The Gloved Hand

of height and dignity to a figure already tall. His hair was dark and crinkled like wind-swept water, his complexion dark, but with an under-blush of red in the cheeks. His lips were sc

He did not seem surprised. If there was any expression in his face e

he repeated. "What

accent. It was something of a shock to hear the ordinary words of English speech c

s eyes, I saw that the cobra had also awakened from its trance, and was regardi

o him, gently stroking the distended hood. The snake curled itself about his arm and seemed to cuddle to him, but it kept its ey

ropped the snake gently into it, and fastened down the lid. Then he clapped his hands softly, and an

ich was thrown about his shoulders and covered him to just below the hips, made him look even darker. His legs were bare and seemed to be n

cked up Toto's basket and disappeared with it through the curtains.

he said, "will

nged that windows and doors could be covered also, and the room was absolutely devoid of furniture, save for a lo

," began Goldberger at last, in a

" said the ade

that Mr. Vaug

a little depr

soul rejoins the Over-soul, that is all. Yes, I kno

arn that?" Gold

sphere," replied

re you at

zing at t

edulously, "that you sat for five ho

light smile. "Last night was the White Night of Siva.

nervous fingers, as he stared at the a

our crystal could give us some further

and it seemed to me that they glittered more

mation, sir

of Mr. Vaughan's passing-can

t shook

ver. I knew, however, that it had b

ow that?" broke

lained. "Souls which pass in peace are white; souls which the body has driven forth by its own hand

snort with derision or to be impressed. He ended b

in this country, and the law tries to get hold of the alien and to send his soul af

dept

ly, "I shall be glad to give; though to do mur

istinctions," said Goldberger, dr

ept, touching his forehead lightly with th

is

oul, from whom we come an

ger worried h

the mystery is cleared up, I must

wish to lea

ellow who took away the sna

mall room openin

look in

the adept swept a

et against the wall. On the mat was squatted the attendant, his legs crossed with feet uppermost, and his hands held palm to palm before him. On the floor in fr

ew more hairs as he stood stari

His grandmother's rema

Kali," said the adept grave

e coroner drily. "Would it disturb the gen

, but I shall be glad

is over for a moment,

ight tell him, though, that there will be officers of the

ed the adept, and let the cu

her servants somewhere about

-they sleep on t

ey Hind

iled. "Two of them are Ger

tle, for the words somehow

unless Mr. Simmonds has some questio

iries had plainly been successive st

ed Goldberger, still a little on his dig

a smile decidedly ironical. I, at least, fel

e, well past middle age, the former the gardener and the latter the cook. Erin was represented by a red-haired girl who was the housemaid. All of them were horrified when told their ma

ly have to penetrate two doors to reach them, for their rooms were at the end of an entry, closed by an outer door. As to the windows, it was the rule of the house that they should always be closed and t

reason, brought them downstairs with him and made them look at their master's body. This had no result ex

ed when Simmonds called me. I'll set the inquest for ten o'clock to-morrow morning, and I'll hold it here in this room. We'll want you here, Mr. Godfrey

none," I a

vely, "for I'm sure he'll prove to be a very important witness;

reed, and Gold

at ten o'clock,

tter see him again t

sed; and, leaving Goldberger to complete his arrangements and S

h. It scarcely seemed possible that, only six hours b

id, and turned across the lawn. He walked w

of it?" I asked, but

rubbery was broken in one place, as though some heavy body had fallen on

o me and descended to my side. We replaced the ladders against the shed, and then walked on

re out early

en't been to bed yet. Will you have some

ed to be sleeping peacefully; and then darkened my room as well as I could and tumbled into bed. I must have dropped asleep