ever found was in the love of my wife. She went
out to India with me, and she never came back." He turned and gazed into
the fire to hide his emotions. "I have become half-mad over this
business of collecting antiquities and curios," he resumed, presently,
"but it isn't real, it's only an insane hobby after all, and I have only
just realized how selfish it all is, and how selfish I have been as
well, to consider for a moment bartering my daughter's happiness for a
miserable Chinese idol to which I never had any right in the first
place." He drew a cigar from his pocket and lighted it hurriedly.

I thanked him for his attitude toward my suit, and agreed to leave the
setting of our marriage day entirely in the hands of himself and Muriel.
Then, seeing that he was tired out after the long strain of the day, I
bade him good-night and retired to my room.

As I stopped at my doorway, I noticed that the door of the green room
stood partly open, and, filled with a curious fascination, I once more
peered into its dark and silent interior. I could see only the faint
outlines of the tall, old-fashioned bed, against the dim night light of
the sky without the windows. I stepped inside, acting upon the impulse
of the moment, and striking a wax taper lit one of the gas jets in the
heavy, old-fashioned bronze chandelier. The room seemed comfortable
enough, although I felt that peculiar stifling sensation which I had
noticed upon my first entering it. I looked about, and wondered for the
thousandth time what strange secret lay concealed within its walls, what
mysterious influence existed which was potent to strike down man or
beast alike without warning, as though by the hand of death itself. I
longed to penetrate to the heart of this mystery, to satisfy myself, at
least, that what had occurred herein had not been supernatural, the
action of unknown forces, but merely some working of well-known natural
laws, obscure perhaps, but none the less understandable, if but the
secret could once be grasped. Suddenly I was seized with an idea. Why
should I not spend the night here, instead of in the room across the
hall, and possibly thus determine the grim secret, which had set our
reason and common sense at naught. The idea grew upon me, and so
strongly was I possessed with it that I at once returned to my own room,
undressed, put on my pajamas, and, taking from my dressing-case, which
had been sent down from London, a small pocket revolver tha