"Nothing could be seen. I had come unprepared for such darkness. But taking courage I asked aloud if there was any one there. "There was no answer. Yet I felt--I had a curious certainty--that I was not alone. I waited--and waited. Then I moved slowly about the room. I was afraid to move with any freedom for fear of stumbling over--something or other. "Suddenly a costermonger's barrow came into the court below. The naphtha lamps lit up the whole place and the room was suddenly illuminated with a flickering red light. I could see quite well now. "I am accustomed to rather dreadful things, as you know, Marjorie--or at least things which you would think rather dreadful. But I will confess I was frightened out of my life now. I gave a shriek of terror, and then stood trembling, utterly unable to move!" "What was it?" "I saw a man hanging by a rope to the rafters. His jaw had fallen down, and his tongue was protruding. I shall never forget how the red light from the court below glistened on his tongue--His eyes were starting out of his head.... It was horrible." "Oh, how frightful! I should have been frightened to death," said Marjorie, and a cold shiver ran through her whole body, which Mary could feel as her cousin nestled closer to her in the brougham. "Yes, it was awful! I had never seen anything so awful before--except once, perhaps, at an operation for cancer. But do you know, Marjorie, I was quite unlike my usual self. I was acting under some strange influence. The eyes of that poor man, Joseph, seemed to be following me. I acted as I never should have been able to act unless something very curious and inexplicable was urging me. I knew exactly what I had to do. "I am experienced in these things, as you know, and I saw at once that the man who was hanging from the roof was not dead. He was only just beginning the last agony. There was a big box by the window, and upon a little table I saw an ordinary table-knife. I dragged the box to the man's feet, put them upon it, caught hold of the knife, and cut him down. "He was a small man, and fell limply back into my arms, nearly knocking me over the box, but I managed to support him, and staggered down on to the floor. "Then I got the rope from round his neck, and tried to restore breathing by Hall's method--you know, one can use this method by oneself. It is really the basis of all methods, and is used very successfully in cases of drowning." "What did you do then?" Marjorie asked. "As soon as he began to breathe again I rushed downstairs. In a room at the bottom of the stairs, which was lit by a little cheap paraffin lamp there was a horrid old woman, an evil-looking young man, and several children. The old woman was frying some dreadful sort of fish for supper, and I was nearly stifled.