Undressing mechanically, I went to bed, and after a long time I slept,
exhausted.
A rumbling noise; then, after it had ceased, the realization that a
carriage had driven out of the yard--that was what woke me up. The clock
on my bureau said half past ten. For a moment I forgot what that meant;
and then sliding out of bed, I tiptoed quickly down the hall. Putting my
ear to Auber's door, I listened--till I had made sure. From within came
the dull breathing of a sleeper. Throwing on a few clothes, I went
down-stairs. The waitress was dusting in the hall.
"Where has the carriage gone?" I asked her.
"Why, sir," she said, "William is taking Mr. Hurn to the station."
After a while I had the courage to say cautiously, "I thought Mr. Hurn
was still asleep; I did not hear him come down."
"He came down ten minutes ago," she replied, "and in a great hurry, with
no time for breakfast."
"You saw him?" I cross-examined.
"Yes. The carriage was waiting, and he seemed in a great hurry, though
he did run back to take a letter from the table there."