As might be supposed, General Hume had no opinion.  He merely expressed himself as being prepared to accept any sound theory, or portions of such theories as might be advanced, and arrive at a workable conclusion therefrom.  Which was exactly what we wanted of him.

Of them all, Professor Herold showed the most enthusiasm.  Perhaps this was because, despite his attainments, he is still young.  At any rate, he made it clear that he was fully prepared to learn something entirely new in science.  And he was almost eager to adjust his previous notions and facts to the new discoveries.

When all these various viewpoints had been cleared up, and we felt that we understood each other, it was inevitable that we should look to Sir Henry to state his position.  This one man combined a large amount of the various, specialised abilities for which the others were noted, and they all knew and respected him accordingly.  Had he stood and theorised half the afternoon, they would willingly have sat and listened.  But instead he glanced at his watch, and observed: 

“To me, the most important development of all was hearing the sound of a dog’s bark coming from the ring.  As I recall the details, the sound was emitted just after the gem had been submitted to considerable handling, from Miss Fenton’s fingers to her brother’s and back again.  In other words, it was subjected to a mixture of opposing animal magnetisms.  Suppose we experiment further with it now.”

Charlotte slipped the gem from her finger and passed it around.  Each of us held it for a second or two; after which Charlotte clasped the ring tightly in her palm, while we all joined hands.

It was, as I have said, broad daylight; the hour, shortly after one.  Scarcely had our hands completed the circuit than something happened.

From out of Charlotte’s closed hand there issued an entirely new sound.  At first it was so faint and fragmentary that only two of us heard it.  Then it became stronger and more continuous, and presently we were all gazing at each other in wonderment.

For the sound was that of footsteps.

XXVI

DIRECT FROM PARADISE

The sound was not like that of the walking of the human.  Nor was it such as an animal would make.  It was neither a thud nor a pattering, but more like a scratching shuffle, such as reminded me of nothing that I had ever heard before.

Next moment, however, there came another sort of sound, plainly audible above the footsteps.  This was a thin, musical chuckle which ended in a deep, but faint, organ-like throb.  It happened only once.

Immediately it was followed by a steady clicking, such as might be made by gently striking a stick against the pavement; only sharper.  This lasted a minute, during which the other sounds ceased.

Once more the footsteps.  They were not very loud, but in the stillness of that room they all but resounded.