If she wasn’t, then certainly something was,—she was lifted right into the air. An idea occurred to me. I snatched the rug aside.
The mystery was explained!
A thin, yellow, wrinkled hand was protruding from amidst the heap of rugs,—it was its action which had caused the seeming movement of the figure on the altar. I stared, confounded. The hand was followed by an arm; the arm by a shoulder; the shoulder by a head,—and the most awful, hideous, wicked-looking face I had ever pictured even in my most dreadful dreams. A pair of baleful eyes were glaring up at mine.
I understood the position in a flash of startled amazement.
Sydney, in following Mr Holt, had started on a wild goose chase after all. I was alone with the occupant of that mysterious house,—the chief actor in Mr Holt’s astounding tale. He had been hidden in the heap of rugs all the while.
BOOK IV.
In Pursuit
The Conclusion of the Matter is extracted from the Case-Book of the Hon. Augustus Champnell, Confidential Agent
CHAPTER XXXII.
A NEW CLIENT
On the afternoon of Friday, June 2, 18—, I was entering in my case-book some memoranda having reference to the very curious matter of the Duchess of Datchet’s Deed-box. It was about two o’clock. Andrews came in and laid a card upon my desk. On it was inscribed ‘Mr Paul Lessingham.’
‘Show Mr Lessingham in.’