This central block is made up of the dwelling-rooms, with the kitchen behind and our bedroom above.My maid Theresa sleeps above my room.There is no one else, and no sound could alarm those who are in the farther wing.This must have been well known to the robbers, or they would not have acted as they did.
"Sir Eustace retired about half-past ten.The servants had already gone to their quarters.Only my maid was up, and she had remained in her room at the top of the house until I needed her services.I sat until after eleven in this room, absorbed in a book.Then I walked round to see that all was right before I went upstairs.It was my custom to do this myself, for, as I have explained, Sir Eustace was not always to be trusted.
I went into the kitchen, the butler's pantry, the gun-room, the billiard-room, the drawing-room, and finally the dining-room.
As I approached the window, which is covered with thick curtains, I suddenly felt the wind blow upon my face and realized that it was open.I flung the curtain aside and found myself face to face with a broad-shouldered, elderly man who had just stepped into the room.The window is a long French one, which really forms a door leading to the lawn.I held my bedroom candle lit in my hand, and, by its light, behind the first man I saw two others, who were in the act of entering.I stepped back, but the fellow was on me in an instant.He caught me first by the wrist and then by the throat.I opened my mouth to scream, but he struck me a savage blow with his fist over the eye, and felled me to the ground.I must have been unconscious for a few minutes, for when I came to myself I found that they had torn down the bell-rope and had secured me tightly to the oaken chair which stands at the head of the dining-room table.