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286 the door should have been locked. After an interval they both assured him that the key must be inside, as they had sought for it in vain.

"'My good woman,' exclaimed Valentine, 'I tell you I am locked in. I was brought here in the middle of the night, for what purpose I can't guess, and shut into this room. I heard the man that lured me hither, turn the key; and all I beg of you is, to send for some one to break the door open, and let me out.'

"After this, he heard the women whispering and tittering together; and then they went away, and all was silent.

"Having waited some time in expectation of their return, he looked about for a bell, he found one which he reached by mounting on a table, for the cord was cut short; but he rang it in vain. He then made a noise at the door, and tried to kick it open, but no sound indicated that there was any one in the house but himself. Desperate at the delay, and uncertain whether the women would return or not, he next rushed to the window, and threw it open, resolving to jump out at all risks, rather than longer submit to this mysterious imprisonment. Now that it was light enough to distinguish surrounding objects, the feat did not appear