n so remarkable lay in
store for me. I must conserve my strength for to-night. I am well--very
well--and supported by the consciousness of coming triumph. Such an
achievement would have rewarded my long journey and these exertions,
even had not your acquaintance been ample reward already. I will, then,
sleep until dinner-time, and so be replenished to play my part in
a wonderful though melancholy romance. Let us dine at seven, if you
please."

His excitement and natural levity strove with the gloomy facts. He
resembled a mourner at a funeral who experiences pleasant rather than
painful emotions but continually reminds himself to behave in a manner
appropriate to the occasion.

They sent for his man, and, on Stephano's arm, the old gentleman
withdrew.

He returned for a moment, however, and spoke again.

"You will do exactly as I wish and allow no human being to enter the
Grey Room. Keep the key in your pocket, Sir Walter; and do not go there
yourself either. It is still a trap of death for everybody else in the
world but myself."

CHAPTER XII. THE GOLDEN BULL

When Masters came to clear the tea, he found Sir Walter still
unconvinced.

"What do you think of Signor Mannetti, Masters?" asked Henry; and the
butler, who was a great reader of the newspapers, made answer.

"I think he's a bit of a freak, Mr. Henry. They tell me that old people
can have a slice of monkey slipped into 'em nowadays--to keep 'em going
and make 'em young and lively again. Well, I should say the gentleman
had a whole monkey popped in somewhere. I never see such another. He's
got a tongue like a rat-trap, and he leaves you guessing every time.
He's amazing clever; so's his man. That Stephano knows a thing or two!
He's got round Jane Bond something disgraceful. I never knew what was in
Jane--and her five and fifty if she's an hour."

"Would he be safe in the Grey Room?" said Sir Walter.

"He'd be safe anywhere. The question in my mind is whether our silver's
safe; and a few other things. I catched him poking about in the silver
table only this morning. He knows what's what. He knows everything. I
wouldn't say he ain't one of the swell mob myself--made up to look
like an old man. I'll swear he's never seen eighty years for all he
pretends."

Henry laughed.

"Don't you be frightened of him, Masters; he's all right."

"Let him go in the Grey Room by all means, Mr. Henry. He knows he's
safe anywhere. Yes, Sir Walter, he knows he'