"At the time I confess Burroughs rather shook my faith in myself, but during the day I have become certain that I did not sleep."
Sitting on the other side of the bed—Quarles was very particular where he sat in the room—he questioned me closely about the actions of the shadows, and I answered him as well as I could. Only a very vague picture was in my mind.
"It may astonish you to know, Wigan, that it was only your note this morning which brought me to this house at all to-night, I 'phoned to you at least a dozen times yesterday."
"Why?"
"I was afraid of to-night. Perhaps for the time being I have lost my grip a little on account of my nervous condition. I have had a long talk with Dr. Bates, and he tried to persuade me to give up the idea of spending a night here alone. He was rather doubtful about a supernatural solution to the mystery. Then I didn't like the agent when I went to him to arrange about the key. I shouldn't have entered the house with him to-night had I not known you were here."
"Anything else?" I asked.
"Always that strong presentiment of danger," he answered. "Were these hangings on the bed last night?"
"It was exactly as you see it now."
"The agent said the mattress and blankets had been put here for my convenience."
"Did he say when they were put here?"