Mysuspicionofeverybodyandeverythinginthishouseinclinesmetothinkthatthesecondplanmaybethebest。TheCountissafeinthebreakfast-room。
Iheardhim，throughthedoor，asIranupstairstenminutessince，exercisinghiscanary-birdsattheirtricks：——`Comeoutonmylittlefinger，mypret-pret-prettiesIComeout，andhopupstairsIOne，two，three——andup！Three，two，one——anddown！One，two，three——twit-twit-twit-tweet！’
Thebirdsburstintotheirusualecstasyofsinging，andtheCountchirrupedandwhistledattheminreturn，asifhewasabirdhimself。Myroomdoorisopen，andIcanheartheshrillsingingandwhistlingatthisverymoment。
IfIamreallytoslipoutwithoutbeingobserved，nowismytime。
Fouro’clock。ThethreehoursthathavepassedsinceImademylastentryhaveturnedthewholemarchofeventsatBlackwaterParkinanewdirection。Whetherforgoodorforevil，Icannotanddarenotdecide。