It was about half-past ten o'clock, and the light in Elizabeth Dollon's room had been extinguished for some little while, when the front door of the little house was opened again....
Noiselessly, with infinite precautions, with searching and suspicious glances, taking care to keep off the gravel of the paths, tip-toeing on the grass edging the flower beds, where his steps made no sound, a man left the house and went towards the garden gate.
He quickly reached it; and there he commenced to whistle a soft, slow, monotonous, and continuous whistle.
Second succeeded second; then another whistle, identical in rhythm, replied: soon a voice asked:
"It's you, Jules?"
"It is I, master!"
The man whom Jules named "master," was the stranger, who, for two weary hours, had kept strict watch over the goings and comings of the house....
"All well, Jules?"
"All well, master!"
"And nothing new?..."