"What was it?"
"I heard a sort of scratching at an upper window. It was just like—"
"Yes! Yes!"
"Like a great cat trying to gain admittance!"
"See that all the doors and windows are fastened!" I cried. "Whatever happens or whoever knocks don't open to any one, you understand? We will be with you in less than half an hour!"
Still in that frightened voice:
"For heaven's sake," she begged, "don't be long, Jack!..."
I became aware of a singular rasping sound on the wires, which rendered Isobel's words almost unintelligible. Then:
"Jack," I heard, in a faint whisper, "there is a strange noise ... just outside the room...."
Silence came. But, vaguely, above that rasping sound, I had detected the words: "Cutting ... telephone ... wires...."