door leading into an inside room had just closed. He
ran towards it and flung it open, and a cold air blew out the candle. He
stood aghast.

[Illustration: "Into a vast bare kitchen with damp walls and a broken
floor."]

"Barnes!" he cried again. "Don't be afraid! It is I--Meagle!"

There was no answer. He stood gazing into the darkness, and all the time
the idea of something close at hand watching was upon him. Then suddenly
the steps broke out overhead again.

He drew back hastily, and passing through the kitchen groped his way
along the narrow passages. He could now see better in the darkness, and
finding himself at last at the foot of the staircase began to ascend it
noiselessly. He reached the landing just in time to see a figure
disappear round the angle of a wall. Still careful to make no noise, he
followed the sound of the steps until they led him to the top floor, and
he cornered the chase at the end of a short passage.

"Barnes!" he whispered. "Barnes!"

Something stirred in the darkness. A small circular window at the end of
the passage just softened the blackness and revealed the dim outlines of
a motionless figure. Meagle, in place of advancing, stood almost as
still as a sudden horrible doubt took possession of him. With his eyes
fixed on the shape in front he fell back slowly and, as it advanced upon
him, burst into a terrible cry.

"Barnes! For God's sake! Is it you?"

The echoes of his voice left the air quivering, but the figure before him
paid no heed. For a moment he tried to brace his courage up to endure
its approach, then with a smothered cry he turned and fled.

The passages wound like a maze, and he threaded them blindly in a vain
search for the stairs. If he could get down and open the hall door----

He caught his breath in a sob; the steps had begun again. At a lumbering
trot they clattered up and down the bare passages, in and out, up and
down, as though in search of him. He stood appalled, and then as they
drew near entered a small room and stood behind the door as they rushed
by. He came out and ran swiftly and noiselessly in the other direction,
and in a moment the steps were after him. He found the long corridor and
raced along it at top speed. The stairs he knew were at the end, and
with the steps close behind he descended them in blind haste. The steps
gained on him, and he shrank to the side to let them pass, still
continuing his headlong flight. The