ss the Rev. Mr. Stringer had derived considerable
comfort from this invention.

She dusted the receiver and put them to her ears. She heard nothing.
Beneath the plug was a little switch. She turned this over and instantly
her ears were filled with a strange hollow sound--the sound which a bad
gramophone record makes.

Then she realized that she was listening to a congregation singing.
This ceased after awhile and she heard a cough, so surprisingly near and
loud that she started. Of course, the transmitter would be in the
pulpit, she thought. Then a voice spoke, clear and distinct, yet with
that drawl which is the peculiar property of ministers of the
Established Church. She smiled as the first words came to her.

"I publish the banns of marriage between Henry Colebrook, and Jane Maria
Smith both of this parish. This is the second time of asking." A pause,
then: "Also between Henry Victor Vanden and Oliva Cresswell Predeaux,
both of this parish. This is the third time of asking. If any of you
know cause or just impediment why these persons should not be joined
together in holy matrimony, ye are to declare it."

She dropped the instrument with a crash and stood staring down at it.
She had been listening to the publication of her own wedding-notice.

"Vanden" was van Heerden. "Oliva Cresswell Predeaux" was herself. The
strangeness of the names meant nothing. She guessed rather than knew
that the false name would not be any insuperable bar to the ceremony.
She must get away. For the first time she had a horrible sense of being
trapped, and for a few seconds she must have lost her head, for she
tugged at the iron bars, dashed wildly out and hammered at the sliding
door. Presently her reason took charge. She heard the heavy step of
Gregory on the stairs and recovered her calm by the time he had unlocked
the bar and pulled the doors apart.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"I want you to let me out of here."

"Oh, is that all?" he said sarcastically, and for the second time that
day slammed the door in her face.

She waited until he was out of hearing, then she went back noiselessly
to the sitting-room. She pushed open the door of the service lift and
tested the ropes. There were two, one which supported the lift and one
by which it was hauled up, and she gathered that these with the lift
itself formed an endless chain.

Gripping both ropes firmly she crept into the confined space of the
cupboard and let herself down