“They will be all right.  They won’t get any harm.”  I did not stop to inquire how or on what ground she formed such an opinion, but threw up the lower sashes of all the windows, and pulled down the upper.  Then I threw open the door.

A few seconds made a perceptible change as the thick, black smoke began to roll out of the windows.  Then the lights began to grow into strength and I could see the room.  All the men were overcome.  Beside the couch Doctor Winchester lay on his back as though he had sunk down and rolled over; and on the farther side of the sarcophagus, where they had stood, lay Mr. Trelawny and Mr. Corbeck.  It was a relief to me to see that, though they were unconscious, all three were breathing heavily as though in a stupor.  Margaret still stood behind the couch.  She seemed at first to be in a partially dazed condition; but every instant appeared to get more command of herself.  She stepped forward and helped me to raise her father and drag him close to a window.  Together we placed the others similarly, and she flew down to the dining-room and returned with a decanter of brandy.  This we proceeded to administer to them all in turn.  It was not many minutes after we had opened the windows when all three were struggling back to consciousness.  During this time my entire thoughts and efforts had been concentrated on their restoration; but now that this strain was off, I looked round the room to see what had been the effect of the experiment.  The thick smoke had nearly cleared away; but the room was still misty and was full of a strange pungent acrid odour.

The great sarcophagus was just as it had been.  The coffer was open, and in it, scattered through certain divisions or partitions wrought in its own substance, was a scattering of black ashes.  Over all, sarcophagus, coffer and, indeed, all in the room, was a sort of black film of greasy soot.  I went over to the couch.  The white sheet still lay over part of it; but it had been thrown back, as might be when one is stepping out of bed.

But there was no sign of Queen Tera!  I took Margaret by the hand and led her over.  She reluctantly left her father to whom she was administering, but she came docilely enough.  I whispered to her as I held her hand: 

“What has become of the Queen?  Tell me!  You were close at hand, and must have seen if anything happened!” She answered me very softly: 

“There was nothing that I could see.  Until the smoke grew too dense I kept my eyes on the couch, but there was no change.  Then, when all grew so dark that I could not see, I thought I heard a movement close to me.  It might have been Doctor Winchester who had sunk down overcome; but I could not be sure.  I thought that it might be the Queen waking, so I put down poor Silvio.  I did not see what became of him; but I felt as if he had deserted me when I heard him mewing over by the door.  I hope he is not offended with me!” As if in answer, Silvio came running into the room and reared himself against her dress, pulling it as though clamouring to be taken up.  She stooped down and took him up and began to pet and comfort him.