e stained with
damp. A great pink fungus stood out within a few inches of the bed, a
grim mixture of exquisite colouring and loathsome imperfections. The
atmosphere was fetid. Meekins suddenly struck a match and lit some
grains of powder in a saucer. A curious odour of incense stole through
the place. Mr. Fentolin nodded appreciatively.

"That is better," he declared. "Really, the atmosphere here is
positively unpleasant. I am ashamed to think that our guest has had to
put up with it so long. And yet," he went on, "I think we must call it
his own fault. I trust that he will no longer be obstinate."

The effect of the restorative began to show itself. The man on the bed
moved restlessly. His eyes were no longer altogether expressionless. He
was staring at Mr. Fentolin as one looks at some horrible vision. Mr.
Fentolin smiled pleasantly.

"Now you are looking more like your old self, my dear Mr. Dunster," he
remarked. "I don't think that I need repeat what I said when I first
came, need I? You have just to utter that one word, and your little
visit to us will be at an end."

The man looked around at all of them. He raised himself a little on
his elbow. For the first time, Hamel, crouching above, recognised any
likeness to Mr. John P. Dunster.

"I'll see you in hell first!"

Mr. Fentolin's face momentarily darkened. He moved a little nearer to
the man upon the bed.

"Dunster," he said, "I am in grim earnest. Never mind arguments. Never
mind why I am on the other side. They are restless about you in America.
Unless I can cable that word to-morrow morning, they'll communicate
direct with The Hague, and I shall have had my trouble for nothing. It
is not my custom to put up with failure. Therefore, let me tell you
that no single one of my threats has been exaggerated. My patience has
reached its breaking point. Give me that word, or before four o'clock
strikes, you will find yourself in a new chamber, among the corpses of
those misguided fishermen, mariners of ancient days, and a few others.
It's only a matter of fifty yards out to the great sea pit below the
Dagger Rocks--I've spoken to you about it before, haven't I? So surely
as I speak to you of it at this moment."

Mr. Fentolin's speech came to an abrupt termination. A convulsive
movement of Meekins', an expression of blank amazement on the part of
Doctor Sarson, had suddenly checked the words upon his lips. He turned
his head quickly in the direction towards wh