"Very well," she said; "just one more, and then I will go to bed, for I
am so tired and weary."

Once more the sweet pathetic voice rang out in some simple song; the
words gradually died away, and there was silence. Gurdon had barely time
to slip back to the head of the stairs before the girl came out and made
her way to the landing above. Standing just below the level of the floor,
Venner gazed eagerly at the pretty tired face and mournful blue eyes. He
grasped his companion by the arm in a grip that was almost painful.

"We are getting to it," he said. "It was a good night's work coming here
to-night. Do you mean to say you don't notice the likeness? Making due
allowance for the difference in height and temperament, that poor girl is
the image of my wife."

"I must have been a dolt not to have noticed it before," Gurdon said.
"Now that you mention it, the likeness is plain enough. My dear fellow,
can't you see in this a reason for your wife's reticence in speaking of
the past?"

There was no time to reply, for the sinister evil face of Fenwick
appeared in the doorway, and he called aloud in Spanish some hoarse
command, which was answered from above by someone, in the same language.
Gurdon whispered to his companion, with a view to ascertaining what had
been said.

"You will see for yourself in a minute," Venner said in an excited
whisper. "You are going to have another surprise. You wanted to know just
now what had become of Bates. Unless I am greatly mistaken, you will be
able to judge for yourself in a few moments. I believe the man to be a