She began to feel less dizzy, and having paused for a moment on the
landing, she succeeded in getting her coat on. Then she closed the
door as quietly as possible, and clutching the handrail began to grope
her way downstairs. There was only one flight, she remembered, and a
short passage leading to the street door. She reached the passage
without mishap, and saw a faint light ahead.
The fastenings gave her some trouble, but finally her efforts were
successful, and she found herself standing in deserted Duke Street.
There was no moon, but the sky was cloudless. She had no idea of the
time, but because of the stillness of the surrounding streets she knew
that it must be very late. She set out for her flat, walking slowly
and wondering what explanation she should offer if a constable
observed her.
Oxford Street showed deserted as far as the eye could reach, and her
light footsteps seemed to awaken a hundred echoes. Having proceeded
for some distance without meeting anyone, she observed--and
experienced a childish alarm--the head-lights of an approaching car.
Instantly the idea of hiding presented itself to her, but so rapidly
did the big automobile speed along the empty thoroughfare that Rita
was just passing a street lamp as the car raced by, and she must
therefore have been clearly visible to the occupants.
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