The threshold of an adventure, I reflected as I waited for the first
words, is always the most thrilling moment--until the climax comes.

But Colonel Wragge hesitated--mentally--a long time before he began. He
talked briefly of our journey, the weather, the country, and other
comparatively trivial topics, while he sought about in his mind for an
appropriate entry into the subject that was uppermost in the thoughts of
all of us. The fact was he found it a difficult matter to speak of at
all, and it was Dr. Silence who finally showed him the way over the
hedge.

"Mr. Hubbard will take a few notes when you are ready--you won't
object," he suggested; "I can give my undivided attention in this way."

"By all means," turning to reach some of the loose sheets on the writing
table, and glancing at me. He still hesitated a little, I thought. "The
fact is," he said apologetically, "I wondered if it was quite fair to
trouble you so soon. The daylight might suit you better to hear what I
have to tell. Your sleep, I mean, might be less disturbed, perhaps."

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness," John Silence replied with his gentle
smile, taking command as it were from that moment, "but really we are
both quite immune. There is nothing, I think, that could prevent either
of us sleeping, except--an outbreak of fire, or some such very physical
disturbance."

Colonel Wragge raised his eyes and looked fixedly at him. This reference
to an outbreak of fire I felt sure was made with a purpose. It certainly
had the desired effect of removing from our host's manner the last signs