spaces that yawned under their feet, yet invited them to conceal themselves from the remorseless devils in human shape who would soon be after them.
He had no more recollection of the explosion than the memory of that vivid flash of light that had blinded him for an instant only. It could not have been longer, for the vapours still hung about the saloon, although there were gaps enough for them to escape quickly.
All round them lay bleeding and unrecognisable corpses, so that they shrank with horror as they stood together and looked round.
"We must conceal ourselves, Adela, and at once," he said, "for the assassins will be here presently to finish up their fell work."
"Yes, Philip, my friend; strange as it may seem, I no longer desire to die," said Adela, as she clung to him. "A moment since it seems I was lying on yonder couch wishing for and waiting for death. I saw you pass the door, then the intense light burst out and blinded me, although I felt no pain, and then I looked up to see you standing beside me. Do you know, you appear to be years younger than when you left me? Why, your hair looks brown, instead of the grizzled grey it was a moment' ago."
"So do you, Adela. It is because we know each other now and are liberated from the past."
"That must be it," she replied, and then added,—"Let us hide, my friend, for I hear footsteps coming along the passage, and if we are discovered we shall be murdered."
"Don't leave me behind. Take me with you, for I am half dead with horror and drenched to the skin with ice-cold water."
The faint voice was unmistakably that of Dr Valentine
