"But there isn't a drop of blood to be found. The passage under the trap I have explored thoroughly.
"I can't find a human being or a trace of blood or any of the machinery which they must have used for the light or the ghost.
"Of course, the failure to find traces of the conspirators is not strange. These passages are so long, and so intricate, and so mighty well gotten up that I haven't had time to go through them all.
"But the wounded person is another matter. Where she is hidden is more than I can imagine."
"I hope it wasn't Miss Stevens," said Nick.
"You called her name."
"Yes; I thought the chances were that it was she, but, of course, I couldn't recognize her in that rig for certain."
"Well, if it was she, of course, we shall find it out. It's impossible for her to carry those two bullets around with her and not show it."
Nick was dressed by this time. They went out into the hall of the new part. Nick had been taken to a room there, instead of being carried to that which had been assigned to him in the old part of the house.
From below came the sound of voices. The colonel, the doctor and Mrs. Pond were talking of the case.