“You must let me rest for a minute,” said Susie. They did not answer, but stopped, and she sat on a boulder by the wayside. They stood motionless in front of her, waiting patiently till she was ready. After a little while she forced herself to get up. “Now I can go,” she said. Still they did not speak, but walked on. They moved like figures in a dream, with a stealthy directness, as though they acted under the influence of another’s will. Suddenly the road stopped, and they found themselves at the gates of Skene. “Follow me very closely,” said Arthur. He turned on one side, and they followed a paling. Susie could feel that they walked along a narrow path. She could see hardly two steps in front of her. At last he stood still. “I came here earlier in the night and made the opening easier to get through.” He turned back a broken piece of railing and slipped in. Susie followed, and Dr Porhoët entered after her. “I can see nothing,” said Susie. “Give me your hand, and I will lead you.” They walked with difficulty through the tangled bracken, among closely planted trees. They stumbled, and once Dr Porhoët fell. It seemed that they went a long way. Susie’s heart beat fast with anxiety. All her weariness was forgotten. Then Arthur stopped them, and he pointed in front of him. Through an opening in the trees, they saw the house. All the windows were dark except those just under the roof, and from them came bright lights. “Those are the attics which he uses as a laboratory. You see, he is working now. There is no one else in the house.” Susie was curiously fascinated by the flaming lights. There was an awful mystery in those unknown labours which absorbed Oliver Haddo night after night till the sun rose. What horrible things were done there, hidden from the eyes of men? By himself in that vast house the madman performed ghastly experiments; and who could tell what dark secrets he trafficked in? “There is no danger that he will come out,” said Arthur. “He remains there till the break of day.” He took her hand again and led her on. Back they went among the trees, and presently they were on a pathway. They walked along with greater safety. “Are you all right, Porhoët?” asked Arthur. “Yes.” But the trees grew thicker and the night more sombre. Now the stars were shut out, and they could hardly see in front of them. “Here we are,” said Arthur. They stopped, and found that there was in front of them a green space formed by four cross-ways. In the middle a stone bench gleamed vaguely against the darkness. “This is where Margaret sat when last I saw her.” “I can see to do nothing here,” said the doctor.