the business that you two gentlemen are investigating. I thought
nothing of it at the time. Near the end of dinner a note was
handed in by the servant. I noticed that after my host had read
it he seemed even more distrait and strange than before. He gave
up all pretence at conversation and sat, smoking endless
cigarettes, lost in his own thoughts, but he made no remark as to
the contents. About eleven I was glad to go to bed. Some time
later Garcia looked in at my door--the room was dark at the time-
-and asked me if I had rung. I said that I had not. He
apologized for having disturbed me so late, saying that it was
nearly one o'clock. I dropped off after this and slept soundly
all night.

"And now I come to the amazing part of my tale. When I woke it
was broad daylight. I glanced at my watch, and the time was
nearly nine. I had particularly asked to be called at eight, so
I was very much astonished at this forgetfulness. I sprang up
and rang for the servant. There was no response. I rang again
and again, with the same result. Then I came to the conclusion
that the bell was out of order. I huddled on my clothes and
hurried downstairs in an exceedingly bad temper to order some hot
water. You can imagine my surprise when I found that there was
no one there. I shouted in the hall. There was no answer. Then
I ran from room to room. All were deserted. My host had shown me
which was his bedroom the night before, so I knocked at the door.
No reply. I turned the handle and walked in. The room was
empty, and the bed had never been slept in. He had gone with the
rest. The foreign host, the foreign footman, the foreign cook,
all had vanished in the night! That was the end of my visit to
Wisteria Lodge."