ing.

Dr. Mannering took it upon himself earnestly to beg they would abandon
the vigil. Indeed, he argued strongly against it.

"Consider, gentlemen," he said, "you are now possibly convinced in
your own minds that the source of these horrible things is to be found
outside the Grey Room, and not in it. I agree with you, so far. We have
reached a pitch where, in my judgment, we are justified in believing
that some motiveless malignity is at work. But by going into that room,
are you not giving somebody another opportunity to do what has already
been done? Evil performed without motive, as you know better than I
can tell you, must be the work of a maniac, and there may exist in this
house, unsuspected and unguessed, a servant afflicted in this awful way.
One has heard of such things."

The eldest of his listeners felt unspeakable interest in these remarks,
since his own opinion inclined in the same direction. He was, however,
none the less chagrined that another should thus voice his secret
theory. He did not answer, but his chief replied.

"It is proved," said Frith, "that no violence overtakes those subjected
to this ordeal. And I have decided that we shall not be in danger, for
this reason. We shall be armed as none of the dead were. Our precautions
will preclude any possibility of foul play from a material assault.
And, needless to say, we contemplate no other. We are free agents, and I
should not quarrel with any among us who shirked; but duty is duty, and
we have all faced dangers as great as this--probably far greater. What
you say is most interesting, doctor, and I agree with you, that outside
the room we must look for the explanation of these murders--if murders
they are. Upon that business we shall start to-morrow. Forgive me for
not going into details, because we have our personal methods.
They embrace the element of surprise, and, of course, prevent any
conversation concerning what we are going to do until we have done it."

"Supposing you are all found dead to-morrow?" asked Dr. Mannering
bluntly.

"Then we are all found dead to-morrow; and others will have the
satisfaction of finding out why."

"You suspect somebody, yet can absolve nobody?"

"Exactly, Sir Walter. I said pretty much that to the pressmen, who
forced themselves in this afternoon. The accursed daily Press of this
country has saved the skin of more blackguards than I like to count.
Keep them and the photographers away. It ought to be cr