within parleyed: "Who's there?"

"Mrs. Pendleton--your master's sister," was the reply. "Let us in,
Thalassa."

The door was at once opened wide, and Thalassa stood back for them to
enter. By the light of the lamp he carried they saw that he was dressed
and coated for a journey, with his hat on.

"I'm glad you've come," he said to Dr. Ravenshaw. "It's you I was just
going out to fetch."

There was something strange in his manner, and the doctor looked at him
quickly. "What's the matter with you, man? Is there anything wrong?"

"That's what I don't know. But I'm afeered, yes, by God, I'm afeered."

His voice broke hoarsely, and he stood before them with his eyes averted
from the three wondering faces regarding him. Mrs. Pendleton stepped
quickly forward, and grasped his arm.

"What is it, Thalassa? Has anything happened to my brother?"

"There's been a great noise in his room, like as if something heavy had
crashed down, then silence like the grave. I went up and called--an' tried
to open the door, but I couldn't."

"Why didn't you try to break in the door?" said Dr. Ravenshaw.

"Tweren't my place," was the dogged retort. "I know my place. I was just
going to St. Fair for you and his brother."

"How long is it since this happened--since you heard the crash, I mean."

"Not many minutes agone. Just before you came to the door."

"Light us upstairs at once, Thalassa," said Mrs. Pendleton sharply.

"Mrs. Pendleton, will you wait downstairs while we investigate?" suggested
Dr. Ravenshaw.

"No," she resolutely answered. "I will come with you, doctor. Robert may
need me. Do not let us waste any more time."

She slipped past him to Thalassa, who was mounting the stairs. Dr.
Ravenshaw hurried after her. Mr. Pendleton, with an obvious call on his
courage, followed last. The lamp in Thalassa's hand burnt unsteadily,
first flaming angrily, then flickering to a glimmer which brought them to
a pause, one above the other on the stairs, listening intently, and
looking into the darkness above.

"His bedroom is open and empty," said Thalassa when they had reached the
end of the passage above. "See!" He pointed to the gaping door, and then
turned to the closed one opposite. "He's in here." His voice sank to a
whisper. "It was from here the noise came."

He placed the lamp on the floor, and knocked hesitatingly on the dark
panel of the closed door, then again more loudly, but there was no reply.
Far beneath them they c