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gulf。 He counted them carefully； then he stepped back。
〃There are seven；〃 he told her； closing the door with an effort。
She counted upon her fingers。
〃I must come and see；〃 she muttered。 〃I must be sure。 Help me。〃
He lifted her to her feet； and they staggered out together。
〃Look！〃 she went on； gripping his arm。 〃You see that row of lights？
If anything happens； if Mr。 Fentolin leaves the Hall to…night to
come down here； a light will appear on the left in the far corner。
We must watch for that light。 We must watch …〃
The words； whispered hoarsely into。 his ear； suddenly died away。
Even as they stood there； far away from the other lights； another
one shone suddenly out in the spot towards which she had pointed；
and continued to burn steadily。 He felt the woman who was clinging
to his arm become suddenly a dead weight。
〃She was right！〃 Mrs。 Pentolin moaned。 〃He is coming down to…night！
He is preparing to leave now； perhaps he has already started！ What
shall we do？ What shall we do？〃
Hamel was conscious of a gathering sense of excitement。 He； too；
looked at the signal which was flashing out its message towards them。
Then he gripped his companion's arm and almost carried her back into
the sitting…room。
〃Look here；〃 he said firmly； 〃you can do nothing further。 You have
done your part and done it well。 Stay where you are and wait。 The
rest belongs to me。〃
〃But what can you do？〃 she demanded； her voice shaking with fear。
〃Meekins will come with him； and Doctor Sarson； unless he is here
already。 What can you do against them？ Meekins can break any
ordinary man's back； and Mr。 Fentolin will have a revolver。〃
Hamel threw another log on to the fire and drew her chair closer
to it。
〃Never mind about he declared cheerfully。 〃Mr。 Fentolin is too
clever to attempt violence； except as a last resource。 He knows
that I have friends in London who would need some explanation
of my disappearance。 Stay here and wait。〃
She recognised the note of authority in his tone； and she bowed her
head。 Then she looked up at him； she was a changed woman。
〃Perhaps I have done ill to drag you into our troubles； Mr。 Hamel；〃
she said； 〃and yet； I believe in you。 I believe that you really
care for Esther。 If you can help us now； it will be for your
happiness； too。 You are a man。 God bless you！〃
Hamel groped his way round the side of the Tower and took up a
position at the extreme corner of the landward side of the building；
within a yard of the closed doors。 The light far out upon the left
was still gleaming brightly； but two of the others in a line with
it had disappeared。 He flattened himself against the wall and
waited； listening intently； his eyes straining through the darkness。
Yet they were almost upon him before he had the slightest indication
of their presence。 A single gleam of light in the path； come and
gone like a flash； the gleam of an electric torch directed
momentarily towards the road； was his first indication that they
were near。 A moment or two later he heard the strange click； click
of the little engine attached to Mr。 Fentolin's chair。 Hamel set
his teeth and stepped a few inches further back。 The darkness was
so intense that they were actually within a yard or so of him before
he could even dimly discern their shapes。 There were three of them
… Mr。 Fentolin in his chair； Doctor Sarson； and Meekins。 They
paused for a moment while the latter produced a key。 Hamel
distinctly heard a slow； soft whisper from Doctor Sarson。
〃Shall I go round to the front and see that he is in bed？〃
〃No need；〃 Mr。 Fentolin replied calmly。 〃It is nearly four o'clock。
Better not to risk the sound of your footsteps upon the pebbles。
Now！〃
The door swung noiselessly open。 The darkness was so complete that
even though Hamel could have touched them with an outstretched hand；
their shapes were invisible。 Hamel； who had formed no definite
plans； had no time to hesitate。 As the last one disappeared through
the door； he； too； slipped in。 He turned abruptly to the left and；
holding his breath； stood against the wall。 The door closed behind
them。 The gleam of the electric light flashed across the stone
floor and rested for a moment upon a trapdoor； which Meekins had
already stooped to lift。 It fell back noiselessly upon rubber studs；
and Meekins immediately slipped through it a ladder； on either side
of which was a grooved stretch of board； evidently fashioned to
allow Mr。 Fentolin's carriage to pass down。 Hamel held his breath。
The moment for him was critical。 If the light flashed once in his
direction； he must be discovered。 Both Meekins and Doctor Sarson；
however； were intent upon the task of steering Mr。 Fentolin's little
carriage down below。 They placed the wheels in the two grooves；
and Meekins secured the carriage with a rope which he let run
through his fingers。 As soon as the little vehicle had apparently
reached the bottom； he turned； thrust the electric torch in his
pocket； and stepped lightly down the ladder。 Doctor Sarson
followed his example。 They disappeared in perfect silence and left
the door open。 Presently a gleam of light came travelling up； from
which Hamel knew that they had lit a lamp below。 Very softly he
crept across the floor； threw himself upon his stomach and peered
down。 Below him was a room； or rather a cellar； parts of which
seemed to have been cut out of the solid rock。 Immediately
underneath was a plain iron bedstead； on which was lying stretched
the figure of a man。 In those first few moments Hamel failed
altogether to recognise Mr。 Dunster。 He was thin and white； and
he seemed to have shrunken； his face； with its coarse growth of
beard； seemed like the face of an old man。 Yet the eyes were open；
eyes dull and heavy as though with pain。 So far no word had been
spoken； but at that moment Mr。 Fentolin broke the silence。
〃My dear guest；〃 he said； 〃I bring you our most sincere apologies。
It has gone very much against the grain； I can assure you； to have
neglected you for so long a time。 It is entirely the fault of the
very troublesome young man who occupies the other portion of this
building。 In the daytime his presence makes it exceedingly
difficult for us to offer you those little attentions which you
might naturally expect。〃
The man upon the bed neither moved nor changed his position in any
way。 Nor did he speak。 All power of initiative seemed to have
deserted him。 He lay quite still； his eyes fixed upon Mr。 Fentolin。
〃There comes a time；〃 the latter continued； 〃when every one of us
is confronted with what might be described as the crisis of our
lives。 Yours has come； my guest； at precisely this moment。 It is；
if my watch tells me the truth； five and twenty minutes to four。
It is the last day of April。 The year you know。 You have exactly
one minute to decide whether you will live a short time longer； or
whether you will on this last day of April； and before … say； a
quarter to four； make that little journey the nature of which you
and I have discussed more than once。〃
Still the man upon the bed made no movement nor any reply。 Mr。
Fen