"There is no human being in this house for whom I would not answer."

"I know it. We beat the wind. It will be time enough to consider
presently. Indeed, I should rather that you strove to relieve your
mind of the problem. You have enough to do without that. Leave it
to those professionally trained in such mysteries. If a man is
responsible for this atrocious thing, then it should be within the
reach of man's wits to find him. We failed before; but this time
no casual examination of this place, or the antecedents of your
son-in-law's life, will serve the purpose. We must go to the
bottom, or, rather, skilled minds, trained to do so, must go to the
bottom. They will approach the subject from a different angle.
They will come unprejudiced and unperturbed. If there has been
foul play, they will find it out. In my opinion it is incredible
that they will be baffled."

"The best men engaged in such work must come to help us. I cannot
bring myself to believe the room is haunted, and that this is the
operation of an evil force outside Nature, yet permitted by the
Creator to destroy human life. The idea is too horrible--it
revolts me, Mannering."

"Well, it may do so. Banish any such irrational thought from your
mind. It is not worthy of you. I must go now. I will telegraph
to London--to Sir Howard Fellowes--also, I think to the State
authorities on forensic medicine. A Government analyst must do
his part. Shall I communicate with Scotland Yard to-day?"

"Leave that until the evening. You will come again to see Mary,