Chapter 28

Vansittart-Smith hesitated, and hoped he had reached the end of his adventure, yet his curiosity was so strong within him that he could not leave the matter unresolved, so he followed his strange companion into the lighted room. The shape of a truck, and on the other side a rough wooden stool, with a round table in the centre, bearing the remains of a meal. And as the visitor glancing about, he could not help but notice with continually repeated excitement that all the little details of the room were of attractive design and antique workmanship and the candelabra, and vases On the chimney-piece, the fire-irons, and the ornaments on the walls, all as was customary to associate them with the distant past, and the squinty-eyed man sat on the edge of the bed and motioned to his guest to the chair.

"There may be design in this," said he, still speaking perfect English, "and he may decree that I should leave some accounts as a warning to all reckless mortals who will set their wits