he whole affair was too mysterious to make out any settled
theory from the slim data which lay before me.

I got up, and went down the entrance passage, taking the candle with
me. Going on past the place where we had broken in, I found marks where
another roofing flag had been moved and replaced. It was under the spot
where we had noted the torn-up turf, and I came to a conclusion that
the sleek black pigs of Minorca had been maligned. But--well, what was
the use of puzzling on? Much best to shrug the shoulders, say "Kismet,"
use strong language according to taste, and accept for granted that
every man's fate was writ big upon his forehead.

A blurred noise of moaning came down the passage-way from the black
heart of the Talayot. "That other poor devil's coming to his senses
again, and is feeling lonely," thought I, and retraced my steps. The
little man was talking a bit incoherently, whimpering to himself the
while, and mopping his face with a clammy pocket-handkerchief. He was a
tolerably poor sight.

"Look here, my son," said I: "you've lost your starch, and you'd better
go home."

"Whatever did I come for?"

"Why, to grab something that you've missed, and that I've missed too.
It's best to be philosophical over it, and clear out quietly and not
gossip. Personally, I can do all the necessary ridicule myself. I'm not
over-ambitious about spreading the tale, and getting indiscriminate
chaff thrown in from all four quarters of the compass."

"Then you think there is no hope of getting the Recipe at all."

"The event is with Allah, and I am not in his confidence."

"I must request you not to be profane in my presence, Mr. Cospatric."

"H'm! I'm feeling as if a little profanity would do me good just now."

"Then let me use the word 'blasphemy.' I object strongly to having my
ears polluted by it. Blasphemy----"

"Oh, curse you," I broke out savagely, "stow that rubbish. After
coquetting with murder, you've little call to preach about minor
morals. I guess we're both fairly rabid just now, and if nagging is
your favourite safety-valve, you'd better screw it down; otherwise
you'll get hurt."

We stood there facing one another, the candle feebly illuminating us up
to the knees, the upper parts of our bodies showing only in dim
outline. For a good five minutes neither spoke. At last Weems announced
his intention of departing, and was promptly given leave to go anywhere
from hell upwards. He went down the passage-