Gaylor turned from him with an exclamation of disgust.

"Pah!" he muttered. "It's a hell of a business!"

Vance continued unmoved. "And, another thing," he said, "about
these lights; this switch throws them all off, doesn't it?" He
pressed a button on the left of the door, and the electric
lights in the walls and under a green shade on the library table
faded and disappeared, leaving the room, save for the light from
the hall, in darkness.

"That's the way we want it," said the showman.

From the hall Mannie appeared between the curtains that hung
across the doorway. "What are you doing with the lights?" he
demanded. "You want to break my neck? All our people are
downstairs," he announced.

Vance turned on the lights. At the same moment Rainey came from
the bedroom into the library. It was evident that to sustain his
courage he had been drinking. He made no effort to greet those
in the room, but stood, glaring resentfully at the cabinet and
the row of chairs.

"Well," exclaimed Vance cheerfully, "if our folks are all here,
we're all right."

Glancing behind him, Mannie took Vance by the sleeve, and led
him to the centre of the room.