oor held out his hand for the
cup. Pipes were lit and the clean, wholesome smell of tobacco filled the
room. White produced a pack of cards; talk and laughter rang through the
room and died away reluctantly in distant corridors.

"Empty rooms always delude me into the belief that I possess a deep
voice," said Meagle. "To-morrow----"

He started up with a smothered exclamation as the light went out suddenly
and something struck him on the head. The others sprang to their feet.
Then Meagle laughed.

"It's the candle," he exclaimed. "I didn't stick it enough."

Barnes struck a match and relighting the candle stuck it on the
mantelpiece, and sitting down took up his cards again.

"What was I going to say?" said Meagle. "Oh, I know; to-morrow I----"

"Listen!" said White, laying his hand on the other's sleeve. "Upon my
word I really thought I heard a laugh."

"Look here!" said Barnes. "What do you say to going back? I've had
enough of this. I keep fancying that I hear things too; sounds of
something moving about in the passage outside. I know it's only fancy,
but it's uncomfortable."

"You go if you want to," said Meagle, "and we will play dummy. Or you
might ask the tramp to take your hand for you, as you go downstairs."

Barnes shivered and exclaimed angrily. He got up and, walking to the
half-closed door, listened.

"Go outside," said Meagle, winking at the other two. "I'll dare you to
go down to the hall door and back by yourself."

Barnes came back and, bending forward, lit his pipe at the candle.

"I am nervous but rational," he said, blowing out a thin cloud of smoke.
"My nerves tell me that there is something prowling up and down the long
passage outside; my reason tells me that it is all nonsense. Where are
my cards?"

He sat down again, and taking up his hand, looked through it carefully
and led.

"Your play, White," he said after a pause. White made no sign.

"Why, he is asleep," said Meagle. "Wake up, old man. Wake up and play."

Lester, who was sitting next to him, took the sleeping man by the arm and
shook him, gently at first and then with some roughness; but White, with
his back against the wall and his head bowed, made no sign. Meagle
bawled in his ear and then turned a puzzled face to the others.

"He sleeps like the dead," he said, grimacing. "Well, there are still
three of us to keep each other company."

"Yes," said Lester, nodding. "Unless--Good Lord! suppose--