillabersandlagsthoughtheywere，andthoughtheplaceteemedwiththedregsoftheunderworld，nooneofthem，evenfortherewardthatmightbeoffered，wouldinformagainsthertothepolice！
Andyet-againthementalpendulumswungtheotherway-shewasnotsoconfidentofthatasshewouldliketobe。Inageneralwaytherecouldbenoquestionbutthatshecouldcountontheloyaltyofthosewholivedthere；buttherewerealwaysthoseuponwhomonecouldnevercount，thosewhoweredeadtoallsenseofloyalty，andaliveonlytoselfishgainandinterest-ahumantraitthat，alltoounfortunately，wasnotconfinedtothosealonewholivedinthatshadowlandoutsidethelaw。Herface，beneaththethickveil，relaxedalittle。Well，shecertainlydidnotintendtomakeatestcaseofitanddiscloseherselfthereastheWhiteMoll，ifshecouldhelpit！Shewouldenterthetenementunnoticedifshecould，andmakeherwaytoNickyViner’stwomiserableroomsonthesecondfloorassecretivelyasshecould。And，knowingtheplaceasshedid，shewasquitesatisfiedthat，ifshewerecarefulenoughandcautiousenough，shecouldbothenterandleavewithoutbeingseenbyanyoneexcept，ofcourse，NickyViner。
Shewalkedonquickly。Fiveminutes，tenminutespassed；andnow，inanarrowstreet，lightedmostlybythedull，yellowglowthatseepedupfromthesidewalkthroughbasemententrances，queerandforbiddingportalstosinisterinteriors，orfilteredthroughthedirtywindowsofuninvitinglittleshopsthatranthegamutfromChineselaundriestooysterdens，shehalted，drawnbackintheshadowsofadoorway，andstudiedatenementbuildingthatwasjustaheadofher。ThatwaswhereoldNickyVinerlived。Asmileofgrimwhimsicalitytouchedherlips。Notalightshowedintheplacefromtoptobottom。Fromitsexterioritmighthavebeenuninhabited，evenlongdeserted。Buttoonewhoknew，itwasquitethenormalcondition，quitewhatonewouldexpect。Thosewholivedthereconfinedtheiractivitiesmostlytothenight；andtheirexodustotheirlaborsbeganwhenthelaborsoftheworldatlargeended-withthefallofdarkness。
Foralittlewhileshewatchedtheplace，andkeptglancingupanddownthestreet；andthen，seizingheropportunitywhenforhalfablockormorethestreetwasfreeofpedestrians，shestoleforwardandreachedthetenementdoor。Itwashalfopen，andsheslippedquicklyinsideintothehall。
Shestoodhereforamomentmotionless；listening，strivingtoaccommodatehereyestothedarkness，andinstinctivelyherhandwenttoherpocketforthereassuringtouchofherrevolver。ItwasblackbackthereinthehallwayofGypsyNan’slodging；shehadnotthoughtthatanygreaterdegreeofblacknesscouldexist；butitwasblackerhere。Onlythesenseoftouchpromisedtobeofanyavail。Ifonecouldhavemovedasnoiselesslyasashadowmoves，onecouldhavepassedanotherwithinarm’s-lengthunseen。Andsoshelistened，listenedintently。Andtherewasverylittlesound。
Onceshedetectedafootstepfromtheinteriorofsomeroomasitmovedacrossabarefloor；oncesheheardadoorcreaksomewhereupstairs；andonce，fromsomeindeterminatedirection，shethoughtsheheardvoiceswhisperingtogetherforamoment。
Shemovedsuddenlythen，abruptly，almostimpulsively，butcarefulnottomaketheslightestnoise。Shedarednotremainanotherinstantinactive。Itwaswhatshehadexpected，whatshehadcounteduponasanally，thisdarkness，butshewasnotonewholaughed，evenindaylight，atitspsychology。Itwasbeginningtoattackhernow；herimaginationtomagnifyeventheactualdangersthatsheknewtobearoundher。Andshemustfightitoffbeforeitgotaholduponher，andbeforepanicvoicesoutoftheblacknessbegantoshriekandclamorinherears，assheknewtheywoulddowithpitifullylittleprovocation，urginghertoturnandfleeincontinently。
Thestaircase，sheremembered，wasatherright；andfeelingoutbeforeherwithherhands，shereachedthestairs，andbegantomountthem。Shewentslowly，veryslowly。Theywerebare，thestairs，andunlessonewereextremelycarefultheywouldcreakoutthroughthesilencewithanoisethatcouldbeheardfromtoptobottomofthetenement。Butshewasnotmakinganynoise；shedarednotmakeanynoise。
Halfwayupshehaltedandpressedherbodycloseagainstthewall。
Wasthatsomebodycoming？Sheheldherbreathinexpectation。
Therewasn’tasoundnow，butshecouldhaveswornshehadheardafootsteponthehallwayabove，orontheupperstairs。Shebitherlipsinvexation。Panicnoises！That’swhattheywere！That，andthethumpingofherheart！Whywasitthatalarmsandexaggeratedfanciescameandtriedtounnerveher？What，afterall，wastherereallytobeafraidof？Shehadalmostacleartwohoursbeforesheneedevenanticipateanyactualdangerhere，and，ifNickyVinerwerein，shewouldbeawayfromthetenementagaininanotherfifteenminutesatthelatest。
RhodaGraywentonagain，andgainingthelanding，haltedoncemore。
Andhereshesmiledatherselfwiththetolerantchidingshewouldhaveaccordedachildthatwasfrightenedwithoutwarrant。Shecouldaccountforthosewhisperingsandthatfootstepnow。Thedoortotheleft，theonenexttoNickyViner’ssqualid，two-roomapartment，wasevidentlypartiallyopen，andoccasionallysomeonemovedwithin；andthevoicescamefromtheretoo，and，low-tonedtobeginwith，werenaturallymuffledintowhispersbythetimetheyreachedher。
Shehadonly，then，tostepthefiveorsixfeetacrossthenarrowhallinordertoreachNickyViner’sdoor，andunlessbysomeunfortunatechancewhoeverwasinthatroomhappenedtocomeoutintothehallatthesamemoment，shewould-Yes，itwasallright！
ShewastryingNickyViner’sdoornow。Itwasunlocked，andassheopeneditforthespaceofacrack，thereshowedatinychinkoflight，sofaintandmeagerthatitseemedtoshrinktimorouslybackagainasthoughputtoroutbythemassedblackness-butitwasenoughtoevidencethefactthatNickyVinerwasathome。Itwasallsimpleenoughnow。OldVinerwouldundoubtedlymakesomeexclamationathersuddenandstealthyentrance，butonceshewasinsidewithoutthoseinthenextroomeitherhavingheardorseenher，itwouldnotmatter。
Anotherinchshepushedthedooropen，another-andthenanother。
Andthenquickly，silently，shetip-toedoverthethresholdandclosedthedoorsoftlybehindher。Thelightcamefromtheinnerroomandshonethroughtheconnectingdoor，whichwasopen，andtherewasmovementfromwithin，andalow，growlingvoice，petulant，whining，asthoughanoldmanweremumblingcomplaininglytohimself。
Shesmiledcoldly。ItwasverylikeNickyViner-itwasahabitofhistotalktohimself，sheremembered。And，also，shehadneverheardNickyVinerdoanythingelsebutgrumbleandcomplain。
Butshecouldnotseefullyintotheotherroom，onlyintoacornerofit，forthetwodoorswerelocateddiagonallyacrossfromoneanother，andherhand，inastartledway，wentsuddenlytoherlips，asthoughmechanicallytohelpchokebackandstiflethealmostoverpoweringimpulsetocryoutthatarosewithinher。NickyVinerwasnotaloneinthere！Afigurehadcomeintoherlineofvisioninthatotherroom，notNickyViner，notanyofthegang-andshestarednowinincredulousamazement，scarcelyabletobelievehereyes。Andthen，suddenlycoolandself-possessedagain，relievedinacuriouswaybecausetheelementofpersonaldangerwasasaconsequenceeliminated，shebegantounderstandwhyshehadbeenforestalledinhereffortsatPerlmer’sofficewhenshehadbeensosurethatshewouldbefirstuponthescene。ItwasnotDanglar，ortheCricket，orSkeeny，oranyofthebandwhohadforestalledher-itwastheAdventurer。ThatwastheAdventurerstandingintherenow，sidefacetoher，inNickyViner’sinnerroom！
RhodaGraymovedquietly，inchbyinch，alongthesideofthewalltogainapointofvantagemorenearlyoppositethelighteddoorway。
Andthenshestoppedagain。Shecouldseequiteclearlynow-thatis，therewasnothingnowtoobstructherview；butthelightwasmiserableandpoor，andthesinglegas-jetthatwheezedandflickereddidlittlemorethandispersetheshadowsfromitsimmediateneighborhoodinthatinnerroom。Butshecouldseeenough-shecouldseethebentandill-cladfigureofNickyViner，assherememberedhim，anold，gray-beardedman，wringinghishandsingrovelingmisery，whilethemumblingvoice，nowwhiningandpleading，nowservile，nowpluckingupcouragetoindulgeinabuse，keptonwithouteven，itseemed，apauseforbreath。AndshecouldseetheAdventurer，quiteunmoved，quitedebonair，acuriouslypatientsmileonhisface，standingthere，muchnearertoher，hisrighthandinthesidepocketofhiscoat，asomewhatsignificanthabitofhis，hislefthandholdingasheafoffolded，legal-lookingdocuments。
AndthensheheardtheAdventurerspeak。
“Whataflowofwords！“saidtheAdventurer，inaboredvoice。
“Youwillforgiveme，mydearMr。Viner，ifIappeartobefacetious，whichIamnot-butmoneytalks。“
“Youareathief，arobber！“Theoldgray-beardedfigurerockedonitsfeetandkeptwringingitshands。“Getoutofhere！Getout！
Doyouhear？Getout！Youcometostealfromapooroldman，and-“
“Mustwegoalloverthatagain？“interruptedtheAdventurerwearily。
“Ihavenotcometostealanything；Ihavesimplycometosellyouthesepapers，whichIamquitesure，onceyoucontrolyourselfandgivethematteralittlecalmconsideration，youarereallymostanxioustobuy-atanyprice。
“It’salie！“theothercroakedhoarsely。“Thosepapersarealie！
Iaminnocent。AndIhaven’tgotanymoney。None！Ihaven’tany。
Iampoor-anoldman-andpoor。“
RhodaGrayfeltthebloodflushhotlytohercheeks。Somehowshecouldfeelnosympathyforthatcringingfigureinthere；butshefeltahotresentmenttowardthatdapper，immaculatelydressedandself-possessedyoungman，whostoodthere，silentlynow，tappingthepaperswithprovokingcoolnessagainsttheedgeoftheplaindealtableinfrontofhim。Andsomehowtheresentmentseemedtotakeamostpeculiarphase。Sheresentedthefactthatsheshouldfeelresentment，nomatterwhatthemandidorsaid。Itwasasthough，insteadofanger，impersonalanger，atthislow，miserableactofhis，shefeltashamedofhim。Herhandclenchedfiercelyasshecrouchedthereagainstthewall。Itwasn’ttrue！Shefeltnothingofthesort！Whyshouldshebeashamedofhim？Whatwashetoher？
Hewasfranklyathief，wasn’the？Andhewasathispitifulcallingnow-downtothelowestdregsofit。Whatelsedidsheexpect？Becausehehadtheappearanceofagentleman，wasitthathersenseofgratitudeforwhatsheowedhimhadmadeher，deepdowninhersoul，actuallycherishthebeliefthathereallywasone-madeherhopeit，andnourishthathopeintobelief？Tighterherhandclenched。Herlipsparted，andherbreathcameinshort，hardinhalations。Wasittrue？Wasitallonlyanaddedmisery，whereithadseemedtherecouldbenonetoaddtoherlifeintheselastfewdays？Wasittruethattherewasnopriceshewouldnothavepaidtohavefoundhiminanyrolebutthisabasedonethathewasplayingnow？
TheAdventurerbrokethesilence。
