The leader turned and uncovered a niche in the wall. Standing there, was a candelabrum with seven lighted candles. The leader spoke.
“The Seven,” he said.
“Silence,” replied the others.
The leader extinguished one of the candles.
“Number Seven,” he said.
One of the hooded figures rose and turned his back to the leader. The wall slid back and Number Seven departed. The wall closed.
After a short wait, the leader put out another candle. This time he named Number Six, and a second man left. When the leader extinguished a third candle, and called for Number Five, Rodney Paget followed the actions of the others.
As soon as the wall had closed behind him, he removed his robe and went down the passage to the elevator. There he found a button in the wall. The car came up, and Paget entered it.
He lost no time in his departure. Three minutes after his dismissal, he was riding down Broadway in a cab.
PAGET attended the theater that night, but he began to show signs of poorly restrained impatience before the show was over. After the last act, Paget left the theater with unusual haste.