He seemed, in a sort of vision which lit up the absolute blackness around, to see the two sturdy servant men staggering under its great weight.

He locked himself again in the turret-room, and laid the opened chest on a table, and in the darkness began to unpack it, laying out the contents, which were mainly of metal and glass--great pieces in strange forms--on another table.

He was conscious of being still asleep, and of acting rather in obedience to some unseen and unknown command than in accordance with any reasonable plan, to be followed by results which he understood.

This phase completed, he proceeded to arrange in order the component parts of some large instruments, formed mostly of glass.

His fingers seemed to have acquired a new and exquisite subtlety and even a volition of their own.