g housemaid, I myself made it fast
with three or four tin-tacks which I remember I drove through the velvet
stuff into the panelling, using a fireiron as a hammer. At the time
I thought it a good job although by accident I struck the nail of the
third finger of my left hand so hard that it came off. Look, it has not
quite finished growing again," and he showed the finger on which the new
nail was still in process of formation.

"Well, as I walked up and down the room some impulse caused me to look
towards the picture. To my astonishment I saw that it was no longer
veiled, although to the best of my belief the curtain had been drawn
over it as lately as that afternoon; indeed I could have sworn that this
was so. I called to Savage to bring the lamp that stood upon my table,
and by its light made an examination. The curtain was drawn back, very
tidily, being fastened in its place clear of the little alcove by means
of a thin brass chain. Also along one edge of it, that which I had
nailed to the panelling, the tin-tacks were still in their places; that
is, three of them were, the fourth I found afterwards upon the floor.

"'She looks beautiful, doesn't she, my lord,' said Savage, 'and please
God so we shall still find her somewhere in the world.'

"I did not answer him, or even remark upon the withdrawal of the
curtain, as to which indeed I never made an inquiry. I suppose that
it was done by some zealous servant while I was pretending to eat my
dinner--there were one or two new ones in the house whose names and
appearance I did not know. What impressed itself upon my mind was that
the face which I had never expected to see again on the earth, even in
a picture, was once more given to my eyes, it mattered not how. This, in
my excited state, for laudanum waiting to be swallowed and a pistol at
full cock for firing do not induce calmness in a man already almost mad,
at any rate until they have fulfilled their offices, did in truth appear
to me to be something of the nature of a sign such as that spoken of
in Savage's idiotic dream, which I was to find if 'I looked round the
study.'

"'Savage,' I said, 'I don't think much of your dreams about snakes that
talk to you, but I do think that it might be well to see Mr. Quatermain.
To-day is Sunday and I believe that the African mail sails on Friday. Go
to town early to-morrow and book passages.'

"Also I told him to see various gunsmiths and bid them send down a
selection of