The cleaning woman had lit the fire and malcolm put on some more wood.
he had some supper.
then he went and sat down at the big table.
it was time to get back to his studies once again.
before he started reading his books he looked round the room.
he noticed the rope hanging between the high-backed chair and the fireplace.
He thought about the doctor's story.
this was the rope used by the hangman.
many men had died with this rope round their necks.