That was curious.

Directly I said it he began making minute inquiries as to what the room was like, how the furniture was placed, even what pictures hung on the walls." "The pictures!" "Yes.

I described them." "All of them ?" "No, one or two; that favorite of yours, 'The Merciful Knight,' the Turner, those girls of Solomon's with the man playing to them, and--yes, I think those were all." "Oh!" "He said, 'You made a great mistake in changing your venue to that room, a great mistake.' Then I explained how we moved back to the tentroom in the middle of the sitting, and all about Rip." "Did he make any remark ?" "One that struck me as very quaint, 'You are _en route_.'" "Enigmatic again.

He was playing the wizard." "He spoke very gravely." "Of course.

Great gravity is part of the business." "Afterwards he said, 'Turn that dog out next time.'" "And that was all ?" "I think so." Valentine sat musing.