A stone was loosened, and this gave him hope.
Beyond the wall must lie liberty.
With an energy born of despair Carter toiled until he had made a hole underneath the wall large enough to admit his body, and he did not hesitate to squeeze through it.
Beyond the wall sure enough lay freedom, for he felt the cool night air on his cheeks and found himself in a cramped back yard.
Out of durance at last, Carter breathed a prayer of thankfulness and filled up the hole.
He stood for some little time in the yard, and then cleared the fence which stood between him and the street.
Half an hour later he might have been seen to enter Bristol Clara’s house.
The woman uttered a cry as she saw him, and pulled him forward.
“Thank Heaven!” she cried; “but why didn’t you come sooner?”
“I couldn’t. Circumstances prevented,” said the detective, with a grim smile, which Bristol Clara did not understand.