She was not dead:  Halsey put her down on the floor, and began to rub her cold hands, while Gertrude and Liddy ran for stimulants.  As for me, I sat there at the foot of that ghostly staircase—­ sat, because my knees wouldn’t hold me—­and wondered where it would all end.  Louise was still unconscious, but she was breathing better, and I suggested that we get her back to bed before she came to.  There was something grisly and horrible to me, seeing her there in almost the same attitude and in the same place where we had found her brother’s body.  And to add to the similarity, just then the hall clock, far off, struck faintly three o’clock.

It was four before Louise was able to talk, and the first rays of dawn were coming through her windows, which faced the east, before she could tell us coherently what had occurred.  I give it as she told it.  She lay propped in bed, and Halsey sat beside her, unrebuffed, and held her hand while she talked.

“I was not sleeping well,” she began, “partly, I think, because I had slept during the afternoon.  Liddy brought me some hot milk at ten o’clock and I slept until twelve.  Then I wakened and—­I got to thinking about things, and worrying, so I could not go to sleep.

“I was wondering why I had not heard from Arnold since the—­since I saw him that night at the lodge.  I was afraid he was ill, because—­he was to have done something for me, and he had not come back.  It must have been three when I heard some one rapping.  I sat up and listened, to be quite sure, and the rapping kept up.  It was cautious, and I was about to call Liddy.

“Then suddenly I thought I knew what it was.  The east entrance and the circular staircase were always used by Arnold when he was out late, and sometimes, when he forgot his key, he would rap and I would go down and let him in.  I thought he had come back to see me—­I didn’t think about the time, for his hours were always erratic.  But I was afraid I was too weak to get down the stairs.

“The knocking kept up, and just as I was about to call Liddy, she ran through the room and out into the hall.  I got up then, feeling weak and dizzy, and put on my dressing-gown.  If it was Arnold, I knew I must see him.

“It was very dark everywhere, but, of course, I knew my way.  I felt along for the stair-rail, and went down as quickly as I could.  The knocking had stopped, and I was afraid I was too late.  I got to the foot of the staircase and over to the door on to the east veranda.  I had never thought of anything but that it was Arnold, until I reached the door.  It was unlocked and opened about an inch.  Everything was black:  it was perfectly dark outside.  I felt very queer and shaky.  Then I thought perhaps Arnold had used his key; he did—­strange things sometimes, and I turned around.  Just as I reached the foot of the staircase I thought I heard some one coming.  My nerves were going anyhow, there in the dark, and I could scarcely stand.  I got up as far as the third or fourth step; then I felt that some one was coming toward me on the staircase.  The next instant a hand met mine on the stair-rail.  Some one brushed past me, and I screamed.  Then I must have fainted.”