Roanoke of Roanoke Hall: A Romance — page 108: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

102 Roanoke of Roanoke Hall. until I lay once more upon the hay-rick in the desecrated chapel. Half an hour must have slipped away be- fore the secret visitor issued from the pas- sage. I watched him as he closed the door of the staircase, opened that into the outer air, the spring of which I had never been able to find, and went out into the darkness, for night had now fallen, closing the panel behind him. For ten minutes I remained motionless, lest he should unexpectedly return, and then I groped my way to the important corner, and soon found the disguised handle. To my de- light it turned in my clutch and, with a little effort, I swung the door open. It was not, however, my intention to make use of my newly gained knowledge just then. First it was essential to take every precaution against discovery, and to account for my absence, in case it should be noticed. I reclosed the door, and taking a long stick which stood by the entrance I placed - it across the inside of the confessional in : such a manner that no one could pass with- out removing it, and that it should yet have ( TVLIW) | oO comichbooks.com