The recital of this narrative had been given in a quiet, dignified manner—one of absolute conviction. It was an impartial statement of fact, and we were profoundly impressed.
Dr. Moore turned to me and said: "Well, do you feel like joining us?"
"Ah! Then you are in this too?" I exclaimed.
"Yes, Mr. Oakes is going to let me have my vacation in his company."
"I certainly shall go," I said; "it appears to me that this matter is a serious one."
"It is very serious," Oakes repeated. "There is a deep mystery at the Mansion, and its solution may be a dangerous one. There is murder in that method of attack, and terrible strength behind it."
"What is it? A man?" asked Moore.
"That is conjecture as yet," said Oakes. "I certainly beard the sound made by a woman's skirts, or something of that sort, but the strength was too great for most women hereabouts."
"Yes, if you were overcome by it," I remarked.