Our hero had turned his attention to this long before the night of the proposed burglary.
The schoolroom appeared to be the weakest point of attack.
It jutted out from the house itself, and was fastened most insecurely—doubtless it had been originally a ball-room in the days when the habitation boasted of liberal occupants. Anyhow it was most alluring to the eyes of our burglar.
At its end was a bay window with lozenge-shaped panes set in lead.
Peace found but little difficulty in removing one of these; but the room was secured by shutters, which were, however, old and rickety; but, nevertheless, they were not so easily opened as he had at first supposed. They resisted all his efforts.
There was no other way left but to bore some holes with his centre-bit, and then to remove a portion of the panel.
This he proceeded to do without further delay, of course performing the operation as noiselessly as possible.
In a short time a portion of the panel was removed. He then put his hand through the aperture and lifted up the bar of the shutter.
He then unfastened the window and gained an entrance into the schoolroom.
All this had been done without anyone being aroused.