He resolved to make the attempt.
He rose softly, taking his boots in one hand and the wine-bottle in the other, to be used as a weapon in case his progress was opposed.
He stole silently across the room, and into the outer passage. Here he paused and listened. The voice of Roake said:
“Did you close the door?”
“No,” replied one of the men.
“You had better go down and do it.”
“All right. Wait till I get the box rolled over here.”
Leonard hastened on. The passage was dimly illumined, as before, by a lamp hanging from the ceiling. He remembered the route perfectly, and, making his way as rapidly as possible, he was soon in the open air by the sea-shore.
Here he paused for an instant in utter amazement. He recognized the place as Rocky Beach. It was here that he had come on a fishing jaunt, the day before the murder. The bright starlight revealed the place and its surroundings to him. There could be no mistake.
But he must not linger. His captors might be upon him in a moment.