"
"She is possibly a member of the theatrical profession?"
"I think not. She is the only really strange figure (if we exclude Olaf)
in this group of poseurs. She is half Burmese, I believe, and a native
of Moulmein."
"Most EXTRAORDINARY creature!" muttered Denise Ryland, focussing upon
the Eurasian her gold rimmed glasses--"MOST extraordinary." She glanced
around at the company in general. "I really begin to feel... more and
more as though I were... in a private lunatic... asylum. That picture...
beyond doubt is the work ... of a madman... a perfect... madman!"
"I, also, begin to be conscious of an uncomfortable sensation," said
Helen, glancing about her almost apprehensively. "Am I dreaming, or did
SOME ONE ELSE enter the studio, immediately behind that girl?"
"A squinting man... yes!"
"But a THIRD person?"
"No, my dear... look for yourself. As you say... you are ... dreaming.
It's not to be wondered... at!"
Helen laughed, but very uneasily. Evidently it had been an illusion, but
an unpleasant illusion; for she should have been prepared to swear that
not two, but THREE people had entered! Moreover, although she was
unable to detect the presence of any third stranger in the studio, the
persuasion that this third person actually was present remained with
her, unaccountably, and uncannily.
Pages:
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250