"The voice of someone who has been here."
"Within the last week then. For it never spoke like that before, and mind, I noticed that it was watching and striving to imitate something before I went away, since the night that I went into the Park, only since then."
"Somebody with a voice like that must have been here while you were away," Father Murchison repeated, with a gentle obstinacy.
"I'll soon find out."
Guildea pressed the bell. Pitting stole in almost immediately.
"Pitting," said the Professor, speaking in a high, sharp voice, "did anyone come into this room during my absence at the sea?"
"Certainly not, sir, except the maids—and me, sir."
"Not a soul? You are certain?"
"Perfectly certain, sir."
The cold voice of the butler sounded surprised, almost resentful. The Professor flung out his hand towards the cage.