Feeling that every moment was precious, she groped about for it, but it was not to be found. Then she felt the brush of a woman's skirt over her.
Liz bent downward.
Leonie believed that her hour had come, but with a last struggle for precious life, she caught the woman's feet at the ankles and upset her. The respite was only momentary.
She readily understood that an attempt to cope with insanity was but another form of madness, and leaping to her feet, she approached the window.
Her resolve was desperate. She would trust to a jump in preference to a lunatic.
Then at the last moment, Heaven seemed to come to her rescue.
As she threw up the sash, she caught sight of a rope that was attached to the sill, for some purpose of Ben's own. Hastily securing the end in a knot around her waist, she sprung upon the sill and let herself down.
She did not pause to consider the danger. It was alluring beside that which she had but just escaped.
Down, down she went through the gloom of the night into the street, but before she reached the pavement, she felt a heavy hand laid upon her.
Rough as the grasp was, it felt like the hand of Heaven to her.