"Haven't you already made a trial of that? Then do so now," suggested Hazen, drawing out the key and laying it on the table. But this was too uncongenial a task for Ransom. "I shall be satisfied," said he, "if Mr. Harper tells me that it can." "It can," asserted that gentleman, falling on his knees and adjusting his eye to the keyhole. "Or rather, you can see plainly the face of any one approaching it. I don't suppose any of us expected to see the door itself." "No, it is not the door, but the woman entering the door, we want to see. Did you ask for an extra lamp?" "Yes, and saw it placed. It is on a small table almost opposite her room." "Then everything is ready." "All but the mark which I am to put on the panel." "Very good. Here is the chalk. Let us see what you mean to do with it before you risk an attempt on the door itself." Ransom thought a minute, then with one quick twist produced the following: [Illustration] "Correct," muttered Hazen, with what Harper thought to be a slight but unmistakable shudder. "One would think you had been making use of this very cabalistic sign all your life." "Then _one_ would be mistaken. I have simply a true eye and a ready hand." "And a very remarkable memory. You have recalled every little line and quirk." "That's possible. What I have made once I can make the second time. It's a peculiarity of mine." There was no mistaking the continued intensity of Hazen's gaze. Ransom felt his color rise, but succeeded in preserving his quiet tone, as he added: "Besides, this character is not a wholly new one to me. My attention was called to it months ago. It was when I was courting Georgian. She was writing a note one day when she suddenly stopped to think and I saw her pen making some marks which I considered curious. But I should not have remembered them five minutes, if she had not impulsively laid her hand over them when she saw me looking. That fixed the memory of them in my mind, and when I saw this combination of lines again, I remembered it. That is why I lent myself so readily to this experiment. I lent that what you said about her acquaintance with this odd arrangement of lines was true." Hazen's hand stole up to his neck, a token of agitation which Ransom should have recognized by this time. "And her account of the use we made of it tallied with mine?" "She gave me no account of any use she had ever made of it." "That was because you didn't ask her." "Just so. Why should I ask her? It was a small matter to trouble her about." "You are right," acquiesced Hazen, wheeling himself away towards the window. Then after a momentary silence, "It was so then, but it is likely to prove of some importance now. Let me see if the hall is empty."