power of will as lodged within that brain could sport with the forces
of nature, suspend or reverse the action of law, disintegrate matter,
or create it. At least such was the impression which Mr. Henley had
received.

It was past midnight before a movement was made for bed, and when Ah
Ben brought a lighted candle, inquiring if everything in the
bedchamber had been satisfactory, Paul was about to reply in the
affirmative, when he suddenly remembered the staircase in the closet.

"I was about to forget," he said, "but would you mind explaining the
object of a very peculiar staircase I discovered in the closet of my
room?"

"This house is old," Ah Ben replied simply. "It was built when the
State was a colony and full of Indians. The stairway communicating
with the lower floor was doubtless intended as a means of escape. I
had not thought of this annoying you, but can readily see how it
might. You shall be removed to another room at once."

"_Removed_?" exclaimed Paul. "My dear sir, I had no intention of
making such a suggestion. The most I thought of asking for was a bolt
for the door, or scuttle; but since your explanation I do not wish
either."

They bade each other good night, and Paul undertook to find his room
alone, declining Ah Ben's offer to accompany him. But the house was
full of strange passages and unexpected stairways, making the task
more difficult than he had expected. After wandering about he found
himself stopped by a dead wall, at least so it had looked, but