Lucius Davoren, Volume III by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

For a few nights, while Lucille's fever was at the worst, Lucius Davoren took up his abode in Cedar House, and established himself in that little room adjoining Mr. Sivewright's bedchamber which had been lately occupied by Lucille. Here he felt himself a sure guardian of his patient's safety. No one could harm the old man while he, Lucius, was on the spot to watch by night, and while Mrs. Milderson, the nurse, in whom he had perfect confidence, was on guard by day. His own days must needs be fully occupied out of doors, whatever private cares might gnaw at his heartstrings; but after introducing the ex-policeman and his wife, who came to him with a kind of warranty from Mr. Otranto, and who seemed honest people, he felt tolerably satisfied as to the safety of property in the old house, as well as about that more valuable possession-life. He had locked the door of the room which contained the chief part of Mr. Sivewright's collection, and carried the key about with him in his pocket; but there was still a great deal of very valuable property scattered about the house, as he knew.

One thing troubled him, and that was the existence of the secret staircase, communicating in some manner-which he had been up to this point unable to discover-with Mr. Sivewright's bedroom. He had sounded Homer Sivewright cautiously upon this subject, and the old man's answers had led him to believe that he, so long a tenant of the house, knew absolutely nothing of the hidden staircase; or it might be only an exaggerated caution and a strange passion for secrecy which sealed Homer Sivewright's lips.