He saw and he heard nothing, and yet in the morning a great 27 had been painted upon the outside of his door.
Thus day followed day; and as sure as morning came he found that his unseen enemies had kept their register, and had marked up in some conspicuous position how many days were still left to him out of the month of grace.

Sometimes the fatal numbers appeared upon the walls, sometimes upon the floors, occasionally they were on small placards stuck upon the garden gate or the railings.

With all his vigilance John Ferrier could not discover whence these daily warnings proceeded.

A horror which was almost superstitious came upon him at the sight of them.

He became haggard and restless, and his eyes had the troubled look of some hunted creature.