Godfrey's--lingered on the
high-backed chair, but this time it had no occupant.

Then Godfrey switched on the light, passed into the hall and switched
on the light there. The hall, too, was empty, and only the ticking of
a tall clock disturbed the silence. I was faltering and ready to turn
back, but, to my amazement, Godfrey crossed the hall at a bound and
sprang up the stair, three steps at a time.

"Make all the noise you can!" he shouted over his shoulder, and the
clatter of our feet seemed enough to wake the dead.

The upper hall was also empty; and then my heart gave a sudden leap,
for the circle of light from Godfrey's torch had come to rest upon a
white-robed figure, which had stolen half-way down the stair from the
upper story. It was the maid, holding her night-dress about her; and
her face was as white as her gown.

Godfrey sprang to her side.

"What is it?" he asked. "What is wrong?"

"I heard a cry," gasped the girl. "Down here somewhere. And a scuffle
in the dark. A woman's cry. It was choked off short."

Godfrey leaped down among us, and, as the light of a torch flashed
across it, I saw that his face was livid.

"Who's got an extra gun?" he demanded, and one of the detectives
pressed one into his hand. "Ready, now, men," he added, crossed the
hall, threw open the outer door into Silva's room, and flung back the
drapery beyond.

My heart was in my throat as I peered over Godfrey's shoulder at what
lay within; and then a gasp of amazement from my companions mingled
with my own.

For the crystal sphere was glowing softly, and seated cross-legged on
the divan, his hands folded, his eyes fixed in meditation, was Silva.

We all stood for a moment staring at him, then Godfrey passed his hand
dazedly before his eyes.

"You two men stay on guard here," he said. "One of you keep your torch
on this fellow, and the other keep his torch on the floor. There's a
cobra around somewhere."

An arc of light swept shakingly across the floor, as one of the men
turned his torch toward it. But I saw no sign of Toto.

"Lester, you and Simmonds come with me," Godfrey added, stepped back
into the hall, and tapped at the door of Miss Vaughan's bedroom.

There was no response, and he tapped again. Then he tried the door,
found it unlocked, and opened it. He sent a ray of light skimming
about the room; then he found the switch, turned on the lights, and
entered.

The room was empty, as were the dressing-room and b