up my mind how to act; and, after stealing out
to get the necessary tools, I waited my time and set to work. It was a
long task, for I had to work and not make a sound; but the old fastening
soon gave way, and I drew the door open and stood shivering in the
narrow place, with yours and Guest's words coming plainly to me.

"At times you were angry, at other times Guest spoke loudly, and twice
over he had the outer door open to talk to people on the landing.

"Those were my opportunities, and, helped by strength I did not think I
possessed, I worked on, dragging the body out inch by inch, and lowering
him down. A dozen times over I felt that I must be heard, but you were
both too intent upon yourselves, and your words often rose to a quarrel
on one side, and, as I said, at such times I worked, till at last I bore
the man through the door and laid him there."

He pointed to the heavy rug in front of the fireplace, and, as if
fascinated, Stratton gazed at the spot.

"The rest of the task was lighter for the moment; I had but to close the
door, and secure it slightly. I left the proper fastening up till a
future time, and I'll tell you that now--the fastening up took place at
the time when you were working shudderingly in the dark, taking in cans
of spirit, and pouring them gurgling and echoing into the bath; and I
heard all this, and the final screwing down of the lid and screwing up
of your door. I tell you I heard it all, boy, and still worked on in
your service."

"In my service?" said Stratton blankly.

"Yes. Why did I do all this? Did I not know that, in spite of all your
scheming and precautions, sooner or later the discovery must be made.
Was I to let you live on with that horror waiting always at your elbow,
driving you mad with dread, as I felt it was bound to do? It was for
your sake, boy, that I fought as I did, and brought your victim out
here."

"But tell me--what did you mean to do?"

"How can I, when my own ideas were all vague and strange, as I sat there
that night with this,"--he tapped his water-pipe--"and tried to hit on
some plan; and somehow the horror passed away, and I felt no fear of the
poor wretch lying there before me. I wondered at myself--that I could
sit there so calmly smoking, in the face of all that had passed; but I
did, for I said to myself, `What is death, after all, but sleep?'

"So I sat and thought, much as a man would under the circumstances--much
as you did--and I f