Just here there was the sound of a distant door opening and closing. The figure crouched low on the bed, as if fearing to be seen, and waited till all was quiet again. Then it slowly opened the box or package, and took out a folded paper. The student bent over the mirror with the utmost interest. What did it mean? What would happen next? Nothing in particular happened. The figure closed the box, returned it to its hiding place in the bed, and then crept out of the range of reflected vision.
Why should the confidential clerk hide papers in his bed? What was the nature of the documents? A strange affair, certainly, but it did not concern him, and perhaps he had better drop the subject. He turned to his books and papers, and for an hour or more was too much occupied with them to heed aught else.
Suddenly there was a brisk series of taps at his door, like this:
"Yes. It is quite a comfortable den. I've unpacked everything, and--mind your steps--feel quite at home--thank you."
"I should say as much. Do look at the dust. I must have Mary up here at once."
"Madam, I never allow any female person to touch my traps. Mary may make the bed, but she must not sweep, nor dust, nor touch anything."
"Oh, Elmer! What is that--that queer thing on the table? May I look at it?"
"How stupid. I might have known that. Do you take pictures?"
"Oh, dear, no. I hate photographs. It's so disagreeable to see oneself staring with some impossible expression, and sitting in an impossible palace, with a distant landscape and drapery curtains."
"Then I'll take a view for you. Find a seat somewhere while I rig things. See those two people sitting on the little bridge that crosses the race beyond the mill? I'll photograph them without their permission."
Alma looked out of the window when Elmer had raised the curtain, but declared she couldn't see anything.
"They are very far off. Take the field glass, and you'll see them."
Alma took the glass from the table, and looked out on the sunny landscape.
"I see what you mean, but I can't make out who they are, even with the glass. It's a man and a woman, and that's as much as I can see."
"You shall see them plain enough in a moment."
So saying, Elmer placed a long brass telescope upon a stand by the open window, and through it he examined the couple on the bridge. Meanwhile Alma gazed round the room and examined its strange contents with the greatest interest.