Foreseeing some possible difficulty in leaving the house unnoticed while attired in so conspicuous a costume, the Goddess had come prepared with a long black domino, which had been confided to Mr. Follingsbee, who, at the proper moment, was to fetch it from the gentlemen’s dressing-room, array Stanhope in its sombre folds, and then see him from the house, and safely established in the carriage which the detective had arranged to have in waiting to convey him to the scene of the Raid.
Owing to his little encounter with the Celestial, Stanhope knows himself cut off from communication with Mr. Follingsbee, and he now creeps toward the dressing-room wholly intent upon securing the domino and quitting the house in the quickest manner possible.
As he approaches the window, however, he realizes that there is another lion in his path.
“Stanhope, bounding to his feet, springs through the open window”—[page 99].
The room is already occupied; he hears two voices speaking in guarded tones.
“Be quick, Harvey; some one may come in a moment.”
“I have locked the door.”
“But it must be opened at the first knock. There must be no appearance of mystery, no room for suspicion, Harvey.”