The rest of the meal was eaten without
any discussion. Just as they arose, however, the doctor observed:
"It may be that Hobart Fenton has got to come through. I wish I
knew more about his mentality; it's largely a question of psychic
influence--the combined, resultant force of the three material
gems, and the three degrees of psychic vibration as put forth by
him and you two. We shall see.
"Something happened today--the Geos told me about it--which may
link up Hobart very definitely. It was about one o'clock when one
of the temple pheasants began to behave very queerly up on the
great stair. It had been walking around on the snow-stone, and
flying a bit; then it started to hop down the steps.
"About sixteen steps down, Geos says the pheasant stopped and
began to flutter frantically, as though some unseen person were
holding it. Suddenly it vanished, and as suddenly reappeared
again. It flew off, unharmed. I can't quite account for it, but--
well, we'll see!"
He spoke no more, but led the way out into the entrance to the
wing. There they waited only a moment or two, before the Nervina
and her retinue arrived. Without delay a start was made for the
great black stairway.
The doctor alone remained behind.
There was a guard-lined lane through the crowd, allowing the
Nervina and the rest access to the foot of the steps. Reaching
that point she paused for a look around.
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