chill in it, and every sound was audible.

"That was all, Excellency. The Master returned a little later
and ascended to his bedroom as usual."

Then he added:

"It was when I went in to put wood on the fire that I saw the
footprint on the hearth."

There was a force, compelling and vivid, in these meager details,
the severe suppression of things, big and tragic. No elaboration
could have equaled, in effect, the virtue of this restraint.

The man was going on, directly, with the story.

"The following night, Excellency, the thing happened. The Master
had passed the day in the open. He dined with a good appetite,
like a man in health. And there was a change in his demeanor.
He had the aspect of men who are determined to have a thing out
at any hazard.

"After his dinner the Master went into the drawing-room and
closed the door behind him. He had not entered the room on this
day. It had stood locked and close-shuttered!"

The big Oriental paused and made a gesture outward with his
fingers, as of one dismissing an absurdity.

"No living human being could have been concealed in that room.