The silence that hung over the interior of the house was like that of the tomb. It was unbroken by even the slightest sound.
Going softly along the hall he finally reached a door, which he judged to be that opening on the street.
This gave him his bearings, so to speak, and he went back along the hall. He paused before a door leading into one of the rooms.
From within came no sound.
The detective told himself:
“It is deserted, and if I can manage it I mean to go in and have a look around.”
To his surprise, in trying the door, he found that it was not locked.
Softly pushing it open he entered.
There was a lighted lamp in the room.
He had not been given more than two minutes to look around when he heard steps approaching.