 CHAPTER V When I came from my room at half-past eleven o'clock I found all well in the sick room. The new nurse, Prim, neat and watchful, sat in the chair by the bedside where Nurse Kennedy had sat last night. A little way off between the bed and the safe sat Dr. Winchester, alert and wakeful, but looking strange and almost comic with the respirator over mouth and nose. As I stood in the doorway looking at them I heard a slight sound. Running round I saw the new detective, who nodded, held up the finger of silence and withdrew quietly. Hitherto no one of the watchers was overcome by sleep. I took a chair outside the door, as yet there was no need for me to risk coming again under the subtle influence of last night. Naturally my thoughts went revolving round the main incidents of the last day and night, and I found myself arriving at strange conclusions, doubts, conjectures. But I did not lose myself, as on last night, in trains of thought. The sense of the present was ever with me and I really felt as should a sentry on guard. Thinking is not a slow process, and when it is earnest the time can pass quickly. It seemed a very short time indeed till the door, usually left a jar, was pulled open and Dr. Winchester emerged, taking off his respirator as he came. His act, when he had it off, was demonstrative of his keenness. He turned up the outside of the wrap and smelled it carefully. I am going now, he said. I shall come early in the morning, unless of course I am sent for before. But all seems well to-night. The next to appear was Sergeant Daw, who went quietly into the room and took the seat vacated by the doctor. I still remained outside, but every few minutes looked into the room. This was rather a form than a matter of utility, for the room was so dark that coming even from the dimly-lighted corridor it was hard to distinguish anything. A little before twelve o'clock Miss Trelawney came from her room. Before coming to her father's she went into that occupied by Nurse Kennedy. After a couple of minutes she came out, looking, I thought, a trifle more cheerful. She had her respirator in her hand, but before putting it on asked me if anything special had occurred since she had gone to lie down. I answered in a whisper, there was no loud talking in the house to-night, that all was safe was well. She then put on her respirator and I mine, and we entered the room. The detective and the nurse rose up and we took their places. Da was the last to go out. He closed the door behind him as we had arranged. For a while I sat quiet, my heart beating. The place was grimly dark. The only light was a faint one from the top of the lamp which threw a white circle on the high ceiling, except the emerald sheen of the shade as the light took its under-edges. Even the light only seemed to emphasize the blackness of the shadows. These presently began to seem, as on last night, to have a sentience of their own. I did not myself feel in the least sleepy, and each time I went softly over to look at the patient, which I did about every ten minutes, I could see that Miss Trelawney was keenly alert. Every quarter of an hour one or other of the policeman looked in through the partly open door. Each time both Miss Trelawney and I said through our mufflers, All right, and the door was closed again. As the time wore on, the silence and the darkness seemed to increase. The circle of light on the ceiling was still there, but it seemed less brilliant than at first. The green edging of the lampshade became like Majori Greenstone rather than emerald. The sounds of the night without the house, and the starlight spreading pale lines along the edges of the window cases, made the pall of black within more solemn and more mysterious. We heard the clock in the corridor chiming the quarters with its silver bell till two o'clock, and then a strange feeling came over me. I could see from Miss Trelawney's movement as she looked around that she also had some new sensation. The new detective had just looked in. We, too, were alone with the unconscious patient for another quarter of an hour. My heart began to beat wildly. There was a sense of fear over me. Not for myself, my fear was impersonal. It seemed as though some new person had entered the room, and that a strong intelligence was awake close to me. Something brushed against my leg. I put my hand down hastily and touched the furry coat of Silvio. With a very faint, far away sound of a snarl he turned and scratched at me. I felt blood on my hand. I rose gently and came over to the bedside. Miss Trelawney, too, had stood up and was looking behind her as though there was something close to her. Her eyes were wild, and her breast rose and fell as though she were fighting for air. When I touched her she did not seem to feel me. She worked her hands in front of her as though she was fending off something. There was not an instant to lose. I seized her in my arms and rushed over to the door, threw it open, and strode into the passage, calling loudly, Help! Help! In an instant the two detectives, Mrs. Grant and the nurse, appeared on the scene. Close on their heels came several of the servants, both men and women. Immediately Mrs. Grant came near enough. I placed Miss Trelawney in her arms and rushed back into the room, turning up the electric light as soon as I could lay my hand on it. Sergeant Da and the nurse followed me. We were just in time. Close under the great safe, where on the two successive nights he had been found, lay Mr. Trelawney, with his left arm, bare saved for the bandages, stretched out. Close by his side was a leaf-shaped Egyptian knife which had lain amongst the curios on the shelf of the broken cabinet. Its point was stuck in the parquet floor whence had been removed the blood-stained rug. But there was no sign of disturbance anywhere, nor any sign of anyone or anything unusual. The policemen and I searched the room accurately, whilst the nurse and two of the servants lifted the wounded man back to bed, but no sign or clue could we get. Very soon Miss Trelawney returned to the room. She was pale but collected. When she came close to me, she said in a low voice, I felt myself fainting. I did not know why, but I was afraid. The only other shock I had was when Miss Trelawney cried out to me as I placed my hand on the bed to lean over and look carefully at her father. You are wounded. Look! Look! Your hand is bloody. There is blood on the sheets. I had, in the excitement, quite forgotten Silvio's scratch. As I looked at it, the recollection came back to me, but before I could say a word Miss Trelawney had caught hold of my hand and lifted it up. When she saw the parallel lines of the cuts, she cried out again. It is the same wound as father's. Then she laid my hand down gently but quickly, and said to me, to Sergeant Da, Come to my room, Silvio is there in his basket. We followed her and found Silvio sitting in his basket awake. He was licking his paws. The detective said, He is there sure enough, but why licking his paws? Margaret, Miss Trelawney, gave a moan as she bent over and took one of the four paws in her hand, but the cat seemed to resent it and snarled. At that Mrs. Grant came into the room. When she saw that we were looking at the cat, she said, The nurse tells me that Silvio was asleep on Nurse Kennedy's bed ever since you went to your father's room until a while ago. He came there just after you had gone to Master's room. Nurse says that Nurse Kennedy is moaning and muttering in her sleep as though she had a nightmare. I think we should send for Dr. Winchester. Do so at once, please, said Miss Trelawney, and we went back to the room. For a while Miss Trelawney stood looking at her father with her brows wrinkled. Then, turning to me as though her mind were made up, she said, Don't you think we should have a consultation on father? Of course I have every confidence in Dr. Winchester, he seems an immensely clever young man, but he is a young man, and there must be men who have devoted themselves to this branch of science. Such a man would have more knowledge and more experience, and his knowledge and experience might help to throw light on poor father's case. As it is, Dr. Winchester seems to be quite in the dark. Oh, I don't know what to do! It is all so terrible! Here she broke down a little and cried, and I tried to comfort her. Dr. Winchester arrived quickly. His first thought was for his patient, but when he found him without further harm he visited Nurse Kennedy. When he saw her a hopeful look came into his eyes. Taking a towel he dipped a corner of it in cold water and flicked on the face. The skin colored and she stirred slightly. He said to the new nurse, Sister Doris, he called her. She is all right. She will wake in a few hours at latest. She may be dizzy and distraught at first, or perhaps hysterical. If so, you know how to treat her. Yes, sir," answered Sister Doris demurely, and we went back to Mr. Trelani's room. As soon as we had entered Mrs. Grant and the nurse went out so that only Dr. Winchester, Mr. Trelani, and myself remained in the room. When the door had been closed Dr. Winchester asked me as to what had occurred. I told him fully, giving exactly every detail so far as I could remember. Throughout my narrative, which did not take long, however, he kept asking me questions as to who had been present and the order in which each one had come into the room. He asked other things, but nothing of any importance. These were all that took my attention or remained in my memory. When our conversation was finished he said in a very decided way indeed to Mr. Trelani, I think, Mr. Trelani, that we had better have a consultation on this case. She answered at once, seemingly a little to his surprise. I am glad you have mentioned it. I quite agree. Who would you suggest? Have you any choice yourself? he asked. Anyone to whom your father is known? Has he ever consulted anyone? Not to my knowledge, but I hope you will choose whoever you think would be best. My dear father should have all the help that can be had, and I shall be deeply obliged by your choosing. Who is the best man in London, anywhere else, in such a case? There are several good men, but they are scattered all over the world. Somehow the brain specialist is born, not made, though a lot of hard work goes to the completing of him and fitting him for his work. He comes from no country. The most daring investigator up to the present is Chiuni, the Japanese. But he is rather a surgical experimentalist than a practitioner. There is Zamerfest of Upsila and Fenelon of the University of Paris and Morfessy of Naples. These of course are in addition to our own men, Morrison of Aberdeen and Richardson of Birmingham. But before them all I would put Freire of King's College. Of all that I have named he best unites theory and practice. He has no hobbies, that have been discovered at all events, and his experience is immense. It is the regret of all of us who admire him that the nerve so firm and the hand so dexterous must yield to time. For my own part I would rather have Freire than any one living. Then, said Mr. Lani decisively, let us have Dr. Freire. By the way, is he Doctor or Mr.? As early as we can get him in the morning. A weight seemed removed from him, and he spoke with greater ease and geniality than he had yet shown. He is Sir James Freire. I shall go to him myself as early as it is possible to see him, and shall ask him to come here at once. Then, turning to me, he said, you had better let me dress your hand. It is nothing, I said. Nevertheless it should be seen to. A scratch from any animal might turn out dangerous. There is nothing like being safe. I submitted, forthwith he began to dress my hand. He examined with a magnifying glass the several parallel wounds and compared them with the slip of blotting paper marked with Silvio's claws which he took from his pocket-book. He put back the paper simply remarking, it's a pity that Silvio slips in and out just when he shouldn't. The morning wore slowly on. By ten o'clock Nurse Kennedy had so far recovered that she was able to sit up and talk intelligibly. But she was still hazy in her thoughts and could not remember anything that had happened on the previous night after her taking her place by the sick bed. As yet she seemed neither to know nor care what had happened. It was nearly eleven o'clock when Dr. Winchester returned with Sir James Freire. Somehow I felt my heart sink when from the landing I saw them in the hall below. I knew that Miss Trelani was to have the pain of telling yet another stranger of her ignorance of her father's life. Sir James Freire was a man who commanded attention followed by respect. He knew so thoroughly what he wanted himself that he placed at once on one side all wishes and ideas of less definite persons. The mere flash of his piercing eyes or the set of his resolute mouth or the lowering of his great eyebrows seemed to compel immediate and willing obedience to his wishes. Somehow when we had all been introduced and he was well amongst us all sense of mystery seemed to melt away. It was with a hopeful spirit that I saw him pass into the sick room with Dr. Winchester. She remained in the room a long time, once they sent for the nurse, the new one, Sister Doris, but she did not remain long. Again they both went into Nurse Kennedy's room. He sent out the nurse attendant on her. Dr. Winchester told me afterward that Nurse Kennedy, though she was ignorant of later matters, gave full and satisfactory answers to all Dr. Freire's questions relating to her patient up to the time she became unconscious. Then they went to the study where they remained so long and their voices raised in heated discussion seemed in such determined opposition that I began to feel uneasy. As for Miss Trelawney she was almost in a state of collapse from nervousness before they joined us. Poor girl! She had had a sadly anxious time of it and her nervous strength had almost broken down. They came out at last, Sir James first, his grave face looking as unenlightening as that of the Sphinx. Dr. Winchester followed him closely, his face was pale, but with that kind of pallor which looked like a reaction. It gave me the idea that it had been read not long before. Sir James asked that Miss Trelawney would come into the study. He suggested that I should come also. When we had entered, Sir James turned to me and said, I understand from Dr. Winchester that you are a friend of Miss Trelawney and that you have already considerable knowledge of this case. Perhaps it will be well that you should be with us. I know you already as a keen lawyer, Mr. Ross, though I never had the pleasure of meeting you. As Dr. Winchester tells me that there are some strange matters outside this case which seem to puzzle him and others, and in which he thinks you may yet be specially interested, it might be as well that you should know every phase of the case. For myself I do not take much account of mysteries, except those of science, and as there seems to be some idea of an attempt at assassination or robbery, all I can say is that if assassins were at work they ought to take some elementary lessons in anatomy before their next job, for they seem thoroughly ignorant. If robbery were their purpose, they seem to have worked with marvellous inefficiency. That, however, is not my business. Here he took a big pinch of snuff and turning to Miss Trelawney went on. Now as to the patient. Leaving out the cause of his illness, all we can say at present is that he appears to be suffering from a marked attack of catalepsy. At present nothing can be done except to sustain his strength. The treatment of my friend, Dr. Winchester, is mainly such as I approve of, and I am confident that should any slight change arise he will be able to deal with it satisfactorily. It is an interesting case, most interesting, and should any new or abnormal development arise I shall be happy to come at any time. There is just one thing to which I wish to call your attention, and I put it to you, Miss Trelawney, directly, since it is your responsibility. Dr. Winchester informs me that you are not yourself free in the matter, but are bound by an instruction given by your father in case just such a condition of things should arise. I would strongly advise that the patient be removed to another room, or, as an alternative, that those mummies and all such things should be removed from his chamber. Why, it's enough to put any man into an abnormal condition, to have such an assemblage of horrors round him and to breathe the atmosphere which they exhale. You have evidence already of how such mephitic odor may act. That nurse, Kennedy, I think you said, doctor, isn't yet out of her state of catalepsy, and you, Mr. Ross, have, I am told, experienced something of the same effect. I know this. Here his eyebrows came down more than ever, and his mouth hardened. If I were in charge here, I should insist on the patient having a different atmosphere, or I would throw up the case. Dr. Winchester already knows that I can only be again consulted on this condition being fulfilled. But I trust that you will see your way, as a good daughter to my mind should, to looking to your father's health and sanity, rather than to any whim of his, whether supported or not by a foregoing fear, or by any number of penny-dreadful mysteries. The day has hardly come yet, and I am glad to say, when the British Museum and St. Thomas's Hospital have exchanged their normal functions. Good day, Mr. Lani. I earnestly hope that I may soon see your father restored. Remember that should you fulfill the elementary condition which I have laid down, I am at your service day or night. Good morning, Mr. Ross. I hope you will be able to report to me soon, Dr. Winchester. When he had gone we stood silent till the rumble of his carriage wheels died away. The first to speak was Dr. Winchester. I think it well to say to my mind, speaking purely as a physician, he is quite right. I feel as if I could have assaulted him when he made it a condition of not giving up the case, but all the same he is right as to treatment. He does not understand that there is something odd about this special case, and he will not realize the knot that we are all tied up in by Mr. Trillani's instructions. Of course, he was interrupted by Mr. Trillani. Dr. Winchester, do you too wish to give up the case, or are you willing to continue it under the conditions you know? Give it up. Less now than ever, Mr. Lani, I shall never give it up so long as life is left to him or any of us. She said nothing but held out her hand which he took warmly. Now, said she, if Sir James Frear is a type of the cult of specialists I want no more of them. To start with he does not seem to know any more than you do about my father's condition, and if he were a hundredth part as much interested in it as you are he would not stand on such punctilio. Of course I am only too anxious about my poor father, and if I can see a way to meet either of Sir James Frear's conditions I shall do so. I shall ask Mr. Marvin to come here today and advise me as to the limit of father's wishes. If he thinks I am free to act in any way in my own responsibility I shall not hesitate to do so. Then Dr. Winchester took his leave. Mr. Trillani sat down and wrote a letter to Mr. Marvin telling him of the state of affairs and asking him to come and see her and to bring with him any papers which might throw any light on the subject. She sent the letter off with a carriage to bring back the solicitor. We waited with what patience we could for his coming. It is not a very long journey for oneself from Kensington Palace gardens to Lincoln's infield, but it seemed endlessly long when waiting for someone else to take it. All things, however, are amenable to time. It was less than an hour all told when Mr. Marvin was with us. He recognized Mr. Trillani's impatience, and when he had learned sufficient of her father's illness he said to her, Whenever you are ready I can go with you into particulars regarding your father's wishes. Whenever you like, she said, with an evident ignorance of his meaning, Why not now? He looked at me, as to a fellow man of business, and stammered out, We are not alone. I have brought Mr. Ross here on purpose, she answered. He knows so much at present that I want him to know more. The solicitor was a little disconcerted, a thing which those knowing him only in courts would hardly have believed. He answered, however, with some hesitation. But, my dear young lady, your father's wishes. Confidence between father and child. Here she interrupted him. There was a tinge of red in her pale cheeks, as she did so. Do you really think that applies to the present circumstances, Mr. Marvin? My father never told me anything of his affairs, and I can now, in this sad extremity, only learn his wishes through a gentleman who is a stranger to me, and of whom I never even heard till I got my father's letter, written to be shown to me only in extremity. Mr. Ross is a new friend, but he has all my confidence, and I should like him to be present. Unless, of course, she added, such a thing is forbidden by my father. Oh, forgive me, Mr. Marvin, if I seem rude. But I have been in such dreadful trouble and anxiety lately that I have hardly command of myself. She covered her eyes with her hand for a few seconds. We two men looked at each other and waited, trying to appear unmoved. She went on more firmly, she had recovered herself. Please, please do not think I am ungrateful to you for your kindness in coming here, and so quickly. I really am grateful, and I have every confidence in your judgment. If you wish, or think it best, we can be alone. I stood up, but Mr. Marvin made a dissentient gesture. He was evidently pleased with her attitude. There was geniality in his voice and manner, as he spoke. Not at all, not at all. There is no restriction on your father's part, and on my own I am quite willing. Indeed, all told, it may be better. From what you have said of Mr. Trellani's illness, and the other incidental matters, it will be well in case of any grave eventuality that it was understood from the first that circumstances were ruled by your father's own imperative instructions. For please understand me, his instructions are imperative, first imperative. They are so unyielding that he has given me a power of attorney, under which I have undertaken to act, authorizing me to see his written wishes carried out. Please believe me once for all, that he intended fully everything mentioned in that letter to you. Whilst he is alive, he is to remain in his own room, and none of his property is to be removed from it under any circumstances whatever. He is even given an inventory of the articles which are not to be displaced. Mr. Trellani was silent. She looked somewhat distressed. So thinking that I understood the immediate cause, I asked, May we see the list? Mr. Trellani's face at once brightened, but it fell again as the lawyer answered promptly. He was evidently prepared for the question. But unless I am compelled to take action on the power of attorney, I have brought that instrument with me. You will recognize, Mr. Ross, he said this with a sort of business conviction which I had noticed in his professional work, as he handed me the deed. How strongly it is worded, and how the grantor made his wishes apparent in such a way as to leave no loophole. It is his own wording, except for certain legal formalities, and I assure you I have seldom seen a more ironclad document. Even I myself have no power to make the slightest relaxation of the instructions without committing a distinct breach of faith, and that, I need not tell you, is impossible. He evidently added the last words in order to prevent an appeal to his personal consideration. He did not like the seeming harshness of his words, however, he added, I do hope, Mr. Lani, that you understand that I am willing, frankly and unequivocally willing, to do anything I can within the limits of my power to relieve your distress. But your father had, in all his doings, some purpose of his own which he did not disclose to me. So far as I can see there is not a word of his instructions that he had not thought over fully. Your idea he had in his mind was the idea of a lifetime. He had studied it in every possible phase, and was prepared to guard it at every point. Now, I fear I have distressed you, and I am truly sorry for it, for I see you have much, too much, to bear already. But I have no alternative. If you want to consult me at any time about anything, I promise you I will come without a moment's delay at any hour of the day or night. There is my private address. He scribbled in his pocketbook as he spoke, and under it the address of my club, where I am generally to be found in the evening. He tore out the paper and handed it to her. She thanked him. He shook hands with her, and with me, and with Drew. As soon as the hall door was shut on him, Mrs. Grant tapped at the door and came in. There was such a look of distress in her face that Miss Tralani stood up, deadly white, and asked her, What is it, Mrs. Grant? What is it? Any new trouble? I grieve to say, Miss, that the servants, all but two, have given notice and want to leave the house to-day. They have talked the matter over among themselves. The butler has spoken for the rest. He says as how they are willing to forego their wages and even to pay their legal obligations instead of notice, but that go to-day they must. What reason do they give? None, Miss. They say as how they are sorry, but that they have nothing to say. I asked Jane, the upper-housemaid, Miss, who is not with the rest, but stops on, and she tells me, confidential, that they've got some notion in their silly heads that the house is haunted. We ought to have laughed, but we didn't. I could not look in Miss Tralani's face and laugh. The pain and horror there showed no hidden paroxysm of fear. There was a fixed idea of which this was a confirmation. For myself it seemed as if my brain had found a voice. But the voice was not complete. There was some other thought, darker and deeper, which lay behind it, whose voice had not sounded as yet. CHAPTER VI. The first to get full self-command was Miss Tralani. There was a haughty dignity in her bearing, as she said. Very well, Mrs. Grant, let them go. Pay them up to to-day and a month's wages. They have hitherto been very good servants, and the occasion of their leaving is not an ordinary one. We must not expect much faithfulness from anyone who is beset with fears. Those who remain are to have in future double wages, and please send these to me presently when I send word. Mrs. Grant bristled with smothered indignation. All the housekeeper in her was outraged by such generous treatment of servants who had combined to give notice. They don't deserve it, miss, them to go on so after the way they have been treated here. Never in my life have I seen servants so well treated, or anyone so good to them and gracious to them as you have been. They might be in the household of a king for treatment. And now, just as there is trouble, to go and act like this. It's abominable, that's what it is. Miss Tralani was very gentle with her, and smothered her ruffled dignity, so that presently she went away with, in her manner, a lesser measure of hostility to the undeserving. In quite a different frame of mind she returned presently to ask if her mistress would like her to engage a full staff of other servants, or at any rate try to do so. For you know, ma'am, she went on, when once a scare has been established in the servants' hall, it's well nigh impossible to get rid of it. Servants may come, but they go away just as quick. There's no holding them. They simply won't stay, or even if they work out their month's notice they lead you that life that you wish every hour of the day that you hadn't kept them. The women are bad enough, the huzzies, but the men are worse. There was neither anxiety nor indignation in Miss Tralani's voice or manner, as she said. I think, Mrs. Grant, we had better try to do with those we have. Whilst my dear father is ill, we shall not be having any company, so that there will be only three now in the house to attend to. If those servants who are willing to stay are not enough, I should only get sufficient to help them to do the work. It will not, I should think, be difficult to get a few maids, perhaps some that you know already. And please bear in mind that those whom you get, and who are suitable and will stay, are henceforth to have the same wages as those who are remaining. Of course, Mrs. Grant, you well enough understand that, though I do not group you in any way with the servants, the rule of double salary applies to you, too. As she spoke, she extended her long, fine-shaped hand which the other took, and then, raising it to her lips, kissed it impressively with the freedom of an elder woman to a younger. I could not but admire the generosity of her treatment of her servants. In my mind, I endorsed Mrs. Grant's Sadovochi remark as she left the room. No wonder the house is like a king's house when the mistress is a princess. A princess? That was it. The idea seemed to satisfy my mind and to bring back in a wave of light the first moment when she swept across my vision at the ball in Belgrade Square. A queenly figure, tall and slim, bending, swaying, undulating as the lily or the lotus, clad in a flowing gown of some filmy black material shot with gold. For ornament in her hair she wore an old Egyptian jewel, a tiny crystal disk set between rising plumes carved in lapis lazuli. On her wrist was a broad bangle or bracelet of antique work in the shape of a pair of spreading wings, rod and gold, with the feathers made of colored gems. For all her gracious bearing toward me, when our hostess introduced me, I was then afraid of her. It was only when, later, at the picnic on the river, I had come to realize her, sweet and gentle, that my awe changed to something else. For a while we sat, making some notes or memoranda. Then, putting them away, she sent for the faithful servants. I thought that she had better have this interview alone and so left her. When I came back there were traces of tears in her eyes. The next phase in which I had a part was even more disturbing and infinitely more painful. Late in the afternoon Sergeant Dahl came into the study where I was sitting. After closing the door carefully and looking all around the room to make certain that we were alone, he came close to me. "'What is it?' I asked him. "'I see you wish to speak to me privately.' "'Quite so, sir. May I speak in absolute confidence?' "'Of course you may. In anything that is for the good of Miss Trelawney, and of course Mr. Trelawney, you may be perfectly frank. I take it that we both want to serve them to the best of our powers.' He hesitated before replying. "'Of course you know that I have my duty to do, and I think you know me well enough to know that I will do it. I am a policeman, a detective, and it is my duty to find out the facts of any case I am put on without fear or favour to anyone. I would rather speak to you alone, in confidence if I may, without reference to any duty of anyone to anyone except mine to Scotland Yard.' "'Of course, of course,' I answered mechanically, my heart sinking. I did not know why. Be quite frank with me. I assure you of my confidence.' "'Thank you, sir. I take it that what I say is not to pass beyond you, not to anyone, not to Miss Trelawney herself, or even to Mr. Trelawney when he becomes well again.' "'Certainly, if you make it a condition,' I said a little more stiffly. The man recognized the change in my voice, or manner, and said apologetically, "'Excuse me, sir, but I am going outside my duty in speaking to you at all on the subject. I know you, however, of old, and I feel that I can trust you. Not your words, sir. That is all right, but your discretion.' "'I bowed.' "'Go on,' I said. He began at once. "'I have gone over this case, sir, till my brain begins to reel, but I can't find any ordinary solution of it. At the time of each attempt no one has seemingly come into the house, and certainly no one has got out. What does it strike you is the inference. "'That the somebody, or the something, was in the house already,' I answered, smiling in spite of myself. "'That's just what I think,' he said, with a manifest sigh of relief. "'Very well. Who can be that someone?' "'Someone, or something, was what I said,' I answered. "'Let us make it someone, Mr. Ross. That cat, though he might have scratched or bit, never pulled the old gentleman out of bed and tried to get the bangle with the key off his arm. Such things are all very well in books where your amateur detectives, who know everything before it's done, can fit them into theories. But in Scotland Yard, where the men aren't all idiots either, we generally find that when a crime is done, or attempted, it's people, not things, that are at the bottom of it. Then make it people, by all means, Sergeant. We were speaking of someone, sir. Quite right, someone be it. Did it ever strike you, sir, that on each of the three separate occasions where outrage was affected or attempted, there was one person who was the first to be present and to give the alarm? Let me see. Miss Trelawney, I believe, gave the alarm on the first occasion. I was present myself, if fast asleep, on the second, and so was Nurse Kennedy. When I woke there were several people in the room. You were one of them. I understand that on that occasion also Miss Trelawney was before you. At the last attempt I was, Miss Trelawney fainted. I carried her out and went back. In returning I was first, and I think you were close behind me. Sergeant Doth thought for a moment before replying. She was present, or first, in the room on all the occasions. There was only damage done in the first and second. The inference was one which I, as a lawyer, could not mistake. I thought the best thing to do was to meet it halfway. I have always found that the best way to encounter an inference is to cause it to be turned into a statement. You mean, I said, that as on the only occasions when actual harm was done, Miss Trelawney's being the first to discover it is approved that she did it, or was in some way connected with the attempt as well as the discovery? I didn't venture to put it as clear as that, but that is where the doubt which I had leads. Sergeant Doth was a man of courage. He evidently did not shrink from any conclusion of his reasoning on facts. We were both silent for a while. Fears began crowding in on my own mind. Not doubts of Miss Trelawney, or of any act of hers, but fears lest such acts should be misunderstood. There was evidently a mystery somewhere, and if no solution to it could be found, the doubt would be cast on someone. In such cases the guesses of the majority are bound to follow the line of least resistance. And if it could be proved that any personal gain to anyone could follow Miss Trelawney's death, should such ensue, it might prove a difficult task for anyone to prove innocence in the face of suspicious facts. I found myself instinctively taking that deferential course which, until the plan of battle of the prosecution is unfolded, is so safe an attitude for the defense. It would never do for me, at this stage, to combat any theories which a detective might form. I could best help Miss Trelawney by listening and understanding. When the time should come for the dissipation and obliteration of the theories, I should be quite willing to use all my militant ardor and all the weapons at my command. You will, of course, do your duty, I know, I said, and without fear. What course do you intend to take? I don't know as yet, sir. You see, up to now it isn't with me even a suspicion. If anyone else told me that the sweet young lady had a hand in such a matter, I would think him a fool, but I am bound to follow my own conclusions. I know well that just as unlikely persons have been proved guilty when a whole court, all except the prosecution who knew the facts and the judge who had taught his mind to wait, would have sworn to innocence. I wouldn't, for all the world, wrong such a young lady, more as special when she has such a cruel weight to bear. And you will be sure that I won't say a word that'll prompt anyone else to make such a charge. That's why I speak to you in confidence, man to man. You are skilled in proofs, that is your profession. Mine only gets so far as suspicions, and what we call our own proofs, which are nothing but exparte evidence after all. You know Miss Trelawney better than I do, and though I watch round the sick-room and go where I like about the house and in and out of it, I haven't the same opportunities as you have of knowing the lady and what her life is, or her means are, or of anything else which might give me a clue to her actions. If I were to try to find out from her it would at once arouse her suspicions. Then if she were guilty all possibility of ultimate proof would go, for she would easily find a way to baffle discovery. But if she be innocent, as I hope she is, it would be doing a cruel wrong to accuse her. I have thought the matter over according to my lights before I spoke to you, and if I have taken a liberty, sir, I am truly sorry. No liberty in the world, Da, I said warmly, for the man's courage and honesty and consideration compelled respect. I am glad you have spoken to me so frankly. We both want to find out the truth, and there is so much about this case that is strange. So strange as to go beyond all experiences that to aim at truth is our only chance of making anything clear in the long run, no matter what our views are or what object we wish to achieve ultimately. The sergeant looked pleased as he went on. I thought, therefore, that if you had it once in your mind that somebody else held to such a possibility, you would, by degrees, get proof, or at any rate such ideas as would convince yourself, either for or against it, then we would come to some conclusion, or at any rate we should so exhaust all other possibilities that the most likely one would remain as the nearest thing to proof, or strong suspicion, that we could get. After that we should have to—just at this moment the door opened and Miss Trelawney entered the room. The moment she saw us she drew back quickly, saying, Oh, I beg pardon, I did not know you were here and engaged. By the time I had stood up she was about to go back. Do come in, I said. Sergeant Da and I were only talking matters over. Whilst she was hesitating Mrs. Grant appeared, saying as she entered the room, Dr. Winchester has come, Miss, and is asking for you. I obeyed Miss Trelawney's look. Together we left the room. When the doctor had made his examination he told us that there was seemingly no change. He added that, nevertheless, he would like to stay in the house that night, if he might. Miss Trelawney looked glad and sent word to Mrs. Grant to get a room ready for him. Later in the day, when he and I happened to be alone together, he said suddenly, I have arranged to stay here tonight because I want to have a talk with you. And as I wish it to be quite private I thought the least suspicious way would be to have a cigar together late in the evening when Miss Trelawney is watching her father. We still kept to our arrangement that neither the sick man's daughter or I should be on watch all night. We were to share the duty at the early hours of the morning. I was anxious about this, for I knew from our conversation that the detective would watch in secret himself and would be particularly alert about that time. The day passed uneventfully. Miss Trelawney slept in the afternoon and after dinner went to relieve the nurse. Mrs. Grant remained with her, Sergeant Dahl being on duty in the corridor. Dr. Winchester and I took our coffee in the library. When we had lit our cigars he said quietly, Now that we are alone I want to have a confidential talk. We are tiled, of course, for the present at all events. Quite so, I said, my heart sinking as I thought of my conversation with Sergeant Dahl in the morning and of the disturbing and harrowing fears which it had left in my mind. He went on, This case is enough to try the sanity of all of us concerned in it. The more I think of it the matter I seem to get, and the two lines, each continually strengthened, seem to pull harder in opposite directions. What two lines? He looked at me keenly for a moment before replying. Dr. Winchester's look at such moments was apt to be disconcerting. It would have been so to me had I had a personal part, other than my interest in Miss Trelawney in the matter. As it was, however, I stood it unruffled. I was now an attorney in the case, an amicus curiae in one sense, in another retained for the defense. The mere thought that in this clever man's mind were two lines, equally strong and opposite, was in itself so consoling as to neutralize my anxiety as to a new attack. As he began to speak, the doctor's face wore an inscrutable smile. This, however, gave place to a stern gravity as he proceeded. Two lines, fact and fancy. In the first there is this whole thing, a tact, attempt at robbery and murder, stupefying, organized catalepsy which points to either criminal hypnotism and thought suggestion, or some simple form of poisoning unclassified yet in our toxicology. In the other there is some influence at work which is not classified in any book that I know, outside the pages of romance. I never felt in my life so strongly the truth of Hamlet's words, there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Let us take the fact side first. Here we have a man in his home, amidst his own household, plenty of servants of different classes in the house which forbids the possibility of an organized attempt made from the servant's hall. He is wealthy, learned, clever. From his physiognomy there is no doubting that he is a man of iron will and determined purpose. His daughter, his only child I take it, a young girl, bright and clever, is sleeping in the very next room to his. There is seemingly no possible reason for expecting any attack or disturbance of any kind, and no reasonable opportunity for any outsider to affect it. And yet we have an attack made, a brutal and remorseless attack made in the middle of the night. Discovery is made quickly, made with that rapidity which in criminal cases generally is found to be not accidental but of premeditated intent. The attacker, or attackers, are manifestly disturbed before the completion of their work, whatever their ultimate intent may have been. And yet there is no possible sign of their escape, no clue, no disturbance of anything, no open door or window, no sound, nothing whatever to show who had done the deed, or even that a deed has been done, except the victim and his surroundings incidental to the deed. The next night a similar attempt is made, though the house is full of wakeful people, and though there are on watch in the room and around it a detective officer, a trained nurse, an earnest friend, and the man's own daughter. The nurse is thrown into a catalepsy and the watching friend, though protected by a respirator, into a deep sleep. Even the detective is so far overcome with some phase of stupor that he fires off his pistol in the sick room and can't even tell what he thought he was firing at. That respirator of yours is the only thing that seems to have a bearing on the fact side of the affair, that you did not lose your head as the others did, the effect in such case being in proportion to the amount of time each remained in the room points to the probability that the stupefying medium was not hypnotic, whatever else it may have been. But again there is the fact which is contradictory. Miss Trelawney, who was in the room more than any of you, for she was in and out all the time and did her share of permanent watching also, did not seem to be affected at all. This would show that the influence, whatever it is, does not affect generally unless, of course, it was that she was in some way enured to it. If it should turn out that it be some strange exhalation from some of those Egyptian curios, that might account for it. Only we are then face to face with the fact that Mr. Trelawney, who is most of all in the room, who, in fact, lived more than half his life in it, was affected worst of all. What kind of influence could it be which would account for all these different and contradictory effects? No. The more I think of this form of the dilemma, the more I am bewildered. Why, even if it were that the attack, the physical attack, on Mr. Trelawney had been made by someone residing in the house and not within the sphere of suspicion, the oddness of the stupefying would still remain a mystery. It is not easy to put anyone into a catalepsy. Indeed, so far as is known yet in science, there is no way to achieve such an object at will. The crux of the whole matter is Mr. Trelawney, who seems to be subject to none of the influences, or possibly of the variants of the same influence at work. Through all she goes unscathed, except for that one slight semi-faint. It is most strange. I listened with a sinking heart. For though his manner was not illuminative or distrust, his argument was disturbing. Although it was not so direct as the suspicion of the detective, it seemed to single out Mr. Trelawney as different from all others concerned and in a mystery to be alone is to be suspected, ultimately if not immediately. I thought it better not to say anything. In such a case silence is indeed golden, and if I said nothing now I might have less to defend or explain or take back later. I was therefore secretly glad that his form of putting his argument did not require any answer from me, for the present at all events. Dr. Winchester did not seem to expect any answer, a fact which, when I recognized it, gave my pleasure, I hardly knew why. He paused for a while, sitting with his chin in his hand, his eyes staring at vacancy whilst his brows were fixed. His cigar was held limp between his fingers. He had apparently forgotten it. In an even voice, as though commencing exactly where he had left off, he resumed his argument. The other horn of the dilemma is a different affair altogether, and if we once enter on it we must leave everything in the shape of science and experience behind us. I confess that it has its fascinations for me, though at every new thought I find myself romancing in a way that makes me pull up suddenly and look facts resolutely in the face. I sometimes wonder whether the influence or emanation from the sick room at times affects me as it did the others, the detective, for instance. Of course it may be that if it is anything chemical, any drug, for example, in vaporial form, its effects may be cumulative. But then what could there be that could produce such an effect? The room is, I know, full of mummy smell, and no wonder, with so many relics from the tomb, let alone the actual mummy of that animal which Silvio attacked. By the way, I am going to test him to-morrow. I have been on the trace of a mummy cat, and am to get possession of it in the morning. When I bring it here we shall find out if it be a fact that racial instinct can survive a few thousand years in the grave. However, to get back to the subject at hand. These very mummy smells arise from the presence of substances and combinations of substances which the Egyptian priests, who were the learned men and scientists of their time, found by the experience of centuries to be strong enough to arrest the natural forces of decay. There must be powerful agencies at work to effect such a purpose, and it is possible that we may have here some rare substance or combination whose qualities and powers are not understood in this later and more prosaic age. I wonder if Mr. Trelawney has any knowledge, or even suspicion, of such a kind? I only know this for certain that a worse atmosphere for a sick chamber could not possibly be imagined, and I admire the courage of Sir James Freyre in refusing to have anything to do with a case under such conditions. These instructions of Mr. Trelawney to his daughter, and from what you have told me, the care with which he has protected his wishes through his solicitor, show that he suspected something at any rate. Indeed, it would almost seem as if he expected something to happen. I wonder if it would be possible to learn anything about that. Surely his papers would show or suggest something. It is a difficult matter to tackle, but it might have to be done. His present condition cannot go on forever, and if anything should happen there would have to be an inquest. In such case full examination would have to be made into everything. As it stands the police evidence would show a murderous attack more than once repeated. As no clue is apparent it would be necessary to seek one in a motive. He was silent. The last words seemed to come in a lower and lower tone as he went on. It had the effect of hopelessness. It came to me as a conviction that now was my time to find out if he had any definite suspicion, and as if in obedience to some command I asked, Do you suspect anyone? He seemed in a way startled rather than surprised as he turned his eyes on me. Suspect anyone? Any thing you mean. I certainly suspect that there is some influence, but at present my suspicion is held within such limit. Later on if there be any sufficiently definite conclusion to my reasoning or my thinking, for there are not proper data for reasoning, I may suspect. At present, however, he stopped suddenly and looked at the door. There was a faint sound as the handle turned. My own heart seemed to stand still. There was over me some grim, vague apprehension. The interruption in the morning when I was talking with the detective came back upon me with a rush. The door open and Miss Trelawney entered the room. When she saw us she started back and a deep flush swept her face. For a few seconds she paused. At such a time a few succeeding seconds seemed to lengthen in geometrical progression. The strain upon me and as I could easily see on the doctor also relaxed as she spoke. Oh, forgive me, I did not know that you were engaged. I was looking for you, Dr. Winchester, to ask you if I might go to bed tonight with safety as you will be here. I feel so tired and worn out that I fear I may break down, and tonight I would certainly not be of any use. Dr. Winchester answered heartily, Do, do go to bed by all means and get a good night's sleep. God knows you want it. I am more than glad you have made the suggestion, for I feared when I saw you tonight that I might have you in my hands a patient next. She gave a sigh of relief and the tired look seemed to melt from her face. Never shall I forget the deep earnest look in her great beautiful black eyes, as she said to me. You will guard father to-night, won't you, with Dr. Winchester? I am so anxious about him that every second brings new fears. But I am really worn out, and if I don't get a good sleep I think I shall go mad. I will change my room for to-night. I'm afraid that if I stay so close to father's room I shall multiply every sound into a new terror. But of course you will have me waked if there be any cause. I shall be in the bedroom of the little suite next to the boudoir off the hall. I had those rooms when first I came to live with father, and I had no care then. It will be easier to rest there, and perhaps for a few hours I may forget. I shall be all right in the morning. Good night. When I had closed the door behind her and come back to the little table at which we had been sitting, Dr. Winchester said, That poor girl is overwrought to a terrible degree. I am delighted that she is to get a rest. It will be life to her, and in the morning she will be all right. Her nervous system is on the verge of a breakdown. Did you notice how fearfully disturbed she was, and how red she got when she came in and found us talking? An ordinary thing like that, in her own house with her own guests, wouldn't under normal circumstances disturb her. I was about to tell him, as an explanation in her defense, how her entrance was a repetition of her finding the detective in myself alone together earlier in the day, when I remembered that that conversation was so private that even an illusion to it might be awkward in evoking curiosity. So I remained silent. We stood up to go to the sick room, but as we took our way through the dimly-lighted corridor I could not help thinking again and again and again, I, and for many a day after, how strange it was that she had interrupted me on two such occasions when touching on such a theme. There was certainly some strange web of accidents in whose meshes we were all involved. CHAPTER VII That night everything went well. Knowing that Miss Trelani herself was not on guard, Dr. Winchester and I doubled our vigilance. The nurses and Mrs. Grant kept watch, and the detectives made their visit each quarter of an hour. All night the patient remained in his trance. He looked healthy and his chest rose and fell with the easy breathing of a child. But he never stirred. Only for his breathing he might have been of marble. Dr. Winchester and I wore our respirators, and irksome they were on that intolerably hot night. Between midnight and three o'clock I felt anxious, and had once more that creepy feeling to which these last few nights had accustomed me. But the gray of the dawn, stealing round the edges of the blinds, came with inexpressible relief, followed by restfulness went through the household. During the hot night my ears, strained to every sound, had been almost painfully troubled, as though my brain or sensoria were an anxious touch with them. Every breath of the nurse or the rustle of her dress, every soft pat of slipped feet as the policeman went his rounds, every moment of watching life seemed to be a new impetus to guardianship. Something of the same feeling must have been abroad in the house. Now and again I could hear upstairs the sound of restless feet, and more than once downstairs the opening of a window. With the coming of the dawn, however, all this ceased, and the whole household seemed to rest. Dr. Winchester went home when Sister Doris came to relieve Mrs. Grant. He was, I think, a little disappointed or chagrined that nothing of an exceptional nature had happened during his long night vigil. At eight o'clock Mr. Lani joined us, and I was amazed as well as delighted to see how much good her night's sleep had done her. She was fairly radiant, just as I had seen her at our first meeting and at the picnic. There was even a suggestion of color in her cheeks, which, however, looked startlingly white in contrast with her black brows and scarlet lips. With her restored strength there seemed to have come a tenderness, even exceeding that which she had at first shown to her sick father. I could not but be moved by the loving touches as she fixed his pillows and brushed a hair from his forehead. I was wearied out myself with my long spell of watching, and now that she was on guard I started off to bed, blinking my tired eyes in the full light and feeling the weariness of a sleepless night on me all at once. I had a good sleep, and after lunch I was about to start out to walk to German Street when I noticed an importunate man at the hall door. The servant-in-charge was the one called Morris, formerly the odd man, but since the exodus of the servants promoted to be butler pro tem. The stranger was speaking rather loudly so that there was no difficulty in understanding his grievance. The servant-man was respectful in both words and demeanor, but he stood squarely in front of the great double door so that the other could not enter. The first words which I heard from the visitor sufficiently explained the situation. That's all very well, but I tell you I must see Mr. Trelawney. What is the use of your saying I can't when I tell you I must? You put me off, and off, and off. I came here at nine. You said then that he was not up, and that as he was not well he could not be disturbed. I came at twelve, and you told me again he was not up. I asked then to see any of his household. You told me that Mr. Trelawney was not up. Now I come again at three, and you tell me he is still in bed and is not awake yet. Where is Mr. Trelawney? He is occupied and must not be disturbed. Well, she must be disturbed, or someone must. I am here about Mr. Trelawney's special business, and I have come from a place where servants always begin by saying no. No isn't good enough for me this time. I've had three years of it, waiting outside doors and tents when it took longer to get in than it did into the tombs. And then you would think too the men inside were as dead as the mummies. I've had about enough of it, I tell you. And when I come home and find the door of the man I've been working for barred in just the same way and with the same old answers it stirs me up the wrong way. Did Mr. Trelawney leave orders that he would not see me when I should come? He paused and excitedly mopped his forehead. The servant answered very respectfully, I am very sorry, sir, if in doing my duty I have given any offense. But I have my orders and must obey them. If you would like to leave any message I will give it to Mr. Trelawney, and if you will leave your address she can communicate with you if she wishes. The answer came in such a way that it was easy to see that the speaker was a kind-hearted man and a just one. My good fellow, I have no fault to find with you personally and I am sorry if I have hurt your feelings. I must be just even if I am angry. But it is enough to anger any man to find himself in the position I am. Time is pressing, there is not an hour, not a minute to lose. And yet here I am, kicking my heels for six hours, knowing all the time that your master will be a hundred times angrier than I am when he hears how the time has been fooled away. He would rather be waked out of a thousand sleeps than not see me just at present and before it is too late. My God, it's simply dreadful, after all I've gone through to have my works foiled at the last and be foiled in the very doorway by a stupid flunky. Is there no one with sense in the house or with authority even if he hasn't got sense? I could mighty soon convince him that your master must be awakened, even if he sleeps like the seven sleepers. There was no mistaking the man's sincerity or the urgency and importance of his business, from his point of view at any rate. I stepped forward. Morris, I said, you had better tell Miss Trelani that this gentleman wants to see her particularly. If she is busy, ask Mrs. Grant to tell her. Very good, sir, he answered, in a tone of relief, and hurried away. I took the stranger into the little bourgeois across the hall. As we went, he asked me, Are you the secretary? No, I am a friend of Miss Trelani's. My name is Ross. Thank you very much, Mr. Ross, for your kindness, he said. My name is Korbeck. I would give you my card, but they don't use cards where I've come from, and if I had had any I suppose they, too, would have gone last night. He stopped suddenly, as though conscious that he had said too much. We both remained silent. As we waited I took stock of him. A short, sturdy man, brown as a coffee-berry, possibly inclined to be fat, but now lean, exceedingly. The deep wrinkles in his face and neck were not merely from time and exposure. There were those unmistakable signs where flesh or fat has fallen away, and the skin has become loose. The neck was simply an intricate surface of seams and wrinkles, and sunscarred with the burning of the desert. The Far East, the tropic seasons, and the desert, each can have its color mark. But all three are quite different, and an eye which has once known can then sporth easily distinguish them. The dusky pallor of one, the fierce red-brown of the other, and of the third the dark ingrained burning as though it had become a permanent color. Mr. Korbeck had a big head, massive and full, with shaggy, dark, red-brown hair, but bald on the temples. His forehead was a fine one, high and broad, with, to use the terms of physiognomy, the frontal sinus boldly marked. The squareness of it showed radiosination and the fullness under the eye's language. He had the short, broad nose that marks energy, the square chin marked, despite a thick, unkempt beard, and massive jaw that showed great resolution. No bad man for the desert, I thought, as I looked. Mr. Trelawney came very quickly. When Mr. Korbeck saw her, he seemed somewhat surprised. But his annoyance and excitement had not disappeared. Quite enough remained to cover up any such secondary and purely exoteric feeling as surprise. But as she spoke, he never took his eyes off her, and I made a mental note that I would find some early opportunity of investigating the cause of his surprise. She began with an apology which quite smoothed down his ruffled feelings. Of course, had my father been well, you would not have been kept waiting. Indeed, had not I been on duty in the sick-room when you called the first time, I should have seen you at once. Now will you kindly tell me what is the matter which so presses? He looked at me and hesitated. She spoke at once. You may say before Mr. Ross anything which you can tell me. He has my fullest confidence and is helping me in my trouble. I do not think you quite understand how serious my father's condition is. For three days he has not waked, or given any sign of consciousness, and I am in terrible trouble about him. Unhappily I am in great ignorance of my father and his life. I only came to live with him a year ago, and I know nothing whatever of his affairs. I do not even know who you are, or in what way your business is associated with him. She said this with a little deprecating smile, all conventional and altogether graceful, as though to express in the most genuine way her absurd ignorance. He looked steadily at her for perhaps a quarter of a minute. Then he spoke, beginning at once as though his mind were made up and his confidence established. My name is Eugene Korbeck. I am a master of arts and doctor of laws and master of surgery of Cambridge, doctor of letters of Oxford, doctor of science and doctor of languages of London University, doctor of philosophy of Berlin, doctor of Oriental languages of Paris. I have some other degrees, honorary and otherwise, but I need not trouble you with them. Those that I have named will show you that I am sufficiently feathered with diplomas to fly into even a sick room. Early in life, fortunately for my interests and pleasures, but unfortunately for my pocket, I fell in with Egyptology. I must have been bitten by some powerful scarab, for I took it bad. I went out tomb-hunting and managed to get a living of a sort and to learn some things that you can't get out of books. I was in pretty low water when I met your father, who was doing some explorations on his own account, and since then I haven't found that I have many unsatisfied wants. He is a real patron of the arts. No mad Egyptologist can ever hope for a better chief. He spoke with feeling, and I was glad to see that Mr. Lani colored up with pleasure at the praise of her father. I could not help noticing, however, that Mr. Korbeck was, in a measure, speaking as if against time. I took it that he wished, while speaking, to study his ground, to see how far he would be justified in taking into confidence the two strangers before him. As he went on, I could see that his confidence kept increasing. When I thought of it afterward and remembered what he had said, I realized that the measure of the information which he gave us marked his growing trust. I have been several times out on expeditions in Egypt for your father, and I have always found it a delight to work for him. Many of his treasures, and he has some rare ones, I tell you, he has procured through me, either by my exploration or by purchase, or, or otherwise. Your father, Mr. Lani, has a rare knowledge. He sometimes makes up his mind that he wants to find a particular thing of whose existence, if it still exists, he has become aware, and he will follow it all over the world till he gets it. I've been on just such a chase now. He stopped suddenly, as suddenly as though his mouth had been shut by the jerk of a string. We waited. When he went on, he spoke with a caution that was new to him, as though he wished to forestall our asking any questions. I am not at liberty to mention anything of my mission, where it was to, what it was for, or anything at all about it. Such matters are in confidence between Mr. Trelawney and myself. I am pledged to absolute secrecy. He paused and an embarrassed look crept over his face. Suddenly he said, You are sure, Mr. Lani, your father is not well enough to see me today? A look of wonderment was on her face in turn, but it cleared at once. She stood up, saying in a tone in which dignity and graciousness were blended. Come and see for yourself! She moved toward her father's room. He followed and I brought up the rear. Mr. Korbeck entered the sick room, as though he knew it. There is an unconscious attitude or bearing to persons in new surroundings which there is no mistaking. Even in his anxiety to see his powerful friend, he glanced for a moment round the room, as at a familiar place. Then all his attention became fixed on the bed. I watched him narrowly, for somehow I felt that on this man depended much of our enlightenment regarding the strange matter in which we were involved. It was not that I doubted him. The man was of transparent honesty. It was this very quality which we had to dread. He was of that courageous, fixed trueness to his undertaking, that if he should deem it his duty to guard a secret he would do it to the last. The case before us was, at least, an unusual one, and it would, consequently, require moral liberal recognition of bounds of the duty of secrecy than would hold under ordinary conditions. To us ignorance was helplessness. If we could learn anything of the past, we might at least form some idea of the condition's antecedent to the attack, and might, so, believe some means of helping the patient to recovery. There were curios which might be removed. My thoughts were beginning to whirl once again. I pulled myself up sharply and watched. There was a look of infinite pity on the sun-stained, rugged face as he gazed at his friend, lying so helpless. The sternness of Mr. Trelawney's face had not relaxed in sleep, and somehow it made the helplessness more marked. It would not have troubled one to see a weak or an ordinary face under such conditions, but this purposeful, masterful man, lying before us wrapped in impenetrable sleep, had all the pathos of a great ruin. The sight was not a new one to us, but I could see that Mr. Trelawney, like myself, was moved afresh by it in the presence of the stranger. Mr. Corbeck's face grew stern. All the pity died away, and in its stead came a grim, hard look which boated ill for whoever had been the cause of this mighty downfall. This look, in turn, gave place to one of decision. The volcanic energy of the man was working to some definite purpose. He glanced around at us, and as his eyes lighted on Nurse Kennedy, his eyebrows went up a trifle. She noted the look and glanced interrogatively at Mr. Trelawney, who flashed back a reply with a glance. She went quietly from the room, closing the door behind her. Mr. Corbeck looked first at me, with a strong man's natural impulse to learn from a man rather than a woman. Then at Mr. Trelawney, with the remembrance of the duty of courtesy, said, Tell me all about it, how it began, and when. Mr. Trelawney looked at me appealingly, and forthwith I told him all that I knew. He seemed to make no motion during the whole time, but insensibly the bronze face became steel. When at the end I told him of Mr. Marvin's visit and of the power of attorney, his look began to brighten. And when, seeing his interest in the matter, I went into more detail as to its terms, he spoke. Good! Now I know where my duty lies. With a sinking heart I heard him. Such a phrase, coming at such a time, seemed to close the door to my hopes of enlightenment. What do you mean? I asked, feeling that my question was a feeble one. His answer emphasized my fears. Trelawney knows what he is doing. He had some definite purpose in all that he did, and we must not thwart him. He evidently expected something to happen and guarded himself at all points. Not at all points, I said impulsively, there must have been a weak spot somewhere, or he wouldn't be lying here like that. Somehow his impassiveness surprised me. I had expected that he would find a valid argument in my phrase, but it did not move him, at least not in the way I thought. Something like a smile flickered over his swarthy face as he answered me, This is not the end. Trelawney did not guard himself to no purpose. Doubtless he expected this too, or at any rate the possibility of it. Do you know what he expected, or from what source? The questioner was Mr. Trelawney. The answer came at once. No, I know nothing of either. I can guess. He stopped suddenly. Guess what? The suppressed excitement in the girl's voice was akin to anguish. The steely look came over the swarthy face again. But there was tenderness and courtesy in both voice and manner as he replied, Believe me, I would do anything I honestly could to relieve your anxiety. But in this I have a higher duty. What duty? Silence! As he spoke the word, the strong mouth closed like a steel trap. We all remained silent for a few minutes. In the intensity of our thinking the silence became a positive thing. The small sounds of life within and without the house seemed intrusive. The first to break it was Mr. Trelawney. I had seen an idea, a hope, flash in her eyes, but she steadied herself before speaking. What was the urgent subject in which you wanted to see me knowing that my father was not available? The pause showed her mastery of her thoughts. The instantaneous change in Mr. Korbeck was almost ludicrous. His start of surprise, coming close upon his ironclad impassiveness, was like a pantomimic change. But all idea of comedy was swept away by the tragic earnestness with which he remembered his original purpose. My God! he said, as he raised his hand from the chair back on which it rested and beat it down with a violence which would in itself have arrested attention. His brows corrugated as he went on. I quite forgot! What a loss, now, of all times! Just at the moment of success! He lying there helpless and my tongue tied, not able to raise hand or foot in my ignorance of his wishes. What is it? Oh, do tell us. I am so anxious about my dear father. Is it any new trouble? I hope not. Oh, I hope not. I have had such anxiety and trouble already. It alarms me afresh to hear you speak so. Won't you tell me something to allay this terrible anxiety and uncertainty? He drew his sturdy form up to his full height, as he said. Alas, I cannot, may not, tell you anything. It is his secret, he pointed to the bed. And yet, and yet I came here for his advice, his counsel, his assistance. And he lies there helpless. And time is flying by us. It may soon be too late. What is it? What is it, broken, Miss Trelawney, in a sort of passion of anxiety, her face drawn with pain? Oh, speak, say something. This anxiety and horror and mystery are killing me. Mr. Korbeck calmed himself by a great effort. I may not tell you details, but I have had a great loss. My mission, in which I have spent three years, was successful. I discovered all that I sought, and more, and brought them home with me safely. Treasures, priceless in themselves, but doubly precious to him by whose wishes and instructions I sought them. I arrived in London only last night, and when I woke this morning my precious charge was stolen. Stolen in some mysterious way. Not a soul in London knew that I was arriving. No one but myself knew what was in the shabby portmanteau that I carried. My room had but one door, and that I locked and bolted. The room was high in the house, five stories up, so that no entrance could have been obtained by the window. Indeed, I had closed the window myself and shut the hasp, for I wished to be secure in every way. This morning the hasp was untouched, and yet my portmanteau was empty. The lamps were gone. There! It is out! I went to Egypt to search for a set of antique lamps which Mr. Trelani wished to trace. With incredible labour and through many dangers I followed them. I brought them safe home, and now he turned away much moved. Even his iron nature was breaking down under the sense of loss. Miss Trelani stepped over and laid her hand on his arm. I looked at her in amazement. All the passion and pain which had so moved her seemed to have taken the form of resolution. Her form was erect, her eyes blazed. Energy was manifest in every nerve and fibre of her being. Even her voice was full of nervous power as she spoke. It was apparent that she was a marvelously strong woman and that her strength could answer when called upon. We must act at once. My father's wishes must be carried out if it is possible to us. Mr. Ross, you are a lawyer. We have actually in the house a man whom you consider one of the best detectives in London. Surely we can do something. We can begin at once. Mr. Korbeck took new life from her enthusiasm. Good! you are your father's daughter! was all he said. But his admiration for her energy was manifested by the impulsive way in which he took her hand. I moved over to the door. I was going to bring Sergeant Daugh and from her look of approval I knew that Margaret, Miss Trelani, understood. I was at the door when Mr. Korbeck called me back. One moment, he said, before we bring a stranger on the scene, it must be borne in mind that he is not to know what you know now, that the lamps were the object of a prolonged and difficult and dangerous search. All I can tell him, all that he must know from any source, is that some of my property has been stolen. I must describe some of the lamps, especially one, for it is of gold, and my fear is lest the thief, ignorant of its historic worth, may, in order to cover up his crime, have it melted. I would willingly pay ten, twenty, a hundred, a thousand times its intrinsic value rather than have it destroyed. I shall tell him only what is necessary. So please let me answer any questions he may ask, unless, of course, I ask you or refer to either of you for the answer. We both nodded acquiescence. Then a thought struck me, and I said, By the way, if it be necessary to keep this matter quiet, it will be better to have it, if possible, a private job for the detective. If once a thing gets to Scotland Yard it is out of our power to keep it quiet, and further secrecy may be impossible. I shall sound, Sergeant Dough, before he comes up. If I say nothing it will mean that he accepts the task and will deal with it privately. Mr. Corbeck answered at once, Secrecy is everything. The one thing I dread is that the lamps, or some of them, may be destroyed at once. To my intense astonishment Mr. Trelawney spoke out at once, but quietly, in a decided voice, They will not be destroyed, nor any of them. Mr. Corbeck actually smiled in amazement. How on earth do you know? he asked. Her answer was still more incomprehensible. I don't know how I know it, but know it I do. I feel it all through me, as though it were a conviction which has been with me all my life. End of Chapter 7. Recording by Roger Moline.