ad a
terrible desire to rush over to Margaret, whom I saw through the smoke
still standing erect behind the couch. Then, as I looked, I saw Doctor
Winchester sink down. He was not unconscious; for he waved his hand
back and forward, as though to forbid any one to come to him. At this
time the figures of Mr. Trelawny and Mr. Corbeck were becoming
indistinct in the smoke which rolled round them in thick billowy
clouds. Finally I lost sight of them altogether. The coffer still
continued to glow; but the lamps began to grow dim. At first I thought
that their light was being overpowered by the thick black smoke; but
presently I saw that they were, one by one, burning out. They must
have burned quickly to produce such fierce and vivid flames.

I waited and waited, expecting every instant to hear the command to
turn up the light; but none came. I waited still, and looked with
harrowing intensity at the rolling billows of smoke still pouring out
of the glowing casket, whilst the lamps sank down and went out one by
one.

Finally there was but one lamp alight, and that was dimly blue and
flickering. The only effective light in the room was from the glowing
casket. I kept my eyes fixed toward Margaret; it was for her now that
all my anxiety was claimed. I could just see her white frock beyond
the still white shrouded figure on the couch. Silvio was troubled; his
piteous mewing was the only sound in the room. Deeper and denser grew
the black mist and its pungency began to assail my nostrils as well as
my eyes. Now the volume of smoke coming from the coffer seemed to
lessen, and the smoke itself to be less dense. Across the room I saw
something white move where the couch was. There were several
movements. I could just catch the quick glint of white through the
dense smoke in the fading light; for now the glow of the coffer began
quickly to subside. I could still hear Silvio, but his mewing came
from close under; a moment later I could feel him piteously crouching
on my foot.

Then the last spark of light disappeared, and through the Egyptian
darkness I could see the faint line of white around the window blinds.
I felt that the time had come to speak; so I pulled off my respirator
and called out:

"Shall I turn up the light?" There was no answer; so before the thick
smoke choked me, I called again but more loudly:

"Mr. Trelawny, shall I turn up the light?" He did not answer; but from
across the room I heard