but，asitdrewontowardnoon，Ilostmypatience。Tosaythetruth，Ihadpromisedmyselftobreakmyfastinthepavilion，andhungerbegantoprickmesharply。Itwasapitytolettheopportunitygobywithoutsomecauseformirth；butthegrosserappetiteprevailed，andIrelinquishedmyjestwithregret，andsalliedfromthewood。
Theappearanceofthehouseaffectedme，asIdrewnear；withdisquietude。Itseemedunchangedsincelastevening；andIhadexpectedit，Iscarceknewwhy，towearsomeexternalsignsofhabitation。Butno:thewindowswereallcloselyshuttered，thechimneysbreathednosmoke，andthefrontdooritselfwascloselypadlocked。Northmour，therefore，hadenteredbytheback；thiswasthenatural，andindeed，thenecessaryconclusion；andyoumayjudgeofmysurprisewhen，onturningthehouse，Ifoundthebackdoorsimilarlysecured。
Mymindatoncerevertedtotheoriginaltheoryofthieves；andI
blamedmyselfsharplyformylastnight’sinaction。Iexaminedallthewindowsonthelowerstory，butnoneofthemhadbeentamperedwith；Itriedthepadlocks，buttheywerebothsecure。Itthusbecameaproblemhowthethieves，ifthievestheywere，hadmanagedtoenterthehouse。Theymusthavegot，Ireasoned，upontheroofoftheouthousewhereNorthmourusedtokeephisphotographicbattery；andfromthence，eitherbythewindowofthestudyorthatofmyoldbedroom，completedtheirburglariousentry。
IfollowedwhatIsupposedwastheirexample；and，gettingontheroof，triedtheshuttersofeachroom。Bothweresecure；butIwasnottobebeaten；and，withalittleforce，oneofthemflewopen，grazing，asitdidso，thebackofmyhand。Iremember，Iputthewoundtomymouth，andstoodforperhapshalfaminutelickingitlikeadog，andmechanicallygazingbehindmeoverthewastelinksandthesea；and，inthatspaceoftime，myeyemadenoteofalargeschooneryachtsomemilestothenorth-east。ThenIthrewupthewindowandclimbedin。