“Yes,” I said, answering for the lot.  “But how did the thing grow to such a tremendous manifestation?”

“One of those cases of continuity of thought producing a positive action upon the immediate surrounding material,” replied Carnacki.  “The development must have been going forward through centuries, to have produced such a monstrosity.  It was a true instance of Saiitii manifestation, which I can best explain by likening it to a living spiritual fungus, which involves the very structure of the aether-fiber itself, and, of course, in so doing, acquires an essential control over the ‘material substance’ involved in it.  It is impossible to make it plainer in a few words.”

“What broke the seventh hair?” asked Taylor.

But Carnacki did not know.  He thought it was probably nothing but being too severely tensioned.  He also explained that they found out that the men who had run away, had not been up to mischief; but had come over secretly, merely to hear the whistling, which, indeed, had suddenly become the talk of the whole countryside.

“One other thing,” said Arkright, “have you any idea what governs the use of the Unknown Last Line of the Saaamaaa Ritual?  I know, of course, that it was used by the Ab-human Priests in the Incantation of Raaaee; but what used it on your behalf, and what made it?”

“You had better read Harzan’s Monograph, and my Addenda to it, on Astral and Astral Co-ordination and Interference,” said Carnacki.  “It is an extraordinary subject, and I can only say here that the human vibration may not be insulated from the astral (as is always believed to be the case, in interferences by the Ab-human), without immediate action being taken by those Forces which govern the spinning of the outer circle.  In other words, it is being proved, time after time, that there is some inscrutable Protective Force constantly intervening between the human soul (not the body, mind you,) and the Outer Monstrosities.  Am I clear?”

“Yes, I think so,” I replied.  “And you believe that the Room had become the material expression of the ancient Jester—­that his soul, rotten with hatred, had bred into a monster—­eh?” I asked.

“Yes,” said Carnacki, nodding, “I think you’ve put my thought rather neatly.  It is a queer coincidence that Miss Donnehue is supposed to be descended (so I have heard since) from the same King Ernore.  It makes one think some curious thoughts, doesn’t it?  The marriage coming on, and the Room waking to fresh life.  If she had gone into that room, ever ... eh? It had waited a long time.  Sins of the fathers.  Yes, I’ve thought of that.  They’re to be married next week, and I am to be best man, which is a thing I hate.  And he won his bets, rather!  Just think, if ever she had gone into that room.  Pretty horrible, eh?”

He nodded his head, grimly, and we four nodded back.  Then he rose and took us collectively to the door, and presently thrust us forth in friendly fashion on the Embankment and into the fresh night air.