"The head of the staircase is the orthodox place."
"The orthodox place?" repeated Beatrice, puzzled by the expression.
"Some ancient houses keep a skull as part of the furnishings," Idris explained. "It is supposed to bring good luck, and the head of the staircase is its usual place, any removal of it being fraught with danger to the house. Of course this is foolery, but——"
"But still we may as well be in the fashion," smiled Beatrice, "and so I'll put it where you say."
The Viking's skull was therefore taken by her to the embrasure of the window that looked down the staircase, after which act Beatrice went off for a brief spell of sleep, this being the first time she had ever gone to bed at sun-rising.
Godfrey, preparing to follow her example, lingered for a moment, attracted by the appearance of the water in which the tapestry had been cleansed.
"How red this water is!" he murmured. "To what is the colour due?"
"Probably to the reddish coloured clay with which the cloth was stained," replied Idris.
"It may be so," said the physician, slowly and thoughtfully, "but if I remember rightly, the clay in that part of the chamber where the tapestry lay was not red at all. The appearance of this water is certainly curious. One might almost take it for blood!"