The Burglary at the Vicarage

           Thefactsoftheburglaryatthevicaragecametouschieflythroughthemediumofthevicarandhiswife. ItoccurredinthesmallhoursofWhitMonday,thedaydevotedinIpingtotheClubfestivities. Mrs.Bunting,itseems,wokeupsuddenlyinthestillnessthatcomesbeforethedawn,withthestrongimpressionthatthedooroftheirbedroomhadopenedandclosed. Shedidnotarouseherhusbandatfirst,butsatupinbedlistening. Shethendistinctlyheardthepad,pad,padofbarefeetcomingoutoftheadjoiningdressing-roomandwalkingalongthepassagetowardsthestaircase. Assoonasshefeltassuredofthis,shearousedtheRev.Mr.Buntingasquietlyaspossible. Hedidnotstrikealight,butputtingonhisspectacles,herdressing-gownandhisbathslippers,hewentoutonthelandingtolisten. Heheardquitedistinctlyafumblinggoingonathisstudydeskdown-stairs,andthenaviolentsneeze. 

           Atthathereturnedtohisbedroom,armedhimselfwiththemostobviousweapon,thepoker,anddescendedthestaircaseasnoiselesslyaspossible. Mrs.Buntingcameoutonthelanding. 

           Thehourwasaboutfour,andtheultimatedarknessofthenightwaspast. Therewasafaintshimmeroflightinthehall,butthestudydoorwayyawnedimpenetrablyblack. EverythingwasstillexceptthefaintcreakingofthestairsunderMr.Bunting'stread,andtheslightmovementsinthestudy. Thensomethingsnapped,thedrawerwasopened,andtherewasarustleofpapers. Thencameanimprecation,andamatchwasstruckandthestudywasfloodedwithyellowlight. Mr.Buntingwasnowinthehall,andthroughthecrackofthedoorhecouldseethedeskandtheopendrawerandacandleburningonthedesk. Buttherobberhecouldnotsee. Hestoodthereinthehallundecidedwhattodo,andMrs.Bunting,herfacewhiteandintent,creptslowlydownstairsafterhim.