Then the first one, the lighter of the

two, obviously the.pursued one, ran with uncertain footsteps into the

little room which Shorthouse and his aunt had just left. The heavier

one followed. There was a sound of scuffling, gasping, and smothered

screaming; and then out on to the landing came the step— of a single

person treading weightily.

A dead silence followed for the space of half a minute, and then

was heard a rushing sound through the air. It was followed by a dull,

crashing thud in the depths of the house below—on the stone floor of

the hall.

Utter silence reigned after. Nothing moved. The flame of the candle

was steady. It had been steady the whole time, and the air had been

undisturbed by any movement whatsoever. Palsied with terror, Aunt

Julia, without waiting for her companion, began fumbling her way

downstairs; she was crying gently to herself, and when Shorthouse put

his arm round her and half carried her, he felt that she was trembling

like a leaf. He went into the little room and picked up the cloak from

the floor, and, arm in arm, walking very slowly, without speaking a

word or looking once behind them, they marched down the three flights

into the hall.

In the hall they saw nothing, but the whole way down the stairs

they were conscious that someone followed them; step by step; when

they went faster IT was left behind, and when they went more slowly IT

caught them up. But never once did they look behind to see; and at each

turning of the staircase they lowered their eyes for fear of the

following horror they might see upon the stairs above.

With trembling hands Shorthouse opened the front door, and they

walked out into the moonlight and drew a deep breath of the cool night

air blowing in from the sea.

.