“Be careful,” pleaded the woman.
“I’ll be sure to,” said the man. “And now keep a lookout. If you hear or see anything, give me the signal.”
The hinges of the invisible door creaked as it closed; then the rustling of the skirts began once more. As it approached Bat flattened himself against the wall. Slowly the woman drew nearer; then she was beside him, her skirts brushing him; but that she was unaware of his presence was proved by her continuing in silence and without a pause. But after a few moments Bat heard a slight sound as though she had caught her breath suddenly, and she came to a halt.
“She’s got to the turn in the hall,” said the big man, mentally, “and she’s found the two lights off duty.”
But the fact did not detain the woman, for once more the rustling began and finally the listener heard it die away.
“And now I may as well get on with my scouting,” was Scanlon’s soundless resolution. “The man inside there may be engaged in a matter that would interest me a great deal.”
But he had barely got under way when he halted.
“The skirts!” said he. “And coming back!”
Sure enough they were. Frou-frou, frou-frou, they came, more sharply than before, for the wearer was evidently moving at a brisker pace.
“Something new!” said Scanlon. “Maybe she’s dropped to my doings, and she’s going to put the party in the room on to it.”