almost forgot to take some money from the little store which I
kept locked up in my trunk. A shilling would be ample, I thought;
but I took rather more than that, so as to he on the safe side. I
took the precaution, before leaving, of bolting my door from the
inside, lest Ephraim should visit me in my absence.

Then, having tested all my knots, I paid out my ladder from the
window. No one was within sight along the lane. Downstairs they
were at supper, for I heard the dining-room bell ring. Very
cautiously I swung myself over the window ledge on my adventure.
Now a rope ladder is an unsteady thing at the best of times; but
when I swung myself on to this one it jumped about like a wild
colt, banging the fire-irons against the wall, making noise
enough to raise the town. I had to climb down it on the inner
side, or I should have had Ephraim out to see what the matter
was. Even so, my heart was in my mouth, with fright, as I stepped
on to the pavement. After making sure that no one saw, I hooked
up the lower ends of my ladder as far as I could reach, so that a
passer-by might run less chance of seeing them. Then I scuttled
off to the delights of Eastcheap, thinking what glorious sport I
could have with this ladder in time to come. I thought of the
moonlight adventures on the river, skulking along in my boat,
like a pirate on a night attack. I thought how, perhaps, I should
overhear gangs of highwaymen making their plans, or robbers in
their dens, carousing after a victory. It seemed to me that
London might be a wonderful place, to one with such a means of
getting out at night.

I ate a good supper at a cook-shop, sauntered about the streets
for awhile, then sauntered slowly home, after buying a tinder