his
belt, his bearded chin upon his breast, his voice was the even monotone
of one speaking in his sleep.

He told Presley in a few words what had happened during the first
night he had spent in the garden of the old Mission, of the Answer,
half-fancied, half-real, that had come to him.

"To no other person but you would I speak of this," he said, "but you,
I think, will understand--will be sympathetic, at least, and I feel the
need of unburdening myself of it to some one. At first I would not trust
my own senses. I was sure I had deceived myself, but on a second
night it happened again. Then I was afraid--or no, not afraid, but
disturbed--oh, shaken to my very heart's core. I resolved to go no
further in the matter, never again to put it to test. For a long time I
stayed away from the Mission, occupying myself with my work, keeping
it out of my mind. But the temptation was too strong. One night I found
myself there again, under the black shadow of the pear trees calling for
Angele, summoning her from out the dark, from out the night. This time
the Answer was prompt, unmistakable. I cannot explain to you what it
was, nor how it came to me, for there was no sound. I saw absolutely
nothing but the empty night. There was no moon. But somewhere off there
over the little valley, far off, the darkness was troubled; that ME
that went out upon my thought--out from the Mission garden, out over the
valley, calling for her, searching for her, found, I don't know what,
but found a resting place--a companion. Three times since then I have
gone to the Mission garden at night. Last night was the third time."

He paused, his eyes shining with excitement. Presley leaned forward
toward him, motionless with intense absorption.

"Well--and last night," he prompted.

Vanamee stirred in his seat, his glance fell, he drummed an instant upon
the table.

"Last night," he answered, "there was--there was a change. The Answer
was--" he drew a deep breath--"nearer."

"You are sure?"

The other smiled with absolute certainty.

"It was not that I found the Answer sooner, easier. I could not be
mistaken. No, that which has troubled the darkness, that which has
entered into the empty night--is coming nearer to me--physically nearer,
actually nearer."

His voice sank again. His face like the face of younger prophets, the
seers, took on a half-inspired expression. He looked vaguely before him
with unseeing eyes.

"Suppose," he murmured, "s