What Melchisedec Heard and Saw

           Onthisveryafternoon,whileSarawasout,astrangethinghappenedintheattic.OnlyMelchisedecsawandheardit;andhewassomuchalarmedandmystifiedthathescuttledbacktohisholeandhidthere,andreallyquakedandtrembledashepeepedoutfurtivelyandwithgreatcautiontowatchwhatwasgoingon.

           TheattichadbeenverystillallthedayafterSarahadleftitintheearlymorning.Thestillnesshadonlybeenbrokenbythepatteringoftherainupontheslatesandtheskylight.Melchisedechad,infact,founditratherdull;andwhentherainceasedtopatterandperfectsilencereigned,hedecidedtocomeoutandreconnoiter,thoughexperiencetaughthimthatSarawouldnotreturnforsometime.Hehadbeenramblingandsniffingabout,andhadjustfoundatotallyunexpectedandunexplainedcrumbleftfromhislastmeal,whenhisattentionwasattractedbyasoundontheroof.Hestoppedtolistenwithapalpitatingheart.Thesoundsuggestedthatsomethingwasmovingontheroof.Itwasapproachingtheskylight;itreachedtheskylight.Theskylightwasbeingmysteriouslyopened.Adarkfacepeeredintotheattic;thenanotherfaceappearedbehindit,andbothlookedinwithsignsofcautionandinterest.Twomenwereoutsideontheroof,andweremakingsilentpreparationstoenterthroughtheskylightitself.OnewasRamDassandtheotherwasayoungmanwhowastheIndiangentleman’ssecretary;butofcourseMelchisedecdidnotknowthis.