“Stop this folly!” I said. “Where is my boy?”
“You see,” he said, still displaying the drum's interior, “there is no
deception---”
I put out my hand to grip him, and he eluded me by a dexterous movement.
I snatched again, and he turned from me and pushed open a door to
escape. “Stop!” I said, and he laughed, receding. I leapt after
him--into utter darkness.