white brow, and burst out
laughing, still standing at a safe distance near the door.

"Ah! Mr. Royle, you won't have much further opportunity of
investigation," she exclaimed. "You have become far too inquisitive, and
you constitute a danger--hence this action. I'm very sorry, but it must
be so," declared the brutal, inhuman woman.

She was watching, gloating over her triumph; waiting, indeed, for my
death.

Surely I was not their first victim! All had been carried out in a method
which showed that the paralysing drug and the deadly reptile had been
used before by this strange trio.

The music, now being played incessantly, apparently prevented the snake
from darting at me, as it was, no doubt, under the hypnotic influence of
its master. But I knew that the moment the music ceased it would be my
last.

With frantic efforts I struggled to withdraw my head and hands from the
reptile's reach, but every muscle seemed powerless. I could not budge an
inch.

Again I tried to speak, to shout for help, but no word could I
articulate. I was dead in all save consciousness.

"Oh, yes," laughed Mrs. Petre hoarsely; "we're just playing you a little
music--to send you to sleep--to put the seal of silence upon you, Mr.
Royle. And I hope you'll sleep very well to-night--very well--as no doubt
you will!" and she gave vent to a loud peal of harsh laughter.

Then, for a moment she hesitated, until suddenly she cried to the Hindu:

"Enough!"

The music ceased instantly, and the snake, whose hooded head had been
swaying to and fro slowly, suddenly shot up erect.

The spell of the music was broken, and I knew my doom was sealed.

Those small, brilliant eyes were fastened upon mine, staring straight at
me, the head moving very slowly, while those three brutes actually
watched my agony of terror, and exchanged smiles as they waited for the
reptile to strike its fatal blow.

In an instant its fangs would, I knew, be in my face, and into my blood
would be injected that deadly venom which must inevitably prove fatal.

Yes, I had been entrapped, and they held the honours in the game. After
my death Phrida would be denounced, accused, and convicted as an
assassin. Because, perhaps, I might be a witness in her favour, or even
assist her to escape arrest, this woman had taken the drastic step of
closing my lips for ever.

But was it with Digby's knowledge? Had he ever been her accomplice in
similar deeds to this?

Suddenly I recol