He stopped climbing; the steps ceased.

He started up, and the steps came again.

He knew now they came from a room at the head of the stairs.

He bounded up the remaining steps and pushed open the door with a loud "Halloo!" The room was empty.

Yet across it there was the indefinable trail of a presence,--an odour, a vibration, he knew not what,--and where a bar of sunlight cut the gloom under a half-raised curtain, he saw the motes in the air all astir.