"Is he handsome?"
"Very. Tall and dark; rather military-looking."
"Has he a mark on one cheek?"
"Yes, a birth-mark; but not disfiguring. How did you know about it?"
"That lunatic at Kirkstone Hall told me. He called it the mark of Satan. By the way, who is that man?"
"A gardener who used to live at the Hall in Kirkstone's time. I think the tragedy of the Yellow Room must have sent him off his head. At all events, he ran away after it occurred, and only turned up a year or two ago, quite mad."
"Why didn't they lock him up?"
"Well, you see, Miss Wedderburn (who is rather a strong-minded young woman) thinks kindness may cure him; so she gave him back his old post of gardener. If Miss Gilmar had been there, I don't think he would have been allowed to stay. I don't think, either, that Miss W.'s experiment will be a success."
"He sings the most gruesome songs--about murder, and blood, and the Yellow Room."
"I know," replied Prain, cheerfully. "I am afraid that last muddled his brain and inspired his muse. He didn't sing or compose verse when I knew him; but the man's a complete wreck. He used to be rather handsome and stupid; but his own father wouldn't know him now. I'm sorry for the poor devil, as now that Alder owns the Hall I dare say he'll be kicked out, and have to end his days in an asylum."