His voice was drowned in a roar of laughter.

“He is coming round,” said Meagle with a smirk.  “By the time I have done with him he will be a confirmed believer.  Well, who will go and get some water?  Will you, Barnes?”

“No,” was the reply.

“If there is any it might not be safe to drink after all these years,” said Lester.  “We must do without it.”

Meagle nodded, and taking a seat on the floor held out his hand for the cup.  Pipes were lit and the clean, wholesome smell of tobacco filled the room.  White produced a pack of cards; talk and laughter rang through the room and died away reluctantly in distant corridors.

“Empty rooms always delude me into the belief that I possess a deep voice,” said Meagle.  “To-morrow——­”

He started up with a smothered exclamation as the light went out suddenly and something struck him on the head.  The others sprang to their feet.  Then Meagle laughed.

“It’s the candle,” he exclaimed.  “I didn’t stick it enough.”

Barnes struck a match and relighting the candle stuck it on the mantelpiece, and sitting down took up his cards again.

“What was I going to say?” said Meagle.  “Oh, I know; to-morrow I——­”

“Listen!” said White, laying his hand on the other’s sleeve.  “Upon my word I really thought I heard a laugh.”

“Look here!” said Barnes.  “What do you say to going back?  I’ve had enough of this.  I keep fancying that I hear things too; sounds of something moving about in the passage outside.  I know it’s only fancy, but it’s uncomfortable.”

“You go if you want to,” said Meagle, “and we will play dummy.  Or you might ask the tramp to take your hand for you, as you go downstairs.”

Barnes shivered and exclaimed angrily.  He got up and, walking to the half-closed door, listened.

“Go outside,” said Meagle, winking at the other two.  “I’ll dare you to go down to the hall door and back by yourself.”

Barnes came back and, bending forward, lit his pipe at the candle.

“I am nervous but rational,” he said, blowing out a thin cloud of smoke.  “My nerves tell me that there is something prowling up and down the long passage outside; my reason tells me that it is all nonsense.  Where are my cards?”

He sat down again, and taking up his hand, looked through it carefully and led.

“Your play, White,” he said after a pause.  White made no sign.

“Why, he is asleep,” said Meagle.  “Wake up, old man.  Wake up and play.”

Lester, who was sitting next to him, took the sleeping man by the arm and shook him, gently at first and then with some roughness; but White, with his back against the wall and his head bowed, made no sign.  Meagle bawled in his ear and then turned a puzzled face to the others.

“He sleeps like the dead,” he said, grimacing.  “Well, there are still three of us to keep each other company.”