on in astonishment, but having great faith in his master imitated
his example.

"That is a curious way of warming the hands," he said.

"I daresay you have made snowballs in your time, Paolo, and if you
have you will remember that, although it made your hands bitterly
cold at first, after you had done they soon became almost as hot
as fire."

"I do remember that, master, but I should never have thought of it
as a way of warming our hands."

For a minute or two there was a sharp pain as the blood began to
rush into the fingers, and when this passed off their hands were
in a glow. Hector took the rope, lowered himself over the parapet,
and then began to descend. When halfway down the darkness became
more intense than before, and he knew that he was now below
the level of the outer wall. When he reached the ground he shook
the rope as a signal, and then, stretching his arms before him,
crossed the lane. It was but a step, for the house stood but five
feet back from the wall. He waited until Paolo joined him, then he
drew on the thin rope and, to his satisfaction, he felt it yield.

"Stand aside," he said, "it is heavy enough to give one a nasty
thump."

Paolo withdrew a few paces, then Hector gave another pull. The rope
gave way at once. He flattened himself against the house, and the
hook fell with a dull thud a foot or two away.