"You recognize the writing?" de Grandin asked. "It is----"
"Oh, yes," Ned answered bitterly, "I recognize it; it's the same the
other note was written in."
"And then?"
The boy smiled bleakly. "I crushed the thing into a ball and threw it
on the floor and stamped on it. Swore I'd die before I'd keep another
rendezvous with her, and----" He broke off, and put trembling hands up
to his face.
"The so mysterious serpent came again, one may assume?" de Grandin
prompted.
"But it's only a phantom snake," I interjected. "At worst it's nothing
more than a terrifying vision----"
"Think so?" Ned broke in. "D'ye remember Rowdy, my airedale terrier?"