"
"I don't much like the idea of it," Shiel said, "but I suppose the end
justifies the means."
"Of course it does!" Sevenning retorted. "It's your only chance of
saving Miss Martin."
Acting on this suggestion, Shiel approached Lilian Rosenberg on the
subject.
"What about the spells?" he asked her. "Have you found out yet how
Hamar works them?"
"I have only heard him muttering in his room again," she said, her
cheeks paling. "And--you will only laugh at me--I have seen queer
shadows hovering in his doorway and stealing down the passages,
shadows that have terrified me. I never knew what real fear was before
I came to Cockspur Street, and for the past few weeks I have been
almost too afraid to open my room door, for fear I should see
something standing outside."
"You have no doubt, I suppose, in your own mind, that the trio
practise sorcery?"
"I certainly think they are helped in all they do by evil spirits."
"Do you approve of such proceedings?"
"I don't think them right. I don't think we have any right to pry into
the Unknown. Some day, undoubtedly, it will be given us to know, but
until that day comes, we had far better leave it alone."
"If you think like that," Shiel said, "how can you reconcile yourself
to working for these people?"
"How can I help myself?" Lilian Rosenberg answered. "Beggars can't be
choosers. I am not responsible for what they do."
"But supposing you knew they were about to commit a very heinous
crime, wouldn't you feel it your duty to try and circumvent them?"
"That depends," Lilian Rosenberg said.
Pages:
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302