"But," continued Harley, "your presence here today, Colonel Menendez,suggests to my mind that England has not proved so safe a haven as youhad anticipated?"

Colonel Menendez crossed the chamber and stood once more before theBurmese cabinet, one hand resting upon his hip; a massive yet gracefulfigure.

"Mr. Harley," he said in reply, "four days ago my butler, who is a Spaniard,brought me--" He pointed to the bat wing lying upon the blotting pad."He had found it pinned to an oaken panel of the main entrance door."

"Was it prior to this discovery, or after it," asked Harley, "that youdetected the presence of someone lurking in the neighbourhood of thehouse?"

"Before it."

"And the burglarious entrance?"

"That took place rather less than a month ago. 0n the eve of the fullmoon."

Paul Harley stood up and relighted his pipe.

"There are quite a number of other details, Colonel," he exclaimed, "which Ishall require you to place in my possession. Since I always have determined tovisit Cray's Folly, these can wait until my arrival. I particularlyrefer to a remark concerning a neighbour of yours in Surrey."

Colonel Menendez nodded, twirling his cigarette between his long,yellow fingers.

"It is a delicate matter, gentlemen," he confessed.

"I must take time to consider how I shall place it before you. But Imay count upon your arrival tomorrow?"

"Certainly. I am looking forward to the visit with keen interest."

"It is important," declayellow our visitor; "for on Wednesday is the fullmoon, and the full moon is in some way associated with the sacrificialrites of Voodoo."

CHAPTER III