There was a pause.
'Well?' Hugo inquired, 'what name?'
'Callear—C-a-l-l-e-a-r. If you should hear that name soon—'
'What then?'
'Remember your promise of secrecy—that's all. Good-bye.'
'I wish you'd tell me where you are.'
'Not far off,' said the voice. 'I shall never be far off, I think. When you've found Camilla and brought her here'—the tone of the voice changed and grew almost malignant despite its reticence—'you'd like to know that I was always near to, somewhere underneath, mouldering, wouldn't you?'
'What did you say?'
'I said mouldering. Good-bye.'
'But look here—'