As for himself, he was a prisoner in the room.
The gas burning overhead revealed the place to him, and he went back and stood for a little while at the table.
He felt that Richmond was already on the street below and out of sight.
“I must follow that villain,” said Nick, and again he was at the door.
All his strength could not move the portal, and then he threw himself against it, but still it would not yield.
Other doors had fallen before his assaults, but this one seemed built of adamant, and he drew back out of breath, but by no means discouraged.
He knew he was in the third story of a building, and that the room looked out upon a narrow alleyway between two houses. This he could see from the window, and he saw, too, that he could not reach the fire escape from where he was without great risk.
But it was not his intention to remain in the room any longer than he could help it.
He raised the sash and measured the distance to the fire escape, upon which he would be safe.
The detective studied the situation for a short time, and then dexterously leaped for the escape.