The sound of the wheels was evidently heard within, and the front door was thrown open, letting out considerable light from the hall.
Nick could not go too near that light, so he let go, and crept into some shrubbery.
The carriage drew up before the door, and the colonel and his companion hurried into the house, leaving the horse tied.
The detective failed to obtain a good view of the woman or of the person who had opened the door. The latter seemed to be a servant.
When the door had closed, Nick crept up.
He manoeuvred carefully, and discovered that there was somebody sitting in the hall just inside the door.
Entrance by that means was out of the question.
However, he succeeded without much difficulty in entering the house from the rear.
He found himself in the kitchen, from which he passed to a dining-room.
This apartment was almost totally dark. Nick felt his way to the side opposite the kitchen, and came to a heavy pair of folding doors.