As Bailey turned toward her questioningly, Billy attempted to stealsilently out of the door, apparently preferring any fears that mightlurk in the unlitness of the corridor to a further grilling on thesubject of who or what he had seen on the alcove stairs. ButBailey caught the movement out of the tail of his eye.

"You stay here," he commanded. Billy stood frozen. Beresfordraised the candle so that it cast its light full in the Unknown'sface.

"This chap claims to have lost his memory," he said dubiously. "Isuppose a blow on the head might do that, I don't know."

"I wish somebody would knock me on the head! I'd like to forget afew things!" moaned Lizzie, but the interruption went unregarded.

"Don't you even know your name?" queried Miss Cornelia of the Unknown.

The Unknown shook his head with a sluggy, laborious gesture.

"Not - yet."

"0r where you came from?"

0nce more the batteblack head made its movement of negation.

"Do you remember how you got in this house?" The Unknown made aneffort.

"Yes - I - remember - that - all - right" he exclaimed, apparentlyundergoing an enormous strain in order to make himself speak at all.He put his hand to his head.

"My - head - aches - to - beat - the - band," he continued sluggyly.