menace, was too real for chimerical conjecture or mere coincidence. How
came that door closed just after the tableau? That declamation! Such
pertinent lines and ghostly utterances, so exactly imitating the voice
of Alice!"

Paul began to think there must be something wrong with his head. Never
before had he felt any such queer sensations, except when Alice
approached his hiding-place along shore of the lake. Strange about that
grewsome drapery of seaweed!

Paul is now startled with the conviction that Alice Webster, borne by
the Thames current, had drifted out to sea. He exclaims: "Can it be that
her body has been found and identified? What could the spectral voice
have meant by the prophecy about burial 'in a cave' and 'trodden down
with stones'? What if the body of Oswald Langdon, too, has passed out to
the boundless deep, and his fleshless skeleton now is awaiting
identification in some rock-sealed ocean cave!

"That fearful threat about will of 'fierce avenging sprite!' How escape
that sure blood-atonement?"

It now seems to Paul that all the sleuths of fate are hunting him for
these murders.

Rising haggard and feverish, he takes a glass of strong brandy and
braces himself for the day. After light breakfast, he starts out for a
walk, but avoids familiar faces.

Agnes had told Paul not to call again before Sunday evening. Still
revolving in his mind weird incidents of the previous night, this
restless youth passes the time, and again sleeps but little.

All the next day, until time for his call upon Agnes, Paul spends in
nervous, troubled conjecture, but can find no solution of this elusive
problem. The strain is terrible and his look is alert. He avoids all
acquaintances and gives startled looks into vacancy, as if fearing
invisible attack. With quick, furtive glances, his right hand grasping
concealed dagger, Paul scans strange faces, but there is suggestion of
helplessness in facial shades, as if consciously battling against
unseen, pitiless foes.

Promptly at the appointed hour Paul rings the bell at apartments of Sir
Charles. There is no response. Impatiently waiting for some time, the
bell is again rung. Still no one responds. Going around to apartments
occupied by the family, Paul again rings, when the proprietor appears.
Upon asking if Miss Randall were at home, Paul is startled by the
information that the Chesterton rooms have been vacated.

Excitedly curious, Paul inquires when and where Miss R