He was outside the window, and he tried to open it.
In this he failed, and it became evident that the window was fastened on the inside.
“Only one thing is left for me to do,” he thought, “and that is to smash the glass. It will make more or less noise, but it must be done.”
Bracing himself so there was little chance of slipping and falling, he carefully took off his coat, which he wrapped about his right hand, with which he intended to break in the window.
He lifted his hand to carry out the project.
Then he paused and listened, hearing the sound of voices and heavy footsteps.
To his dismay, he heard the footsteps entering the room before him.
“It is my enemies!” he huskily whispered. “They are returning to carry me out and sink me in the river!”
Now he felt that he was in frightful peril. As soon as they entered that little closed room they would see that he had escaped by the window.
He had escaped from the room, but he was still within two yards of that window, and it would be a simple thing to recapture him.