We have on a former occasion made reference to the long screw he occasionally employed in his predatory excursions; these were most ingeniously constructed. At the end of each screw was a sharp point, and the worm was so well made that the screw itself could be forced into the wood of a door without even making a hole first with a gimlet or bradawl.
A small screwdriver was the only implement required to drive home the screws.
They, however, worked much more freely or easily when a small hole was bored.
Peace was furnished with these on the night in question, and to cut off the retreat of the inmates, should any of them be aroused, and to baffle the police, should they endeavour to enter the premises without his permission, he thought it just as well to secure the front door.
He, therefore, at once proceeded to insert two of his patent screws—one near the top, and the other near the base of the door.
This done, he went to the back of the house. Here he saw two doors, one of which opened on to the lawn.
He secured both of these in the same way.
When this had been done, he climbed a spout and got on the balcony, which ran in front of one of the back windows.
He then proceeded to effect an entrance as speedily and noiselessly as possible.
He had but little difficulty in doing this, for the window had been left unfastened, owing to the carelessness of one of the maid servants, who had shot back the clasp presumably in a hurry, for it did not overlap the opposing window sufficiently to prevent its being drawn either up or down.