The Axe in the Noose

Many windows looking into that huge quadrangular yard were open at that moment, but he did not raise his head. The staircase leading to the old woman's room was close by, just on the right of the gateway. He began softly and cautiously ascending the stairs, listening every minute. But the stairs too were quite deserted, all the doors were shut. One flat indeed on the first floor was wide open, and painters were at work in it; they did not glance at him. Of course it would be better if they had not been here, but it's two stories above them. And there was the fourth story, here was the door,. Here was the flat opposite, the