He turned and beheld Dr. Jarvis entering the laboratory.
Realizing the possibility of such an event, Nick had disguised himself as Cleary, yet he wished to avoid being seen if possible.
He got into the darkest corner available and watched.
Dr. Jarvis had on only his night-shirt, a skull-cap and a peculiar red dressing-gown, which he wore whenever he worked in the laboratory or in the garden. This dressing-gown and the queer red skull-cap were so old that nobody about the hospital could remember when they had been new. Cleary once said that he believed they were born and grew up with the doctor.
Without noticing Nick, Dr. Jarvis advanced directly toward the dissecting-table. He had no light, but the moon's rays glanced brightly around the slab.
The doctor drew back the sheet which covered the figure, revealing the head and naked breast.
Then he drew some instruments from a case, and proceeded to sever the head from the body.
This secret action in the dead of night surprised Nick greatly. Could it be that some clever trick had been accomplished? Had the body which Nick had seen been removed, and that of Patrick Deever substituted?
From where he stood Nick could not see the face of the body clearly enough to form a decision. If, however, this was only an ordinary subject for the dissecting-table, why did Dr. Jarvis mutilate it with such caution and at such an hour?
To cut off the head was the work of a very few minutes to the skillful physician.