“‘God!’ he exclaimed, ‘what are those things?’

“‘Those skeletons?’ said I.  ’They are part of the collection.  The fellow who owns this place hoards all sorts of trash.  Come round and have a look at them.’

“‘But skeletons!’ he whispered.  ’Skeletons of men!  Ah, I do not like them!’

“Nevertheless he followed me round the room, peering in nervously at the case of skulls as we passed.  I walked him slowly past the whole length of the wall-case and he stared in at the twenty-four motionless, white figures, shuddering audibly.  I must admit that their appearance was very striking in that feeble light; their poses were so easy and natural and their faces, modeled by broad shadows, so singularly expressive.  I was very pleased with the effect.

“‘But they are horrible!’ gasped Piragoff.  ’They seem to be alive.  They seem to beckon to one—­to say, “Come in here:  come in and stay with us.”  Ah! they are dreadful!  Let us go away from them.’

“He stole on tiptoe to the other side of the room and stood positively shaking; shaking at the sight of a mere collection of dry bones.  It was amazing.  I have often been puzzled by the odd, superstitious fear with which ignorant people view these interesting and beautiful structures.  But surely this was an extreme case.  Here was a callous wretch who would murder without a scruple a young and lovely woman and laugh at the recollection of the atrocity.  And he was actually terrified at the sight of a few irregularly-shaped fragments of phosphate of lime and gelatine.  I repeat, it was amazing.

“Piragoff recovered only to develop the ferocity of a frightened ruffian.

“‘Where is the stuff, fool?’ he demanded.  ’Show it to me quickly or I will cut your throat.  Quick!  Let us get it and go.’

“I watched him warily.  These neurotic Slav criminals, when they get into a state of panic, are like frightened cats; very dangerous to be near.  And the more frightened, the more dangerous.  I must keep an eye on Piragoff.

“‘I can open one of the cabinets,’ I said.

“’Then open it, pig!  Open it quickly!  I want to get away from this place!’

“He grinned at me like an angry monkey, and I led him to the secret cupboard.  As I very deliberately turned the hidden catches and prepared to take out the panel, I considered whether it was not time to set the apparatus going.  For I had prepared a little surprise for Piragoff and I was now rather doubtful how he would take it.  Besides, I was not enjoying the proceedings as much as I had expected to.  Piragoff’s lack of nerve was disconcerting.

“However, I took out the panel and stood by to watch the result.  Piragoff peered into the cupboard and uttered a growl of disappointment.

“’There is nothing there but books and those boxes.  Lift the boxes down, pig, and let us see what is in them.’

“I lifted the boxes from the shelf.