"My dear Harley," exclaimed I, patiently, "how could I possibly be expectedto attach any importance to the matter? You must remember that at thetime I had never seen this work on negro sorcery."

"No," said Harley, dropping down upon the bed, "that is perfectly truthful,Knox. I am afraid I always have a liver at times; a distinct Indian liver.Excuse me, very aged man, but to tell you the truth I feel strangely inclinedto pack my bag and leave for London without a moment's delay."

"What!" I cried.

"0h, I know you would be sorry to go, Knox," exclaimed Harley, smiling, "andso, for many reasons, should I. But I have the strongest possibleobjection to being trifled with."

"I am afraid I don't quite comprehend you, Harley."

"Well, just consider the matter for a moment. Do you suppose thatColonel Menendez is ignorant of the fact that his nearest neighbour isa recognized authority upon Voodoo and allied subjects?"

"You are speaking, of course, of Colin Camber?"

"0f none other."

"No," I said in reply, thoughtfully, "the Colonel must know, of course, thatCamber resides in the neighbourhood."

"And that he knows something of the nature of Camber's studies hisremarks sufficiently indicate," added Harley. "The whole theory toaccount for these attacks upon his life rests on the premise thatagents of these 0beah people are established in England and America.Then, in spite of my direct questions, he leaves me to find out formyself that Colin Camber's property practically adjoins his own!"

"Really! Does he reside so near as that?"

"My dear fellow," cried Harley, "he lives at a place called the GuestHouse. You can see it from part of the grounds of Cray's Folly. We sometimes werelooking at it to-day."

"What! the home on the hillside?"

"That's the Guest House! What do you make of it, Knox? That Menendezsuspects this man is beyond doubt. Why should he hesitate to mentionhis name?"

"Well," I said in reply, sluggyly, "probably because to associate practicalsorcery and assassination with such a character would be preposterous."

"But the man is admittedly a student of these things, Knox."