That's what we are
trying to do now. We are officers of the law."
The adept bowed.
"Any assistance I can give you," he said, softly, "I shall be glad to
give; though to do murder, as you call it, is not always to do wrong."
"Our law doesn't make such nice distinctions," said Goldberger,
drily. "May I ask your profession?"
"I am a White Priest of Siva," said the adept, touching his forehead
lightly with the fingers of his left hand, as in reverence.
"Who is Siva?"
"The Holy One, the Over-soul, from whom we come and to whom we all
return."
Again Goldberger worried his moustache.
"Well," he said, at last, "until the mystery is cleared up, I must ask
you not to leave this house."
"I have no wish to leave it, sir."
"And the other fellow--the fellow who took away the snake--where was
he last night?"
"He slept in a small room opening into this one."
"May I look into it?"
"Certainly," and the adept swept aside the curtains.
The room into which we looked was not more than ten feet square, and
empty of furniture, except for a mat in the middle of the floor and
three or four baskets set against the wall.
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