In the profound silence of the room he endured a moment of frightful agony, then opened his eyes again.

And he saw at once that the curtains remained closed still, but that the ceiling over the bed had risen quite a foot.

With the last gleam of reason left to him he understood that it was the enormous baldaquin over the bed which was coming down, while the curtains attached to it swayed softly, sinking gradually to the floor.

His drooping jaw snapped to--and half rising in his chair he watched mutely the noiseless descent of the monstrous canopy.

It came down in short smooth rushes till lowered half way or more, when it took a run and settled swiftly its turtle-back shape with the deep border piece fitting exactly the edge of the bedstead.