“But I must tell you more,” said the doctor. “Two nights ago I was rung up, but very faintly, and could hear only whispers. I instantly inquired where the call came from and was told it came from the prison. I rang up the prison, and Warder Draycott told me that nobody had rung me up. He, too, was conscious of a presence.”
“I think that man drinks,” said Dawkins, sharply.
The doctor paused a moment.
“My dear fellow, you should not say that sort of thing,” he said. “He is one of the steadiest men we have got. And if he drinks, why not I also?”
The chaplain sat down again.
“You must forgive me,” he said, “but I can’t go into this. These are dangerous matters to meddle with. Besides, how do you know it is not a hoax?”
“Played by whom?” asked the doctor. “Hark!”
The telephone bell suddenly rang. It was clearly audible to the doctor.
“Don’t you hear it?” he said.
“Hear what?”