imly, in my own mind, comforts me very much. It is only myself that I
have to take into account; my precious secret is not discovered, for 1
know that you will guard it as a sacred treasure. And, by-the-bye, I
must tell you of a most extraordinary feature of the matter, which I
had forgotten till now. Just as the Turk was speaking his latter words,
I fancied that I heard one or two broken phrases of the sorrowful
melody, '_mio ben ricordati_,' and then it seemed to me that one
single, long-drawn note of the glorious voice which I heard on that
eventful night went floating by."

"'"Well," said Lewis, "and I remember, too, that, just as your answer
was being given to you, I happened to place my hand on the railing
which surrounds the figure. I felt it thrill and vibrate in my hand,
and I fancied also that I could hear a kind of musical sound, for I
cannot say it was a vocal note, passing across the room. I paid no
attention to it, because, as you know, my head is always full of music,
and I have several times been wonderfully deceived in a similar way;
but I was very much astonished, in my own mind, when I traced the
mysterious connection between that sound and your adventure in D----."

"'The fact that Lewis had heard the sound as well as himself, was to
Ferdinand a proof of the psychic _rapport_ which existed between them;
and as they further diseased the marvels of the affair, he began to
feel the heavy burden which had weighed upon him since he heard the
fatal answer lifted away, and was ready to go forward bravely to meet
whatsoever the future might have in store.

"'"It is impossible that I can lose her," he said. "She is my heart's
queen, and will always be there, as long as my own life endures."

"'They went and called on Professor X----, in high hope that he would
be able to throw light on many questions relating to occult sympathies
and the like, in which they were deeply interested. They found him to
be an old man, dressed in old-fashioned French style, exceedingly keen
and lively, with small grey eyes which had an unpleasant way of fixing
themselves on one, and a sarcastic simile, not very attractive,
playing about his mouth.

"'When they had expressed their wish to see some of his automatons, he
said, "Ah! and you really take an interest in mechanical matters, do
you? Perhaps you have done something in that direction yourselves?
Well, I can show you, in this house here, what you will look for in
vain in