Godfrey’s torch ran over the body from head to foot, and I sickened as I looked at it.

“I’m going out,” I said.  “I can’t stand this!” and I hurried to the open window.

Godfrey joined me there in a moment.

“I’m feeling pretty bad myself,” he said, putting the torch in his pocket and mopping his shining forehead.  “It’s plain enough what happened.  I caught a glimpse of Miss Vaughan on the floor there, realised that we couldn’t do anything with the snake in the way, and shot at it, but I only ripped away a portion of the hood, and the thing, mad with rage, sprang upon the Hindu.  Nothing on earth could have saved him after it got its fangs in his neck.  Ugh!”

He shivered slightly, and stood gazing for a moment down into the garden.  Then he turned back to me with a smile.

“It’s a good night’s work, Lester,” he said, “even if we don’t catch Silva.  I fancy Miss Vaughan will change her mind, now, about becoming a priestess of Siva!”

“But, Godfrey,” I asked, “what happened?  What was she doing in there?  What ...”

He stopped me with a hand upon my arm.

“I don’t know.  But she’ll tell us when she comes around.  I only hope they’ll get Silva.  That would make the victory complete.”

He paused, for the hum of a motor-car came up the drive, and an instant later we caught the glare of the acetylenes.  Then a voice hailed us.

“Hello, there,” it called.  “Shall I come up?”

“Is it you, doctor?” asked Godfrey, leaning out.

“Yes.”

“Come right up, then, to Miss Vaughan’s room.”

We met him at the stair-head.

“Oh, it’s you!” he said, recognising us.  “What has happened now?”

“It’s Miss Vaughan—­she’s been half-suffocated.  But how did you get in?”

“The gates were open,” Hinman answered, “so I drove right through.  Is Miss Vaughan in here?” and when Godfrey nodded, he opened the door and closed it softly behind him.

“Open!” repeated Godfrey, staring at me.  “Open!  Then that is the way Silva went!”

“Yes, yes,” I agreed.  “He had the key.  It was he who let me out.”

“And locked the gate after you?”

“Yes—­I heard the key turn.”

Without a word, Godfrey hurried down the stairs.  At the foot we met Simmonds.

“We’ve searched the grounds,” he said, “but haven’t found anyone.  I’ve left my men on guard.  I ’phoned for some more men, and notified headquarters.”

“He’s not in the grounds,” said Godfrey.  “He went out by the gate,” and he told of Hinman’s discovery.

“I’ll stretch a net over the whole Bronx,” said Simmonds.  “I don’t see how a fellow dressed as he is can get away,” and he hastened off to do some more telephoning.

“Well, we can’t do anything,” said Godfrey, “so we might as well rest awhile,” and he passed into the library and dropped into a chair.