{"id":"01KG8AMAHVNM6ERHNFD6MS7AZF","cid":"bafkreihtwvx5ik6pdfbuhmhlwik7f2ystllovdvtpis2muotsmzqlkok6e","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":5645,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:26.981Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 5","source_file":"01KG89J1FFTGRE9J93Z3K29NGY","start_line":5580,"text":"columns down the nave, the clusterings of them into copses about the\r\ncorners of the transept; together with the subdued, dim-streaming light\r\nfrom the autumnal glasses; all assumed a secluded and deep-wooded air. I\r\nseemed gazing from Pisgah into the forests of old Canaan. A Puseyitish\r\npainting of a Madonna and Child, adorning a lower window, seemed showing\r\nto me the sole tenants of this painted wilderness--the true Hagar and\r\nher Ishmael.\r\n\r\nWith added trepidation I stole softly back to the magic-lantern\r\nplatform; and revived myself a little by peeping through the scratch,\r\nupon the unstained light of open day. But what is to be done, thought I\r\nagain.\r\n\r\nI descended to the door; listened there; heard nothing. A third time\r\nclimbing the stone steps, once more I stood in the magic-lantern, while\r\nthe full nature of the more than awkwardness of my position came over\r\nme.\r\n\r\nThe first persons who will re-enter the temple, mused I, will doubtless\r\nbe the beadle-faced man and the bell-ringer. And the first man to come\r\nup here, where I am, will be the latter. Now what will be his natural\r\nimpressions upon first descrying an unknown prowler here? Rather\r\ndisadvantageous to said prowler’s moral character. Explanations will be\r\nvain. Circumstances are against me. True, I may hide, till he retires\r\nagain. But how do I know that he will then leave the door unlocked?\r\nBesides, in a position of affairs like this, it is generally best, I\r\nthink, to anticipate discovery, and by magnanimously announcing\r\nyourself, forestall an inglorious detection. But how announce myself?\r\nAlready have I knocked, and no response. That moment my eye, impatiently\r\nranging round about, fell upon the bell-ropes. They suggested the usual\r\nsignal made at dwelling-houses to convey tidings of a stranger’s\r\npresence. But I was not an outside caller; alas, I was an inside\r\nprowler. But one little touch of that bell-rope would be sure to bring\r\nrelief. I have an appointment at three o’clock. The beadle-faced man\r\nmust naturally reside very close by the church. He well knows the\r\npeculiar ring of his own bell. The slightest possible hum would bring\r\nhim flying to the rescue. Shall I, or shall I not? But I may alarm the\r\nneighbourhood. Ah, no; the merest tingle, not by any means a loud,\r\nvociferous peal. Shall I? Better voluntarily bring the beadle-faced man\r\nto me, than be involuntarily dragged out from this most suspicious\r\nhiding-place. I have to face him, first or last. Better now than later.\r\nShall I?\r\n\r\nNo more. Creeping to the rope, I gave it a cautious twitch. No sound. A\r\nlittle less warily. All was dumb. Still more strongly. Horrors! My\r\nhands, instinctively clapped to my ears, only served to condense the\r\nappalling din. Some undreamed-of mechanism seemed to have been touched.\r\nThe bell must have thrice revolved on its thunderous axis, multiplying\r\nthe astounding reverberation.\r\n\r\nMy business is effectually done this time, thought I, all in a tremble.\r\nNothing will serve me now but the reckless confidence of innocence\r\nreduced to desperation.\r\n\r\nIn less than five minutes I heard a running noise beneath me; the lock\r\nof the door clicked, and up rushed the beadle-faced man, the\r\nperspiration starting from his cheeks.\r\n\r\n‘You! Is it _you_? The man I turned away this very morning, skulking\r\nhere? You dare to touch that bell? Scoundrel!’\r\n\r\nAnd ere I could defend myself, seizing me irresistibly in his powerful\r\ngrasp, he tore me along by the collar, and dragging me down the stairs,\r\nthrust me into the arms of three policemen, who, attracted by the sudden\r\ntoll of the bell, had gathered curiously about the porch.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 5"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJVQAF3STWRJS14NTRT8A","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1FFTGRE9J93Z3K29NGY","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AMAHSZ3CNH0E0Q4DEJCHK","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AMAHSTTHTMD8RJ4K6A64T","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:33.339Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:40.695Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}