exception. The thick Turkey carpet
and heavy rug were exactly as they had been laid; the fireplace showed
the coal, wood, and paper neatly laid; and the chairs were all duly
ranged in their places; but the sergeant's light rested upon the table--
a heavy, oblong affair, with four massive carven legs--a part of whose
top was bare, for the thick green cloth cover, with bullion braiding at
the border, had been half dragged off, and lay in folds from the top to
floor, only kept from gliding right off by the heavy lamp, and looking
as if it had been hastily dragged down to cover something by the table,
or caught by someone's foot when passing hastily to the door.

The sergeant made his light play on the dark folds for a few moments,
and then jerked it away.

"Do you gentlemen mean to stop?" he said, speaking now a little more
rapidly.

There was no reply and the man stepped forward to the table, raised one
corner of the cloth quickly, and then swung it right up and steadily
lowered it again, while Guest uttered a sigh of relief, for there was
nothing visible but the heavy legs of the table.

"Enough to deceive any man," said the sergeant, who then stopped and
listened, walked back, and softly closed both doors.

"May as well be private, gentleman," he said. "Eh?"

This last to the workman, who had muttered something in a low voice.

"I says I could ha' swore he was there."

"So could I, Jemmy," replied the sergeant, as he made the light play
round the room again, and let it rest upon the chamber-door.

"There is nothing, you see," said Stratton, rather quickly.

"Haven't done yet, sir," replied the sergeant. Then, in a low voice to
Guest--"I'm pretty well used to this sort o' thing, sir, but 'pon my
soul I feel as if I should like to turn that picture round. It's just
as if it was watching me. There, let's get it over."

The man had, in spite of his being accustomed to scenes of horror,
seemed as if it were necessary to string himself up. He had gone to the
table finally to lift the cover, and that had used up a certain amount
of nerve force. He was forced to make a call on nature for a further
supply.

He strode across to the chamber-door, threw it open, and walked in, the
others following and standing just inside, as he made the light play
round a well-furnished bedroom where everything was exactly in its
place--the bed made, dressing table in perfect order, and a couple of
cupboards displaying nothin