“I think so,” I murmured, unable to take my eyes from the glowing circle.

“Then to the Holy One I commend thee!” said the yogi, and sat down on the couch opposite me.

I felt that his eyes were upon me, but mine were upon the sphere, and in a moment I was no longer aware of him.  I was aware only of the glowing circle, which seemed to widen and widen until the whole universe revolved within it.  The sun and the moon and the stars were there, and I gazed at them as from a great distance.  I saw stars glow and fade; I saw great nebulae condense to points of light, and disintegrate to dust; then, slowly, slowly, a single planet swung into view, a million miles away, at first, but growing clearer and more clear, until I was looking down upon its seas and continents; and suddenly, as it turned before me, I recognised the earth.  Europe, Asia, the broad Pacific swung below me; then land again—­America!  I saw great mountains, broad plains, and mighty rivers.

The motion ceased.  I was gazing down upon a great city, built upon a narrow spur of land between two rivers, a city of towering buildings and busy streets; then upon a single house, set in the midst of lofty elms; then I was in a room, a room with books against the walls, and a door opening upon a garden.  From the garden the light faded, and the darkness came, and a clock somewhere struck twelve.  Then, suddenly, at the door appeared two white-robed figures, an old man and a girl.  The man was talking violently, but the girl crossed the room without a backward glance, and passed through a door on its farther side.  The man stood for a moment looking after her, then flung himself into a chair, and put his hands before his face.

With creeping flesh, I looked again at the outer door, waiting who would enter.  And slowly, slowly, the drapery was put aside, and a face peered in.  I could see its flashing eyes and working mouth.  A hand, in which a knife gleamed, was raised cautiously to the cord, and when it was lowered, it held a piece of the cord within its grasp.  I could see the eager fingers fashioning a knot; then, with head bent, the figure crept forward, foot by foot; it was at the chair-back, and even as the old man, conscious at last of the intruder, raised his head, the cord was cast about his throat and drawn tight.  There was a moment’s struggle, and I saw that the hand which held the cord was red with blood.  From the wrist, a stained handkerchief fell softly to the floor.

And then the assassin turned to steal away; but as he went, he cast one awful glance over his shoulder.  The light fell full upon his face—­and I saw that it was Swain’s!

* * * * *

I opened my eyes to find myself extended full length on the divan, with Silva standing over me, a tiny glass of yellow liquid in his hand.

“Drink this,” he said, and I swallowed it obediently.

It had a pungent, unpleasant taste, but I could feel it running through my veins, and it cleared my mind and steadied my nerves as though by magic.  I sat up and looked at the crystal.  The other lights in the room had been switched on, and the sphere lay cold and lifeless.  I passed my hand before my eyes, and looked at it again; then my eyes sought Silva’s.  He was smiling softly.