"Is it here?" Basil queried, his eyes flickering with a faint reflection of that hate which had blazed in them earlier in the day. "It is not here." "Where is it?" "You shall know to-night!" The light faded out of Basil's eyes. "What of the new captain?" "His presence is a menace." In Basil's eyes gleamed a sombre fire. "I, too, owe him a grudge. In good time!" "The time is Now!" "Patience!" replied the Grand Chamberlain. "He will work his own undoing. We dare not harm him yet." "Only a miracle saved him last night." "Are there not other churches in Rome?"-- "Ay!" mouthed the black form. "But the time of the great sacrifice draws near--" "I knew not it was so near at hand," interposed Basil with a start. "The Becco Notturno demands a bride!" "How am I to help you in these matters?" "Am I to counsel the Lord Basil?" sneered the shape. "You drew the crimson ball." "When is it to be?" "Three weeks from to-night. Mark you--a stainless dove!" Basil nodded, an evil smile upon his lips. "It shall be as you say! As for that other--I am minded to try his mettle--" "So be it!" said the shape. "Leave me now! You will hear from me. My familiars are everywhere." Without another word Basil arose and left the chamber. In the corridor below he met Tristan. "I know all," he cut short the speech of the new captain of the guard. "All Rome is full of it. How did it happen? And where?" "Attracted by a noise as of slippered feet passing over marble, I entered the corridor of the Sacred Stairs, when one of the panels parted. A devilish apparition stood within, throwing the beam of its lantern into the chapel. When a chance ray of light disclosed my presence the shape of darkness hurled a poniard. It missed me, thanks be to Our Lady, struck the mosaic of the floor and broke in two." "You have the pieces?" Basil queried affably and with much concern. "I ran to the end of the gallery, shouting to my men," Tristan replied. "When we returned the blade had disappeared." "Where was it?" Basil queried with much concern and soon they faced the shattered mosaic. Basil examined the spot minutely. "From yonder panel, you say?" he turned to Tristan. "The third from the Capella," came the ready reply. "Have you searched the premises?" "From cellar to garret."-- "And discovered nothing?" "Nothing." "What of the panel?" "It defies our combined efforts." "Strange, indeed." Basil strode to the wall and struck the spot indicated by Tristan with the hilt of his poniard. Then he tested the wall on either side. "Can your ear detect any difference in sound?" A negative gesture came in response, and with it a puzzled look passed into Tristan's eyes. "Have you seen the Pontiff?" "We reported the matter to His Holiness." "And?" "His Holiness raised his eyes to heaven and said: 'Even God's Vicar has no jurisdiction in Hell!'" "Was that all he said?" "That was all!" There was a silence during which Basil seemed to commune with himself.