"Oh, if only I knew!" Archie Parminter had paid one visit to the house, had stayed for one night; and he and Garratt Skinner and Walter Hine had sat up till morning, talking together in the library.

Sylvia waking up from a fitful sleep, had heard their voices again and again through the dark hours; and when the dawn was gray, she had heard them coming up to bed as on the first night of her return; and as on that night there was one who stumbled heavily.

It was since that night that terror had distracted her.
"I have no longer any power," she said.

"Something has happened to destroy my power.

I have no longer any influence.