Everything was in it except his leather belt, and this he buckled around Philippa's body.
There seemed to be no way he could test the cord except, inch by inch, using main strength; and, looking at the slender girl beside him, he concluded that it was going to hold her anyway.
The only light left in the room came from the stars; by this he crept across to the fireplace, lifted the heavy, iron grate with difficulty, set it at the foot of the window, fastened one end of the cord to it, turned and beckoned to Philippa.
She came creeping through the dusk on hands and knees; he pushed the pistol into one hip pocket, the electric torch into the other, fastened the rope to his leather belt which she wore, motioned her to mount the sill.
"But—you?" she whispered.
"Listen! I shall follow. If I fall, try to find Halkett in the square and tell him."
"Warner—I am afraid!"
"I won't let you fall——"
"For you, I mean!"
"Don't be afraid. I could almost drop it without any cord to help me. Now! Are you ready?"