Still striving to rally his spirits, Michael Lee said:
"One other man besides yourself, sir, has sometimes thought so."
"Any one whom I know?"
"Yes, sir; you know him slightly."
"Who may he be?"
"I, myself."
Gideon Rowe smiled.
"Mr. Steele did well to select you. Now pay careful heed to what I am about to say. Your duties to-night are not heavy. You are to stand as doorkeeper, and all you have to do is to act strictly in accordance with the instructions I give you. Your position will be there"--pointing to the door at the north end of the room, which led on to the veranda. "You will stand outside that door, and admit only those who establish their right to enter. And only those have the right of entrance whose names are written on this paper."
Michael Lee received the paper from Gideon Rowe, and read the names aloud:
Reuben Thorne.
James Blanchard.
Henry Holmes.
Rachel Holmes.
Thomas Chatterton.
Ephraim Goldberg.
Dinah Dim.
Stephen Viner.
Caroline Miller.
Edward Blair.
Clarence Coveney.
Frederick Fairfax.
Richard Weston.