"Try it? Why ... no. I don't believe in magic, James."
"Not magic. Electronics. Years ago Bram talked to me about radio. He wanted to teach me. Now I'm here looking for a transmitter. That transmitter was busy last night. I think Bram was operating it."
There was a long silence.
"James," Miss Carroll said at last, "I don't understand."
"Neither do I, Miss Carroll. I'm still working on finding the pieces. But let me ask you: that night that Bram brought you out to his place. You say he ran to the kitchen and opened a trapdoor in the floor—"
"Did I say floor? That was an error: the panel was in the wall."
"I guess I jumped to the conclusion. Which wall?"
"He crossed the room. There was a table, with a candlestick. He went around it and pressed his hand against the wall, beside the wood-box. The panel slid aside. It was very dark within. He ducked his head, because the opening was not large, and stepped inside...."
"That would be the east wall ... to the left of the back door?"
"Yes."