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diff --git a/43199-0.txt b/43199-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..35fa256 --- /dev/null +++ b/43199-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8887 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43199 *** + +Transcriber's Notes: + 1. Page scans provided by + Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=4dU0AAAAMAAJ + (The University of Michigan) + + + + + + +[Frontispiece.] + + + + + + + THE LAST TENANT. + + + + + BY + + B. L. FARJEON, + + _Author of "A Fair Jewess," Etc_. + + + + + * * * * + + + + + NEW YORK: + THE F. M. LUPTON PUBLISHING COMPANY + + + + + + + Copyright, 1893, by + CASSEL PUBLISHING COMPANY. + + + + _All rights reserved_. + + + + + + + CONTENTS. + + * * * * + +CHAPTER + + I. My Wife Makes Up her Mind to Move, + + II. House-Hunting à la Mode, + + III. An Old Friend Unexpectedly Presents Himself + + IV. Bob Millet Gives us Some Curious Information about the + House in Lamb's Terrace, + + V. We Look Over the House in Lamb's Terrace and Receive a + Shock, + + VI. The Answer to the Bell, + + VII. I Make Some Singular Experiments, + + VIII. I Take Bob into my Confidence, + + IX. I Pay Bob Millet a Visit, + + X. Ronald Elsdale Gives Opinions, + + XI. Bob Relates to me Some Particulars of Ronald Elsdale's + Delusions, + + XII. A House on Fire, + + XIII. I Take the Haunted House, + + XIV. A Meager Report from the Inquiry Agent, + + XV. What the Inquest Revealed, + + XVI. In 79 Lamb's Terrace, + + XVII. Barbara, + + XVIII. Molly, + + XIX. Important Information, + + XX. Dr. Cooper, + + XXI. Barbara Gives us Some Valuable Information, + + XXII. Mr. Nisbet Visits Lamb's Terrace, + + XXIII. On the Track, + + XXIV. We Arrive in Paris, + + XXV. We Come to a Halt, + + XXVI. A Good Night's Work, + + XXVII. A Word with Mme. Bernstein, + + XXVIII. Mme. Bernstein Reveals, + + XXIX. Dr. Cooper is Impressed, + + XXX. Mr. Nisbet Takes a Decided Step, + + + + + + + THE LAST TENANT + + * * * * + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + MY WIFE MAKES UP HER MIND TO MOVE. + + +From a peculiar restlessness in my wife's movements, I gathered that +she was considering some scheme which threatened to disturb the +peaceful surroundings of my life. Upon two or three occasions lately +she had reproached me for not being sufficiently lofty in my social +views, and although the tone in which she addressed me was free from +acerbity, her words conveyed the impression that in some dark way I +was inflicting an injury upon her. Familiar with her moods, and +understanding the best way in which to treat them, I made no inquiries +as to the precise nature of this injury, but waited for her to +disclose it--which I was aware she would not do until she was quite +prepared. + +I am not, in any sense of the term, an ambitious man, being happily +blessed with a peaceful and contented mind which renders me unwilling +to make any departure from my usual habits. As regards old-fashioned +ways I am somewhat of a conservative; I do not care for new things and +new sensations, and I am not forever looking up at persons above me, +and sighing for their possessions and enjoyments. Indeed, I am +convinced that the happiest lot is that of the mortal who is neither +too high nor too low, and who is in possession of a competence which +will serve for modest pleasures, without exciting the envy of friends +and acquaintances. Such a competence was mine; such pleasures were +mine. Secure from storms and unnecessary worries--by which I mean +worries self-inflicted by fidgety persons, or persons discontented +with their lot--I should have been quite satisfied to remain all my +life in our cozy ten-roomed house, which we had inhabited for twenty +years, and in which we had been as comfortable as reasonable beings +can expect to be in life. Not so my wife, the best of creatures in her +way, but lately (as I subsequently discovered) tormented with jealousy +of certain old friends who, favored by fortune, had moved a step or +two up the social ladder. It was natural, when these friends visited +us, that they should dilate with pride upon their social rise, and +should rather loftily, and with an air of superiority, seize the +opportunity of describing the elegances of their new houses and +furniture. Their fine talk amused me, and I listened to it +undisturbed; but it rendered my wife restless and uneasy, and the +upshot of it was that one morning, during breakfast, she said: + +"You have nothing particular to do to-day, my dear?" + +"No, nothing particular," I replied. + +"Then you won't mind coming with me to see some new houses." + +I gasped. The murder was out. + +"Some new houses!" I cried. + +"You can't expect me to go alone," she said calmly. "It would hardly +be safe--to say nothing of its impropriety--for a lady, unaccompanied, +to wander through a number of empty houses with the street door shut. +We read of such dreadful things in the papers." + +"Quite true; they are enough to make one's hair stand on end. It would +not be prudent. But what necessity is there for you to go into a +number of empty houses?" + +"How stupid you are!" she exclaimed. "You know we must move; you know +that it is impossible for us to remain in this house any longer." + +"Why not?" + +"Such a question! And the house in the state it is!" + +"A very comfortable state, Maria. There is nothing whatever the matter +with it." + +"There is everything the matter with it." + +"Oh, if you say so----" + +"I do say so." + +A man who has been long married learns from experience, and profits by +what he learns, if he has any sense in him. I am a fairly sensible +man, and experience has taught me some useful lessons. Therefore I +went on with my breakfast in silence, knowing that my wife would soon +speak again. + +"The house is full of inconveniences," she said. + +"You have been a long time finding them out, Maria." + +"I found them out years ago, but I have borne with them for your +sake." + +I laughed slyly, took the top off an egg, and requested her to name +the inconveniences of which she complained. + +She commenced. "We want a spare room." + +"We have one," I said, "and it is never used." + +"It isn't fit to use." + +"Oh! I had an idea that there was no demand for it." + +"If it was a comfortable room there would be, Edward, I wish you would +recognize that things cannot always remain as they are." + +"More's the pity." + +"Nonsense. You talk as if we were shellfish." + +"It did not occur to me. Proceed with your wants, Maria." + +"_Our_ wants, my dear." + +"Well, _our_ wants." + +"You want a nice, cozy study, where you can sit and smoke." + +"I want nothing of the kind. I can sit and smoke anywhere. Don't +forget that I am fifty years of age, and that my habits are fixed." + +"My dear, it is never too late to learn." + +"Keep to the point," I said. + +"As if I am not keeping to it! I have no morning room." + +"So you are to sit in your morning room, and I am to sit in my study, +instead of sitting and chatting together, as we have always done. A +cheerful prospect! What next?" + +"We have very good servants," she said pensively. + +"Has that anything to do with the inconveniences you speak of?" + +"I shouldn't like to lose the girls, especially cook. They sleep in +the attic, you know, and the roof is shockingly out of repair." + +"It is the chronic condition of roofs. Go where you will, you hear the +same story. Have the girls complained?" + +"No, but I can see what is coming." + +"Ah!" + +"The kitchen is not what it should be; the range causes us the +greatest anxiety. The next dinner party we give we must have the +dinner cooked out. Think what a trouble it will be, and how awkward it +will look. Everything brought to the table lukewarm, if not quite +cold." + +"The thought is heartrending." + +"And you so particular as you are. I am not blaming you for these +things, my dear." + +"You are very considerate. Is your catalogue of ills finished?" + +"By no means. Look at the wine cellar--it positively reeks. As for the +store cupboard, not a thing can I keep in it for the damp. Then +there's the bath. Every time I turn the hot water tap I am frightened +out of my life. It splutters, and chokes, and gurgles--we shall have +an explosion one day. Then there's----" + +"No more!" I cried, in a tragic tone. "Give me two minutes to compose +myself. My nerves are shattered." + +I finished my eggs and toast, I emptied my breakfast cup, I shifted my +chair. + +"You wish to move," I then said. + +"Do you not see the impossibility of our remaining where we are?" was +her reply. + +"Frankly, I do not, but we will not argue; I bend my head to the +storm." + +"Edward, Edward!" she expostulated. "Must not a woman have a mind? +Must it always be the man?" + +"I meant nothing ill-natured, Maria. Have you any particular house in +view?" + +"Several, and I have made out a list of them. I have been to the house +agents and have got the keys. I did not wish you to have the bother of +it, so I took it all on myself. And here are the orders to view the +houses where there are care-takers. Of course we don't want the keys +of those houses; all we have to do is to ring." + +"How many empty houses are there on your list?" + +"Twenty-three." + +I repressed a shudder. "And you have the keys of----" + +"Eleven. I can get plenty more. We must be careful they don't get +mixed up. Perhaps you had better keep them." + +"Not for worlds. Do you propose to go over the whole twenty-three +to-day?" + +"Oh, no, my dear, but we will continue till we are tired. With what I +have and what I am promised I dare say it will be a long job before we +are suited. Days and days." + +"Perhaps weeks and weeks," I suggested faintly. + +"Perhaps. Do you remember how we hunted and hunted till we found this +house?" + +"Can I ever forget it? I grew so sick of tramping about that I thought +seriously of buying a traveling caravan, and living in it. Well, +Maria, I confess I don't like the prospect, but as your mind is made +up I will put a good face on it." + +"I was sure you would, my dear. You are the best man in the world." +And she gave me a hearty kiss. + +"All right, my dear. When do we start?" + +"I shall be ready in half an hour." + +In less than that time we were off, I resigned to my fate, and my wife +as brisk as a young maid about to enter into housekeeping for the +first time. I could not but admire her courage. Her bag was stuffed +with keys, and in her hand she carried a book in which were set down +the particulars of the houses we were to look over. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + HOUSE-HUNTING À LA MODE. + + +It was a satisfaction to me that my wife did not entertain the idea of +deserting the northwestern part of London, in which I have lived from +my boyhood, and which I regard as the pleasantest district in our +modern Babylon. In no other part of London can you see in such +perfection the tender green of spring, and enjoy air so pure and +bracing, and there are summers when my wife agrees with me that it is +a mistake to give up these advantages for the doubtful enjoyment and +the distinct discomforts of a few weeks in the country. So, with my +mind somewhat relieved, I started upon the expedition which was to +lead me to the deserted house in Lamb's Terrace, and thence to the +strange and thrilling incidents I am about to narrate. And I may +premise here that I do not intend to attempt any explanation of them; +I shall simply describe them as they occurred, and I shall leave the +solution to students more deeply versed than myself in the mysteries +of the visible and invisible life by which we are surrounded. I must, +however, make one observation. There is in my mind no doubt that I was +the chosen instrument in bringing to light the particulars of a foul +and monstrous crime, which might otherwise have remained unrevealed +till the Day of Judgment, when all things shall be made clear. Why I +was thus inscrutably chosen, and was haunted by the Skeleton Cat until +the moment arrived when I was to lay my hand upon the shoulder of the +criminal and say, "Thou art the man!" is to me the most awful and +inexplicable mystery in my life. + +In our search for a new house the story of one day is (with the single +exception to which I have incidentally referred) the story of all the +days so employed. We set out every morning, my wife fresh and +cheerful, and I trotting patiently by her side; we returned home every +evening worn out, disheartened, bedraggled, and generally demoralized. +My condition was, of course, worse than that of my wife, whom a +night's rest happily restored to strength and hope. I used to look at +her across the breakfast table in wonder and admiration, for truly her +vigor and powers of recuperation were surprising. + +"Are you quite well this morning?" I would ask. + +"Quite well," she would reply, smiling amiably at me. "I had a lovely +night." + +Wonderful woman! A lovely night! While I was tossing about feverishly, +going up and down innumerable flights of stairs with thousands upon +thousands of steps, opening thousands upon thousands of doors, and +pacing thousands upon thousands of rooms, measuring their length, +breadth, and height with a demon three-foot rule which mocked my most +earnest and conscientious efforts to take correct measurements! The +impression these expeditions produced upon me was that, of all the +trials to which human beings are subject, house-hunting is +incomparably the most exasperating and afflicting. Were I a judge with +the power to legislate, I would make it a punishment for criminal +offenses: "Prisoner at the bar, a jury of your countrymen have very +properly found you guilty of the crime for which you have been tried, +and it is my duty now to pass sentence upon you. I have no wish to +aggravate your sufferings in the painful position in which you have +placed yourself, but for the protection of society the sentence must +be one of extreme severity. You will be condemned to go house-hunting, +and never getting suited, from eight o'clock in the morning until +eight o'clock at night, for a term of three years, and I trust that +the punishment inflicted upon you will deter you from crime for the +rest of your natural life." I should almost be tempted to add, "And +the Lord have mercy upon your soul!" + +I could not have wished for a better leader than my wife, who +continued to take charge of the keys and to keep a record of the +premises we had looked over and were still to look over; and in the +little book in which this record is made were set down in admirable +English--occasionally, perhaps, somewhat too forcible--the reasons why +there was not a single house to let which answered her requirements. +Many of the houses had been tenantless for years, and reminded me in a +depressingly odd way of unfortunate men who had fallen too soon into +"the sere and yellow," and were sinking slowly and surely into damp +and weedy graves. The discolored ceilings, the moldy walls, the moist +basements, the woe-begone back yards, and the equally dismal gardens, +the twisted taps, the rusty locks and keys, the dark closets which the +agents had the effrontery to call bedrooms, supplied ample evidence +that their fate was deserved. There were some in a better condition, +having been newly patched and painted; but even to these more likely +tenements there was always, I was ever thankful to hear, an objection, +from one cause or another, raised by my wife. In one the dining room +was too small; in another it was too large; in another the bath was on +an unsuitable floor--down in the basement or up on the roof; in +another the range was old-fashioned; in another there was no getting +into the garden unless you passed through the kitchen or flung +yourself out of the drawing-room window; in another there were no +cupboards, and so on, and so on, without end. Again and again did I +indulge in the hope that she was thoroughly exhausted and would give +up the hunt, and again and again did the wonderful woman, a few hours +afterward, impart to me the disheartening news--smiling cheerfully +as she spoke--that she had been to a fresh house agent and was +provided with another batch of keys and "orders to view." After every +knock-down blow she "came up smiling," as the sporting reporters say. +Meekly I continued to accompany her, knowing that the least resistance +on my part would only strengthen her determination to prolong the +battle. At the end of a more than usually weary day she observed: + +"My dear, if we were rich we would build." + +"We would," I said, and, with a cunning of which I felt secretly +proud, I encouraged her to describe the house she would like to +possess. I am a bit of a draughtsman, and from the descriptions she +gave me of the house that would complete her happiness I drew out the +plans of an Ideal Residence which I was convinced could not be found +anywhere on the face of the earth. This, however, was not my wife's +opinion. + +"It is the exact thing, Edward," she said, and she took my plans to +the agents, who said they were very nice, and that they had on their +books just the place she was looking for--with one trifling exception +scarcely worth mentioning. But this trifling exception proved ever to +be of alarming proportions, was often hydra-headed, and was always +insurmountable. Then would she glow with indignation at the duplicity +of the agents, and would call them names which, had they been publicly +uttered, would have laid us open to a great number of actions for +libel and slander. Thus a month passed by, and, except for prostration +of spirits, we were precisely where we had been when we commenced. The +Ideal Residence was still a castle in Spain. + +One evening, when we were so tired out that we could hardly crawl +along, my indomitable wife, after slamming the last street door behind +her, informed me that she intended to call upon another house agent +whom she had not yet patronized. + +"That will be the ninth, I think," I said, in a mild tone. + +"Yes, the ninth," she said. "They are a dreadful lot. You can't place +the slightest dependence upon them." + +Gascoigne was the name of the agent we now visited, and he entertained +us in the old familiar way. As a matter of course, he had the very +house to suit us; in fact, he had a dozen, and he went through them +_seriatim_. But my wife, who during the past month had learned +something, managed, by dint of skillful questioning, to lay her hand +on the one weak spot which presented itself in all. + +"I am afraid they will not do," she said, "but we will look at them +all the same." + +I sighed; I was in for it once more. A dozen fresh keys, a dozen fresh +orders to view--in a word, a wasted, weary week. Mr. Gascoigne drummed +with his fingers on his office table, and, after a pause, said: + +"I have left the best one to the last." + +"Indeed!" said my wife, brightening up. + +"The house that cannot fail," said he; "a chance seldom met +with--perhaps once in a lifetime. I shall not have it long on my +books; it will be snapped up in no time. It possesses singular +advantages." + +"Where is it?" asked my wife eagerly. + +"In Lamb's Terrace, No. 79. Detached and charmingly situated. Ten +bedrooms, three reception rooms, two bath rooms, hot and cold water to +top floor, commodious kitchen and domestic offices, conservatory, +stabling, coach house, coachman's rooms over, two stalls and loose +box, large garden well stocked with fruit trees, and two greenhouses." + +My wife's eyes sparkled. I also was somewhat carried away, but I soon +cooled down. Such an establishment would be far beyond my means. + +"To be let on lease?" I inquired. + +"To be let on lease," Mr. Gascoigne replied. + +"The rent would be too high," I observed. + +"I don't think so. Ninety pounds a year." + +"What?" I cried. + +"Ninety pounds a year," he repeated. + +I looked at my wife; her face fairly beamed. She whispered to me, "A +prize! Why did we not come here before? It would have saved us a world +of trouble." + +For my part, I could not understand it. Ninety pounds a year! It was a +ridiculous rent for such a mansion. + +I turned to the agent. "Is there a care-taker in the house?" + +"No," he replied, "it is quite empty." + +"Has it been long unlet?" + +"Scarcely any time." + +"The tenant has only just left it, I suppose?" + +"The tenant has not been living in it." + +"He has been abroad?" + +"I really cannot say. I know nothing of his movements. You see, we are +not generally acquainted with personal particulars. A gentleman has a +house which he wishes to let, and he places it in our hands. All that +we have to do is to ascertain that the particulars with which he +furnishes us are correct. We let the house, and there is an end of the +matter so far as we are concerned." + +I recognized the common sense of this explanation, and yet there +appeared to me something exceedingly strange in such a house being to +let at so low a rent, and which had just lost a tenant who had not +occupied it. + +"Is it in good repair?" I asked. + +"Frankly, it is not; but that is to your advantage." + +"How do you make that out?" + +"Because the landlord is inclined to be unusually liberal in the +matter. He will allow the incoming tenant a handsome sum in order that +he may effect the repairs in the manner that suits him best. There is +a little dilapidation, I believe, in one or two of the rooms, a bit of +the flooring loose here and there, some plaster has dropped from the +ceilings, and a few other such trifling details to be seen to; and the +garden, I think, will want attention." + +"The house seems to be completely out of repair?" + +"Oh, no, not at all; I am making the worst of it, so that you shall +not be disappointed. But there is the money provided to set things in +order." + +"Roughly speaking, what sum does the landlord propose to allow?" + +"Roughly speaking, a hundred pounds or so." + +"About one-third," I remarked, "of what I should judge to be +necessary." + +"Not at all; a great deal can be done with a hundred pounds; and my +client might feel disposed to increase the amount. You can examine the +house and see if it suits you, which I feel certain it will." + +Here my wife broke in. She had listened impatiently to my questions, +and had nodded her head in approval of every answer given by the agent +to the objections I had raised. + +"I am sure it will suit us," she said. "The next best thing to +building a house for one's self is to have a sufficient sum of money +allowed to spend on one already built; to repair it, and paint and +paper it after our own taste." + +"I agree with you, madam," said the agent, "and you will find the +landlord not at all a hard man to deal with. He makes only one +stipulation--that whoever takes the house shall live in it." + +"Why, of course we should live in it," said my wife. "What on earth +should we take it for if we didn't?" + +"Quite so," said the agent. + +"I should like to ask two more questions," I said. "Are the drains in +good order?" + +"The drains," replied the agent, "are perfection." + +"And is it damp?" + +"It is as dry," replied the agent, "as a bone." + +Some further conversation ensued, in which, however, I took no part, +leaving the management to my wife, who had evidently set her heart +upon moving to No. 79 Lamb's Terrace. The agent handed her the keys +with a bow and a smile, and we left his office. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + AN OLD FRIEND UNEXPECTEDLY PRESENTS + HIMSELF. + + +During the interview my attention had been attracted several times to +a peculiar incident. At the extreme end of Mr. Gascoigne's office, +close against the wall, was a high desk, with an old-fashioned railing +around it, the back of the desk being toward me. When we entered the +office no person was visible behind the desk, and no sounds of it +being occupied reached my ears; but, happening once to look +undesignedly in that direction, I saw a gray head raised above the +railings, the owner of which was regarding me, I thought, with a +certain eagerness and curiosity. The moment I looked at the head, +which I inferred was attached to the body of a clerk in the service of +Mr. Gascoigne, it disappeared, and I paid no attention to it. But +presently, turning again, I saw it bob up and as quickly bob down; and +as this was repeated five or six times during the interview, it made +me, in turn, curious to learn the reason of the proceedings. Finally, +upon my leaving the office, the head bobbed up and remained above the +desk, seemingly following my departure with increasing eagerness. + +"My dear," said my wife, as we walked along the street--very slowly, +because of the weary day we had had--"at last we have found what we +have been searching for so long." + +It did not strike me so, but I did not express my opinion. All I said +was, "I am tired out, and I am sure you must be." + +"I do feel tired, but I'm repaid for it. Yes, this is the very house +we have been hunting for; just the number of rooms we want, just the +kind of garden we want, and so many things we thought we couldn't +afford. Then the stable and coach-house--not that we have much use for +them, but it looks well to have them, and to speak of them to our +friends in an off-hand way. Then the fruit trees--what money it will +save us, gathering the fruit quite fresh as we want it! I have in my +eye the paper for the drawing and dining rooms; and your study, my +dear, shall be as cozy as money can make it. I have something to tell +you--a secret. I have put away--never mind where--a long stocking, and +in it there is a nice little sum saved up out of housekeeping pennies. +That money shall be spent in decorating No. 79 Lamb's Terrace." + +Thus rattled on this wonderful wife of mine, working herself into such +a state of rapture at the prospect of obtaining the Ideal Residence I +had drawn out for her, and which she believed she had obtained, that I +could not help admiring more and more her sanguine temperament and her +indomitable resolution. Her pluck, her endurance, her persistence, +were beyond praise; such women are cut out for pioneers in difficult +undertakings; they never give in, they never know when they are +beaten. In the midst of her glowing utterances I heard the sound of +rapid steps behind us, and, turning, saw the elderly man, whose head, +bobbing up and down in Mr. Gascoigne's office, had so engaged my +attention. He had been running after us very quickly, and his breath +was almost gone. + +"I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon," he said, speaking with +difficulty, "but--excuse me, I must get my breath." + +We waited till he had recovered, my wife with the expectation that he +was charged with a message from Mr. Gascoigne, I with no such +expectation. I felt that he had come after us on a purely personal +matter, and as I gazed at him I had an odd impression that, at some +period of my life, I had been familiar with a face like his. I could +not, however, bring to my mind any person resembling him. + +"The agent has given us the keys of the wrong house," whispered my +wife. "I hope it is no worse than that; I hope he hasn't made a +mistake in the rent." + +She was in great fear lest the splendid chance was gone and the house +in Lamb's Terrace was lost to us. + +"I am all right now," said the stranger, "and I must beg you to excuse +me if I am mistaken. I think not, for I seem to recognize your +features; and yet it is so long ago--so long ago!" + +The impression that I had known him in earlier years grew stronger. + +"I heard your name," he continued, "while I was working at my desk. +When you handed your card to Mr. Gascoigne he spoke it aloud, and I +recognized it as that of an old school friend. It so stirred me that I +fear you must have thought me rude for staring at you as I did. My +name is Millet, Bob Millet--don't you remember?" + +Good Heavens! My old schoolmate, Bob Millet, dear old Bob, almost my +brother, whom I had not seen for nearly forty years, stood before me. +What reminiscences did the sight of him inspire! He and I were chums +in those early days, stood up for each other, defended each other, +played truant together, took long walks, went into the country +together during holiday time--did everything, in short, that could +bind schoolboys in firm links of comradeship. Once, when my parents +took me to the seaside, they invited Bob at my urgent request to spend +a week with us, and he spent two, three--all the time, indeed, that we +were away from home. There at the seaside he taught me to swim, and we +had days of enjoyment so vivid that the memory of them came back to me +fresh and bright even after this lapse of years. How changed he was! +He was a plump, rosy-cheeked boy, and he had grown into a thin, spare, +elderly man, with all the plumpness and all the rosiness squeezed +clean out of him. It was a bit of a shock. He was younger than I, and +he looked twenty years older; his clothes were shabby, his face worn +and lined with care, as though life's battle had been too much for +him; while here was I, a fairly prosperous man, full of vigor and +capacity for enjoyment, and blessed with means for the indulgence of +pleasures which it was evident he could not afford. There was on my +part more of sadness than of joy in this meeting. I held out my hand +to him, and we greeted each other cordially. + +"My dear," I said to my wife, "this is my old school chum, Mr. +Millet." + +"Bob Millet, please," he said reproachfully; "don't drop me because I +am shabby." + +"I am not the sort of man to do that, Bob," I rejoined. "You have had +a tussle with fortune, old friend, and got the worst of it?" + +"Considerably," he replied, with a little laugh in which there was no +bitterness; it reminded me that when he was at school he always took a +cheerful view of any misfortune that happened to him; "but a meeting +like this makes up for a lot. What does the old song say? 'Bad luck +can't be prevented.' Well, I _am_ glad to see you! I ran after you +with a double purpose--first to shake hands with you, then to talk to +you about that house you are looking after." + +"All in good time. Have you done work for the day?" + +"Yes." + +"Come home with us and have a tea-dinner, unless," I added, "there is +someone else expecting you." + +"No one is expecting me," he said rather mournfully. "I am all alone." + +"Not married?" + +"I was, but I lost her." + +I pressed his hand sympathetically. + +"You can come along with us, then," said my good wife; "it will be +better than passing the evening with yourself for company; and I am +burning to hear what you have to tell us about the house in Lamb's +Terrace. I am fairly enchanted with it, even before I see it. There is +our 'bus; I hope there is room for us." + +There was room, and we got in, and alighted within thirty yards of our +house--our dear old house, which my wife was bent upon giving up. + +I took Bob to my dressing room, and we had a wash and a brush up. + +"Any children?" he asked. + +"No," I replied; "it caused us sorrow at first, but we get resigned to +things." + +"Yes, indeed." + +Downstairs my wife was waiting for us, and there was our tea-dinner +already prepared, with one or two additional small luxuries in honor +of our visitor. + +"Sit down, Bob," I said, "and make yourself at home. To you this is +Liberty Hall; we haven't a bit of pride in us, although my dear wife +here has an ambition for a larger house; that is why we are going to +move." + +"We can afford to move, Mr. Millet," said my wife with dignity. + +"I am very glad to hear it," said Bob; "it is always pleasant to hear +of a friend's good fortune." + +My wife smiled kindly, and we all made a good meal; and then she +bustled away to see to some domestic matters, while the maid cleared +the table. Before she left the room she said to Bob: + +"Mr. Millet, not a word about that delightful house until I join you." + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + BOB MILLET GIVES US SOME CURIOUS + INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOUSE + IN LAMB'S TERRACE. + + +"Now, Bob," said I, "here's a clean pipe and some bird's eye. Do you +remember our first cigar in your little bedroom in your father's +house? How we suffered, and vowed never to smoke again! We have time +for a pipe and a chat before my wife comes in. She has many virtues, +Bob, and a special one for which she deserves a medal--she does not +object to my smoking in any room in the house. Heaven knows what rules +she will lay down, and what changes for the worse there will be when +we move! I am not going to anticipate evils, however. Without +pretending that I am a philosopher, I take things as they come, and +try to make the best of them; it is the pleasantest way. Tell me what +you have been doing all these years." + +He told me all about himself--of his leaving school with fair +expectations; of his entering into his father's business; of his +marrying for love, and, after three years of happy married life, of +the death of his wife, and the ruin of his prospects; of his +subsequent struggles and disappointments; and of his sinking lower and +lower until he found himself fixed upon that depressing platform which +is crowded with poor clerks struggling with all their might and main +for bread and butter. Except when he spoke of his wife there was no +sadness in his voice; and I saw that the cheerful temperament which +had distinguished him when we were at school together had not deserted +him. + +"It has been a tussle," he said, "but I have managed to rub along, and +it might have been worse than it is. You don't mind my calling you +Ned, do you?" + +"If I did," I replied, "I should have good reason to be ashamed of +myself. It was Ned and Bob when we were boys; it is Ned and Bob now +that we are elderly men. A few pounds more in my purse than in yours +can make no difference; and as far as that goes, I can spare a little +check if you need it." + +"No, Ned," he responded quickly, "that is the last thing in the world +I hope I shall have to do. Though I don't sit down to a banquet every +day for dinner, I have never borrowed, and I never will if I can +possibly help it. Don't judge me by my sad looks--I have a +disagreeable impression that I am not a cheerful fellow to +contemplate; but if the truth were known there are much harder lots +than mine. I have a comical trick of twisting things to my own +advantage, and of rather pitying men who could sell me up over and +over again. Ned, as there is no station in life, however high, without +its miseries, so there is no station in life, however low, without its +compensations." + +"You're the philosopher, Bob," quoth I. + +"I don't know about that. I have grown into the belief that the poor +have as much enjoyment as the rich, and when I take a shilling's worth +in the gallery of a theater, I am positive that I don't get less +pleasure out of it than the people who sit in the stalls do out of +their half-guineas. If I am a philosopher that is the use I make of my +philosophy. Then, Ned, I have the past to think of; for three years +there was no happier man than I, and my sad memories are sweetened +with gratitude. And life is short after all; time flies; tomorrow we +shall all be on a level, rich and poor alike." + +Thus spoke my old schoolfellow, Bob Millet, in his shabby coat, and +the regard I used to have for him grew stronger every minute that +passed. + +When my wife came in, bustling and cheerful as usual, she nodded +brightly at us, sat down with a piece of needlework in her hand--she +is never idle, this wife of mine--and said: + +"Now, Mr. Millet, let us hear about the house in Lamb's Terrace." + +"I will tell you all I know. Have you the keys, Ned?" + +"My wife has," I replied. + +She opened her bag and took them out, remarking, as she wiped her +fingers, that they were very dusty. + +"As you see," observed Bob, "they are covered with rust." + +"They could have been used very little lately," I said. + +"Hardly at all," said Bob; "and this is one of the singular features +in connection with the house with which you should be made acquainted. +Did not the information Mr. Gascoigne gave you of the last tenant +strike you as rather extraordinary?" He turned to my wife for an +answer, but she did not reply. + +"It struck me as very extraordinary," I said. "I could not understand +it at all, nor can I now understand why a house, with so many rooms, +with stabling, a large garden, and so many other advantages, should be +offered at so low a rent." + +Bob looked at me, looked at my wife, hesitated, coughed, cleared his +throat, and spoke. + +"As a matter of fact, the house has been empty for four or five +years." + +"Really a matter of fact?" inquired my wife. "Within your own +knowledge?" + +"Not exactly that; I can speak only of what I have gathered." + +"So that your matter of fact," observed my wife shrewdly, "is merely +hearsay." + +"I must admit as much, I am afraid," he said a little awkwardly. + +"Why should you be afraid to admit it?" + +I detected in these questions one of my wife's favorite maneuvers. +When she met with opposition to a project which she had resolved to +carry out, she was in the habit of seizing upon any chance words which +she could construe in such a way as to confuse and confound the enemy. +Often had she driven me so hard that I have been compelled to beat a +retreat in despair, and to give up arguing with her. + +"Upon my word I don't know why," said Bob. "It was only a form of +speech. I seem to be getting into a tangle." + +"I will assist you to get out of it," said my wife, with playful +severity. "Go on, Mr. Millet." + +"It was originally taken on lease," continued Bob, "and the term +having expired, the tenant--I suppose we must call him so--wished to +renew. The landlord says, 'I will renew on one condition, that you +live in the house.' The tenant objects. 'What does it matter,' he +says, 'whether I live in the house or not, so long as the rent is +paid?' The landlord replies that it matters a great deal, that a house +cannot be kept in a satisfactory condition unless it is occupied, and +that he does not like to see his property fall into decay, as this +house has been allowed to do." + +"Did you hear these words pass, Mr. Millet?" asked my wife. + +"No; I am only throwing into shape what I have gathered." + +Here we were interrupted by a knock at the door, and my wife was +called from the room to see a tradesman whom she had sent for to put +some locks in order. As she left us she gave Bob rather a queer look. +I took advantage of her absence by asking Bob why he hesitated when he +began to speak about the house. + +"Well," he answered, "this is the first time I have had the pleasure +of seeing your wife, and I don't know if she is a nervous woman." + +"She is not easily frightened," I said, "but what has that to do with +it?" + +"Everything. I have heard that the house is haunted." + +I clapped my hand on the table. "And that is the reason of the low +rent?" + +"It looks like it, doesn't it?" + +"And that is why the last tenant did not live in it?" + +"Ah," said Bob, "now you strike another key. There is a mystery here +which I cannot fathom. Having a house on lease and being responsible +for the rent, he is bound to pay till his term has expired. Very +well--but here's the point, Ned: The lease having run out, and he +having all these years presumably paid a large sum of money every +quarter-day for value not received, why should he wish to renew? The +house is haunted, he will not live in it, he never even opens the door +to say how do you do to the property which is costing him so dear, and +now that his responsibility is at an end he wants to take it upon his +shoulders again, and to be allowed the privilege of continuing to pay +his rent without receiving any return for it. Men don't usually throw +their money away without some special reason, and this eccentric +proceeding on the part of the last tenant makes one rather curious." + +"It is certainly very mysterious," I observed. "What was the rent he +paid for it?" + +"I heard Mr. Gascoigne say a hundred and fifty pounds." + +"And it is offered to us for ninety. Have you seen the house, Bob?" + +"No." + +"Mr. Gascoigne has, I suppose." + +"I don't believe he has." + +"Then how have you learnt all you have told me?" + +"In this way. I was at my desk when the landlord--who is himself +only a leaseholder, having to pay ground rent to a wealthy +institution--called upon Mr. Gascoigne, and put the house into his +hands. Mr. Gascoigne, when he wrote down the particulars, expressed, +as you did, surprise at the low rent, and little by little all the +particulars came out. There appeared to me to be some feeling between +the landlord and the last tenant, but nothing transpired as to its +nature while I was present, and it is my belief that Mr. Gascoigne is +as much in the dark as I am. There had been trouble in obtaining the +keys, I understood. A house agent, you know, never refuses business, +and Mr. Gascoigne put the place on his books, but has not pushed it in +any way. He did not mention it to you till he had exhausted the list +of other available houses. It was only this morning that the rent was +reduced in the books to ninety pounds, in accordance with instructions +received from the landlord, and it was probably in accordance with +those instructions that Mr. Gascoigne made a strong effort to +prepossess you in favor of it. Your wife may be in any moment. Is she +to know that the house is haunted?" + +I rubbed my forehead; I pondered; I laughed aloud. + +"Tell her, Bob," I said; and then, at the idea of all her fond hopes +being once more dashed to the ground, I fairly held my sides, while +Bob gazed at me in wonder. I did not explain to him the cause of my +hilarity; I had no time, indeed, for my wife re-entered the room, and +resumed her seat and her needlework. I composed my features the moment +I heard her footstep; she would certainly have asked why I was so +merry, and any explanation I might have ventured to offer would have +been twisted by her to my shame and confusion, and would, moreover, +have made her more determined than ever to take the house. + +"Where did we leave off, Mr. Millet?" she said, in a suspicious tone. +"Let me see--I think it was about the house falling into decay." + +"Never mind that just now, Maria," I said. "Bob has something of the +utmost importance to impart to you. Brace your nerves--prepare for a +shock." + +There was a note of triumph in my voice, and she turned her eyes upon +me, with an idea, I think, that I was going out of my mind. + +"Well, Mr. Millet," she said, with a shrewd glance at him, "what is +this something of the highest importance that you have to impart to +me?" + +"I was reluctant to mention it," said Bob, "before I spoke of it to +Ned, because I was doubtful how it would affect you. If you should +happen to hear of it when it was too late to retract you might say +with very good reason, 'But why did not Mr. Millet tell us before we +went over the house? Why did he leave us to find it out for ourselves +after we signed the lease?'" + +"Find what out, Mr. Millet?" + +"As a matter of fact," said Bob, and quickly withdrew the unfortunate +phrase, "I mean that I have heard the house has a bad name." + +She frowned. + +"A bad name!" + +"Bad, in a certain way, They say it is haunted." + +"Oh," said my wife, smiling, "is that all? They say? Who say?" + +"I can't give you names," replied Bob, conspicuously nonplused, +"because I don't know them. I can only tell you what I have heard." + +"I thought as much," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. +"Merely hearsay. You might be more explicit, Mr. Millet. Haunted? By +what?" + +"I don't know." + +"When does _It_ appear?" + +"I can't say." + +"How tantalizing! Don't you think, Edward, that the news Mr. Millet +has given us makes the house all the more interesting?" + +Thus effectually did she sweep away all my fond expectations. She made +no more of a haunted house than she would have done of a loose handle +to a door. + +"If that is the view you take of it," I said, "perhaps it does. I am +always ready to please you, Maria, but till this moment I had no idea +that your taste lay in the direction of haunted houses. At all events, +you will not be able to say that you were not warned." + +"You will not hear me say it. There is a proverb about giving a dog a +bad name and hanging him at once, and it seems to me to apply to the +house in Lamb's Terrace. If Mr. Millet could give us something to lay +hold of I might express myself differently." + +"You can't lay hold of a ghost, Maria, unless those gentry have +undergone a radical change. For my part, I am much obliged to Bob. It +was out of consideration for you that he did not mention it at first." + +"Mr. Millet was very kind, I am sure," she said stiffly; and then, +addressing him as though she would give him another chance, "Are you +acquainted with the last tenant?" + +"No, I have never seen him." + +"What is his name?" + +"I do not know." + +"Where does he live?" + +"I do not know." + +"Now, _do_ you think," she said, quizzing him, "that it is quite fair +to take away the character of an empty house upon such slender +grounds? It is like hitting a man when he's down, which I have heard +is not considered manly." + +"I assure you," replied Bob gravely, "that what I have said has been +said with the best intentions." + +"No doubt," said my wife composedly, meaning quite the other thing. +"Edward, our best plan will be to go and look over the house the first +thing in the morning." + +"That settles it, Bob," I said, "for the present, at all events. What +do you say to coming here tomorrow evening and hearing our report of +the house?" + +He looked at my wife, as if doubtful whether a second visit would be +agreeable to her; but she nodded pleasantly, and said: + +"Yes, come, Mr. Millet; perhaps we shall be able to surprise you." + +"Thank you," said Bob, and we talked of old times with rather eager +readiness, and for the rest of the evening carefully avoided the +subject which had so nearly brought him to grief. At ten o'clock he +took his departure, and a few minutes afterward Maria and I retired to +our bedroom. + +"Good-night, dear," she said, in her most amiable tone, as I put out +the light. + +"Good-night, dear," I replied, and disposed myself for sleep. + +We are both healthy sleepers, and generally go off like a top, as the +saying is, a very short time after our heads touch the pillows. But +this night proved to be an exception, for we must have lain quite a +quarter of an hour in darkness when my wife began to speak. + +"Are you asleep, Edward?" + +"No, Maria." + +"Do you know," she said drowsily, "I have a funny idea in my head." + +"Have you?" + +"Yes. It is that you and Mr. Millet laid a little plot for me." + +"It isn't a funny idea, Maria; it is a perfectly absurd idea." + +"That is what _you_ say, dear; it is never agreeable to be found out. +I dare say you thought yourselves very clever. It hasn't raised my +opinion of Mr. Millet. I should have liked to believe him a different +kind of person." + +"Whatever are you driving at, Maria?" I said. "Bob Millet is the +simplest fellow in the world, and is incapable of laying a plot." + +"Oh, there's no telling. You were old playmates, and he is anxious to +please you; he will find out by and by, perhaps, that I am not quite +the simpleton he takes me for." + +"Poor old Bob!" I thought. "His ill-luck sticks to him." + +Aloud I said, "You are a conundrum, Maria; I shall give you up." + +"Better give up the plot," she said pleasantly. + +"I will, when I know what it is." + +"It was this--that you would invent a ridiculous story about the house +I have set my heart upon taking being haunted, so that I should be +frightened to go near it. You ought to have known me better, Edward, +and I must say you did it very clumsily; my consolation is that you +did not succeed. I am so sorry for you! Good-night, dear; I hope you +will sleep well." + +I did sleep fairly well, though I was kept awake longer than usual by +my annoyance at the prejudice Maria entertained against my old friend +Bob. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + WE LOOK OVER THE HOUSE IN LAMB'S TERRACE, + AND RECEIVE A SHOCK. + +We rose earlier than usual the next morning, and my wife bustled about +in lively expectation of a successful and pleasant day. She made no +allusion to Bob Millet, and I, well acquainted with her moods, was +aware that her silence was no indication that she was not thinking of +him. My meeting with him had recalled agreeable memories, and I was +sincerely sorry that he had not been successful in life's battle. I +resolved to assist him if I could, though I could not exactly see a +way to it, because of his aversion to borrowing money, and because, +living retired as I was, with no business to attend to, it was out of +my power to offer him a better situation than the one he occupied in +Mr. Gascoigne's office. Anxious that my wife should have as high an +opinion of him as I had myself, I made an effort to reinstate him in +her good graces. + +"I think, Maria," I said, during breakfast, "that you were inclined to +do Bob an injustice last night. He had no desire whatever to set you +against the house in Lamb's Terrace, but only to give us some +information which he considered it his duty not to withhold from us. +He was perfectly sincere in all he said, and perfectly truthful, and +you must admit that he did give us some strange news." + +"Yes, he did," she replied, "and it remains to be proved whether it is +true; we should not be too ready to believe all the idle gossip we +hear." + +"Undoubtedly we should not; but if there is anything against the +place, it is better that we should hear it before we decide upon +living in it. When I was a boy an aunt of mine took a house, and +afterward discovered that a murder had been committed in her bedroom. +She didn't have a moment's peace in her life; she used to wake up in +the middle of the night, and fancy all sorts of things. I remember her +spending an evening with us at home, and starting at the least sound; +her nerves were shattered, and my poor dear mother said she couldn't +live long. She told us stories of horrid sights she saw in the house, +and horrid sounds she heard, and my hair rose on my head. I didn't +sleep a wink myself that night. Now, if she had known all this before +she took the house, she would have been spared a great deal of +suffering." + +"Did she die soon after?" asked my practical wife. + +"No," I replied; and I could not help laughing at my defeat, the moral +of the story being absolutely destructive of the theory I wished to +establish; "as a matter of fact, she lived to a good old age." + +"I don't quite see the application, Edward," said my wife dryly; and I +deemed it prudent to change the subject. Maria is not an unreasonable +or an unjust woman, and I gathered from her manner that she intended +to hold over her final verdict upon Bob's character until she had +ascertained what dependence could be placed upon the information he +had given us. + +Upon looking through the local directory, the only reference I could +find to Lamb's Terrace was the name under the initial L, "Lamb's +Terrace." + +"It is singular," I said. "The number of the house we are going to is +79, and the presumption is that there are other houses in the terrace, +with people living in them, yet there is no list of them in this +directory." + +My wife turned over the pages, but could find no further reference to +the place. + +"It _is_ rather singular," she said, and handed me back the book. + +A few minutes afterward we were on our way, having been informed by +Mr. Gascoigne on the previous day that a North Star 'bus would take us +to the neighborhood in which it was situated. + +"How many houses are we going to look over?" I inquired. + +"Only one," replied my wife, "and if that doesn't suit us I really +don't know what we shall do." + +With all my heart I wished that it would not suit us. Reluctant as I +had been, when we first commenced these wearisome journeys, to remove +from our old home, I felt now, after the experiences I had gone +through, that it would be a positive misfortune. + +Lamb's Terrace was not easy to find. The conductor of the North Star +'bus knew nothing of it, and said he had best take us as far as his +conveyance went, and set us down. This was done, no other course +suggesting itself to us; he took us as far as he went, and then cast +us adrift upon the world. We made inquiries of many persons, and the +replies we received added to our confusion. Women especially set their +tongues wagging with astonishing recklessness, for they were totally +ignorant of the subject upon which they were offering an opinion. But +they gave instructions and advice, which we followed, for the reason +that we did not know what else we could do. Some said they thought +Lamb's Terrace must lie in this direction; we went in this direction, +and did not find it. Others said it must lie in that direction; and we +went in that direction, with the same result. We requested sundry +cabmen to drive us to 79 Lamb's Terrace, and they nodded their heads +cheerfully and asked where Lamb's Terrace was. We could not inform +them. "Do _you_ know Lamb's Terrace?" they asked their comrades, who +scratched their heads and passed the question along the rank, and +eventually said they were blarmed (or something worse) if they did. +The consequence was that they lost a fare, and that we were cast +adrift again. + +At length, after tramping about for nearly two hours, we found +ourselves in what I can only describe as a locality which had lost its +place in civilized society. It was deplorably desolate and forlorn, +and its dismal aspect suggested the thought that it had been abandoned +in despair. Fields had been dug up, but not leveled; roads had been +marked out, but not formed; buildings had been commenced, but not +proceeded with. Rubbish had been shot there freely. Empty cans, +battered out of shape, broken bottles, dead branches, musty rags, +useless pieces of iron and wood, and the worst refuse of the dustbin, +lay all around. If there had ever been a time in its history--and it +seemed as if there had been, and not so very long ago--when it +deserved to be regarded as a region of good intentions, its character +was gone entirely, and it could now only be regarded as a region of +desolation. Wandering about this mournful region, my wife suddenly +exclaimed: + +"Why, here it is!" + +And there it was. A narrow thoroughfare, not wide enough for two +vehicles to pass each other, with the words "Lamb's Terrace" faintly +discernible on the crumbling stones. + +"Shall we go on?" I asked. + +"Of course we will go on," replied my wife. "What did we come out for? +And after the trouble we have had to get here!" + +We turned at once into the narrow lane. On the right-hand side was a +gloomy house, untenanted. Beyond this was a long wall, very much out +of repair. On the opposite side there were no houses at all, but +another long wall, also very much out of repair. I searched for the +number of the gloomy untenanted house, but could not see one, and my +wife suggested that the house we wanted was lower down. We went lower +down, and passed the gloomy house a distance of fifty or sixty yards, +between the said walls. So still and deathlike was everything around, +and so secluded did Lamb's Terrace appear to be that I regarded it as +being not only lost to society, but almost out of the world. + +I glanced at my wife, and saw on her face no traces of disappointment. +Her spirits were not so easily dashed as mine. + +Having traversed these fifty or sixty yards we came to the end of the +right-hand wall. Adjoining it was a large building, in rueful harmony +with all the depressing characteristics of the neighborhood. The house +was approached by a front garden choked up with weeds and rank grass, +and inclosed by rusty and broken railings; at the end of this garden +was a flight of stone steps. The gate creaked on its hinges as I +pushed it open, and a prolonged wheeze issued from the joints; the +sound was ludicrously and painfully human, and resembled that which +might have been uttered by a rheumatic old woman in pain. My wife +pushed past me, and I followed her up the flight of stone steps. + +"There is a number on the door," she said, tiptoeing. "Yes, here it +is, 79, almost rubbed out." + +"Numbers 1 to 78," I grimly remarked, "must be somewhere round the +corner, if there is any round the corner in the neighborhood; they are +perhaps two or three miles off." + +"My dear," said my wife bravely, "don't be prejudiced. Here is the +house; what we have to do is to see whether it will suit us." + +"You would not care to go into it alone," I said. + +"I should not," she admitted, with praiseworthy candor; "but that is +not to the point." + +I thought it was; but I did not argue the matter. She had removed from +the keys as much rust as she could, and had had the foresight to bring +with her a small bottle of oil, without the aid of which I doubt if we +should have been able to turn the key in the lock. After a deal of +trouble this was accomplished, and the mysterious tenement was open to +us; as the door creaked upon its hinges, the sound that tortured my +ears was infinitely more lugubrious than that which had issued from +the gate, and it produced upon me the same impression of human +resemblance. When we entered the hall I asked my wife whether I should +close the street door. + +"Certainly," she said. "Why not?" + +I did not answer her. Have her way she would, and it was useless to +argue with her. I closed the door, and felt as if I had entered a +tomb. + +The entrance hall was spacious, and shaped like an alcove; there was a +door on the right, and another on the left; in the center was a wide +staircase, leading to the rooms above; farther along the passage was a +masked door, leading to the rooms below. + +"Upstairs or downstairs first?" I inquired. + +"Downstairs," my wife replied. + +The stairs to the basement were very dark, and my wife, prepared for +all such emergencies, produced a candle and matches. Lighting the +candle we descended to the stone passage. There was a dreary and +gloomy kitchen; there was a large scullery, a larder and all necessary +offices, cobwebbed and musty; also two rooms which could be used as +living rooms. The glass-paneled doors of both these rooms opened out +into the back garden, which was in worse condition and more choked up +with weeds, and rank grass, and monstrous creepers than the ground in +front of the house; two greenhouses were at the extreme end, and there +were some trees dotted about, but whether they were fruit trees it was +impossible to say without a closer examination. + +"I don't think," said my wife, "we will go over the garden just now. +It looks as if it was full of creeping things." + +"The rooms we have seen are not much better, Maria." + +"They are not, indeed; I never saw a place in such a dreadful state." + +I was more than ordinarily depressed. As a rule these expeditions +invariably had a dispiriting effect upon me, but I had never felt so +melancholy as I did on this occasion. I made no inquiry into my wife's +feelings; I considered it best that she should work out the matter for +herself; the chances of my emerging a victor from the contest in which +we were engaged would be all the more promising. + +We ascended to the hall, and then I observed to my wife that we had +forgotten to examine the stabling and the wine cellar; we had even +neglected the coal cellars. + +"We won't bother about them to-day," she said, and despite my +despondency I inwardly rejoiced. + +I had also learned to prepare myself for the trials of this +house-hunting. In my side pocket were two flasks, one containing +water, the other brandy. I had often grown faint during our +wanderings, and a sup of brandy now and then had kept up my strength. +I saw that my wife was lower spirited than usual, and I mixed some +spirits and water in the tin cup attached to one of the flasks. She +accepted the refreshment eagerly, and I took a larger draught myself, +and was much cheered by it. + +"It always," said my wife, in a brighter tone, "makes one feel rather +faint to look over a house which has been empty a long time, +especially a house which is so far away from--from any others." + +"It is almost as if we were in a grave," I observed. + +"How _can_ you say such dreadful things!" she retorted. "If I were a +man I should have more courage." + +There were three rooms on the ground floor, each of considerable +dimensions, and all in shocking dilapidation. The paper had peeled off +the walls, and was hanging in tattered strips to the ground; +quantities of plaster had dropped from the ceilings, and here and +there the bare rafters were exposed; there were holes in the flooring; +the grates were cracked, the hearths broken up. + +"A hundred pounds," I observed, "would not go far toward making this +house habitable." + +"It wouldn't be half enough," said my wife. + +Upon quitting the dining room I inquired whether she wished to go any +further. + +"I am going," she said stoutly, "all over the house." + +Upstairs we went to the first floor, where we found the rooms in a +similar condition to those below. + +"Disgraceful!" exclaimed my wife. "No wonder the landlord was +indignant with the last tenant." + +In due course we found ourselves on the second floor, and we stood in +a large room, the windows of which faced the garden in the rear. I had +opened the door of this room with difficulty, and the moment we +entered it slammed to, which I ascribed to the wind blowing through +some broken panes. By this time I perceived plainly that my wife's +spirits were down to zero, and I was comforted by the reflection that +looking over a house so wretched, so forlorn, so woe-begone, would, +after all we had gone through, be the last straw that would break the +back of her determination to move. We had been in the house about half +an hour, and nothing but her indomitable spirit had sustained her in +the trying ordeal. + +In the room in which we were now standing there were two bell-pulls; +one was broken, the other appeared to be in workable condition. It +was not to prove this, but out of an idle humor as I thought at the +time--though I was afterward inclined to change my opinion, and to +ascribe the action to a spiritual impulse--that I stepped to the +unbroken bell-pull, and gave it a jerk. It is not easy to describe +what followed. Bells jangled and tolled and clanged as though I had +set in motion a host in of infernal and discordant tongues of metal, +and had raised the dead from their graves to take part in the harsh +concert, for indeed there seemed to be something horribly fiendish, in +the discord, which was at once hoarse, strident, shrill, and +sepulchral, and finally resolved itself into a low, muffled wail which +ran through the house like a funereal peal. With the exception of our +own voices and footsteps and the slamming of the doors we had opened +and shut, these were the only sounds we had heard, and they brought a +chill to our hearts. + +"How awful!" whispered my wife. + +I nodded, and held up my hand. The last echo of the bells had died +away, and now there came another sound, so startling and appalling +that my wife clutched me in terror. + +"My God!" she cried; "someone is coming upstairs!" + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + THE ANSWER TO THE BELL. + + +We stood transfixed with fear. + +As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now +filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the +house. It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances +but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have +formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in +soft shoes or slippers. It has ever since been to me a matter for +wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that +distance. It must have been that our senses, refined instead of dulled +by the despair which held us spellbound, were preternaturally +sharpened to catch the note of warning which at any other time would +have been inaudible. + +At the moment, therefore, of my wife's frenzied exclamation I inferred +that the feet had left the kitchen and were on the stairs leading from +the basement to the hall. If my surmise was correct there were still +two flights of stairs to ascend before the full horror of the incident +would be revealed to us. + +I have described the impression produced upon me when we first turned +into Lamb's Terrace, of being, as it were, cut off from the world. +There was not an inhabited house near us. We had not seen a human +being in the thoroughfare, and, as the prospect, from the windows of +the room in which we now stood, stretched across a bare and desolate +waste of ground, there was absolutely no hope of any helpful response +being made to our appeals for assistance. + +The possibilities of the peril in which we had placed ourselves +presented themselves vividly to my agitated mind. The house, having +been for so many years deserted by its proper tenant, might have +become the haunt of desperate characters who would shrink from no +deed, however ruthless, to secure their safety; who might even hail +with satisfaction the intrusion of respectable persons who had +unconsciously put themselves in their power. Supposing that these +evil-doers were concealed in the lower rooms when we entered, they +could rob and murder us with little fear of discovery. But there was +also the consoling reflection that they might be in the house with no +sinister designs, and that their only anxiety now was to escape from a +building into which they had made an unlawful entrance. This would +soon be put to the proof. If, when they were on the landing of the +ground floor, we heard the street door open and shut, the fears which +oppressed us would be dispelled, and we should be able to breathe +freely. + +I perceived that my wife was animated by a similar hope, and we both +strained our ears in the endeavor to follow with our terrified senses +the progress of the sound. + +It ceased awhile on the ground floor, and we listened in agonized +suspense for the click of a latch and the harsh creak of rusty hinges, +but no such comforting sounds reached our ears, and presently the dead +silence was broken by the soft pit-pat of footsteps on the stairs +leading to the first floor. My wife's hold upon me tightened. + +"We are lost!" she moaned. "What shall we do--oh, what shall we do?" + +I had no weapon about me with the exception of a small penknife, which +was practically useless in such an encounter as that in which I +expected soon to be engaged. A peaceful citizen like myself had no +need to carry weapons. I looked around the room for one. There was not +an article of furniture in it--not a stick. I would have given the +world for an ax or a piece of iron with which I could have made some +kind of defense. We were absolutely helpless and powerless, and it was +my terror that made me certain that we were threatened by more than +one enemy. To go from the room and meet the persons who were advancing +toward us would be an act of madness, and would in all probability but +hasten our fate. We must remain where we were, and wait for events; no +reasonable alternative was open to us. + +Pat, pat, pat, came the sound to our ears; nearer, nearer, nearer; not +boldly, as if those from whom it proceeded were engaged upon an open +and honest mission, but stealthily and covertly, as though they +desired all knowledge of their movements to be concealed from their +victims. + +The footsteps had now reached the landing of the first floor and, +after another deathlike pause, commenced to ascend the stairs which +led directly to us. + +"Can't you do something, Edward?" whispered my agonized wife, wringing +her hands. "Can't you lock the door?" + +It is strange that the fact of the door being unlocked had not +occurred to me before. I rushed to it instantly, and a sigh of intense +relief escaped me at finding the key in the lock. I turned it like +lightning, and we were so far safe. Then my wife flew to the window, +and, throwing it open, began to scream for help--that is to say, she +would have screamed if she had had the power, but her voice was almost +frozen in her throat, and the sounds that issued from her were of a +ravenlike hoarseness, and could have traveled but a few yards; too +short a distance in our lonely situation to be of any practical value. +Soon I added my shouts to her hoarse scream. They were sent forth to a +dead world; to our frantic appeals no answer was made. + +Meanwhile, occupied as I was, I could still pay some attention to what +was passing on the stairs that led to the room. I had indulged in a +faint hope that our cries would alarm those without, and would induce +them to forego their murderous attack upon us, but the stealthy pat, +pat, pat of the footsteps continued, and were now in the middle of the +staircase; there could be but a few more stairs to ascend. Still +another hope remained--that when the footsteps reached the second +landing they would proceed onward to the top of the house. This last +hope, like those which had preceded it, was not fulfilled. Nearer, +nearer, nearer they approached, until they were close to the door; +then there was another pause; no further sounds were heard. + +My impression now was that the villains who had a design against +us--for by this time I entertained no doubt of their diabolical +purpose, and that we were in the direst peril--were making +preparations to carry it into effect. Presently they would try the +handle of the door, and, discovering that it was locked, would burst +it open and spring upon us. + +A long and awful silence ensued, during which the agonizing question +occupied my mind, what was being done outside the door? The torture of +the suspense was maddening; the silence was more harrowing than the +footsteps themselves had been. I was soon to receive an appalling +answer to the question. + +The door--notwithstanding my firm belief that I had securely locked +it--slowly and noiselessly opened. My heart beat wildly, but I held +myself ready, so far as lay in my poor power, to meet the attack with +which we were threatened. And now the door stood wide open, and I saw +no form of man or woman. But gradually there shaped itself in the air +the outline of a female shape, a shadow, which as I gazed grew more +distinct, and yet was never quite vivid to my sight. It was the figure +of a young girl, poorly dressed, with carpet slippers on her feet. Her +hair was hanging loose, and the tattered remnants of a cap attached to +it was an indication that her station in life was--or more properly +speaking, had been--that of a domestic servant. Her face was white and +wan, and her large gray eyes were fixed mournfully upon me. There was +a dead beauty in their depths which seemed to speak of glowing hopes +of youth prematurely blasted and destroyed, and, though the features +of the apparition were but airy outlines, I could not fail to perceive +that in a bygone time they had been comely and prepossessing. + +More terrible than any form of living man or woman was this appalling +spectacle as it stood, silent and still, upon the threshold. Had the +bell I rang summoned it from the grave? For what purpose had it come? +What did it require of me? It is probable that I should have mustered +courage to ask some such questions as these, and indeed I was aware +that my lips were moving, but no sound issued from them--my voice was +gone; I could not utter an audible sound. + +For several minutes, as it seemed to me, though it could not have been +so long, did I continue to gaze upon the figure. I had directed a +brief glance at its feet, but when my eyes traveled up to its face +they became magnetized, as it were. The spell was broken by a movement +on the ground, not proceeding from the apparition of the girl. I +looked down, and there, gliding past the upright spectral figure, I +saw creeping toward me a skeleton cat. + +It was veritably a skeleton, and was to my sight as impalpable as the +young girl. Through its skin, almost bare of hair, its bones were +sharply outlined. It was black; its ears were pointed, its eyes were +yellow, its mouth was open, showing its sharp teeth. + +This second apparition added to my horror, which grew deeper and +deeper as the cat, with gliding motion, approached me. Had its paws +left upon the ground a bloody imprint I could not have been more +awestricken. It paused a few inches from me, where it crouched +motionless so long as I remained so. When I moved it accompanied me, +and when I stopped it stopped, waiting for a mandate from me to set it +in motion. + +Raising my eyes to the door I discovered to my amazement that the +figure of the girl had vanished. Nerving myself to the effort, I +stepped softly into the passage and gazed along and at the staircases +above and below me, but saw no movement of substance or shadow. +Returning to the room I was irresistibly impelled by a desire to +convince myself whether the cat which had accompanied me to and fro +was as palpable to touch as to sight. Kneeling to put this to the test +I found myself kneeling on my wife's dress. So engrossed had I been in +the astounding apparitions that I had paid no attention to her, and +now I saw that she had fainted. Before devoting myself to her I passed +my hand over the cat and came in contact with nothing in the shape of +substance. It was truly a specter, and I beheld it as clearly as I +beheld the body of my wife lying at my side. + +I took my flask from my pocket and bathed my wife's forehead, and +poured a few drops of brandy and water down her throat, and I was +presently relieved by seeing her eyes open. She closed them again +immediately, and said, in a whisper: + +"Is it gone?" + +Anxious to learn what she had seen--for I inwardly argued that I might +myself be the victim of a strange delusion--I met her inquiry by +asking: + +"Is what gone, Maria?" + +"The girl," she murmured; "that dreadful figure that came into the +room?" + +"Look for yourself," I said. + +It was not without apprehension that I made the request, and I +nervously followed the direction of her eyes. + +"It is not in the room," she sighed. "But, Edward, who opened the +door?" + +"The wind blew it open, most likely." + +"You locked it, Edward! I heard you turn the key in the lock." + +"I thought I did, but I must have been mistaken. Terrified as we were, +how could we trust the evidence of our senses? And do you suppose +there's a lock in the house in proper order?" + +"It must have been my fancy. Did _you_ see nothing?" + +How should I answer her? Revive her terror by telling her that she was +under no delusion, but that the spectral figure of the young girl had +really presented itself; or, out of kindness to her, strive to banish +her fears by a pardonable falsehood? + +Before I decided how to act I felt it necessary to ascertain whether +the cat lying in full view to me was visible to her. + +"Maria," I said, "take the evidence of your senses. Look round the +room--at the door, at the walls, at the ceiling, on the floor--and +tell me what you see." + +With timid eyes she obeyed, and glanced in every direction, not +omitting the spot upon which the skeleton cat was lying. + +"I don't see anything, Edward." + +"Does not that prove that the figure you spoke of was a trick of the +imagination?" + +"You actually saw nothing?" + +"Nothing." + +All this time she had been sitting on the floor, keeping tight hold of +me. I assisted her to her feet; she was so weak that she could hardly +stand. + +"For Heaven's sake!" she said "do not let us remain in the house +another minute." + +I was as anxious to leave as she was, and had I been alone I should +have rushed downstairs in blind haste, but I had to attend to my wife. +The power of rapid motion had deserted her, and when we were about to +pass through the passage she shrunk back, fearing that the apparition +of the young girl was lurking there. She experienced the same fear as +we descended the stairs, and clung to me in terror when we approached +an open door. I was grateful that the apparition of the cat--which +followed us faithfully down to the hall--was invisible to her; if it +had not been she would have lost her senses again, and it would have +been hard work for me to carry her out, as she is by no means of a +light weight. + +The question which now agitated me was whether the cat would come into +the streets with us, or would return to the resting place which should +have been its last. It was soon and plainly answered. + +I opened the street door, and stood upon the threshold. The cat stood +there also. I paused to give it the opportunity of returning, but it +evinced no desire to do so. I went down the stone steps to the front +garden; the cat accompanied me. I walked through the front garden out +of the gate, straight into Lamb's Terrace, and thence across the +wretched wastes of ground into more cheerful thoroughfares; and the +skeleton cat was by my side the whole of the time. + +The evidence of civilized life by which we were now surrounded +restored Maria's spirits; she found her tongue. + +"Why did you stop on the doorstep, Edward?" she asked. + +"I had to lock the street door," I answered. + +"We will not take that house, my dear," she said. + +"No, we will not take it." + +Some unaccustomed note in my voice struck her as strange. + +"Is anything the matter with you?" she asked. + +"No," I replied, glancing at the cat, "nothing." + +"What are you looking at? Why are your eyes wandering so?" + +"My dear," I said, with an attempt to speak in a lively tone, and +failing dismally, "I must be a bit unstrung, that is all." + +She accepted my explanation as satisfactory. + +"No wonder," she said; "I would not go through such another trial for +all the money in the world." + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + I MAKE SOME SINGULAR EXPERIMENTS. + + +For a little while we walked along in silence, and then I asked my +wife whether she would ride or walk home. + +"I should prefer to walk," she said; "it is early, and the air is +fresh and reviving. Things look all the brighter now we are out of +that horrible place. A walk will do us good." + +I made no demur, though I was curious to see what the skeleton cat +would do when we entered an omnibus full of people. It would +experience a difficulty in finding a place on the floor of the 'bus, +and there would be no room for it to stretch itself comfortably on the +seats. I wished to ascertain, also, whether among a number of +strangers there would be one to whom it would make itself visible. I +peered into the faces of the passers-by with this thought in my mind, +but I saw no expression of surprise in them, notwithstanding that the +cat seemed to touch their legs in brushing past. Again and again did I +turn my eyes away from the apparition; and again and again, looking +down at my feet, I beheld it as clearly as if it were an actual living +example of its species. Once we got into a crowd and I hoped that I +had lost it. No such luck; it evinced no disposition to leave me. + +"Edward," said my wife, "I am sure you are not well. I have tired you +out with this eternal looking over houses to let. You have been very +patient with me"--she pressed my arm affectionately--"and I will try +and make it up to you. I know you never really wished to move." + +"I never wished it, Maria." + +"And you have gone through all this for my sake. I don't like to give +up a thing once I have set my mind on it,--you know that of old, my +dear,--but the experiences of this morning will last me a lifetime; so +I will give this up." + +"The idea of moving?" I asked in a dull voice. "You give it up +altogether?" + +"Yes, altogether. We will remain in our old house." + +It is a singular confession to make, but this proclamation of the +victory I had gained afforded me no satisfaction. I had no wish to +move; my earnest desire was to remain where we were; but with the +infernal cat gliding by my side, I could think of nothing but the +haunted house in Lamb's Terrace which we had just quitted. In that +house was the spectral figure of the girl who, by spiritual means, had +opened a door I had locked, and presented herself to me. She was now +alone. I had deprived her of a companion who, for aught I knew, might +have been a solace to her. It was as if I had been guilty of a crime; +as if I had condemned her to solitude. But it was folly to torment +myself with such reflections. What had I to do with the incidents of +this eventful day? I was a passive instrument, and was being led by +unseen hands. More pertinent to ask what was the portent of the +apparitions, and why the supernatural visitation was inflicted upon +me, although to these questions I could expect no answer. +Involuntarily I stooped to assure myself once more that the cat was +but a shadow. + +"What are you stooping for?" inquired my wife. + +"I thought I had dropped my handkerchief." + +"It is here, in your pocket." She took it out and handed it to me. + +"I was mistaken," I muttered. + +She held up her sunshade and hailed a passing hansom, saying +energetically, and with a troubled look at me, "We will ride home." + +I did not object. I think if she had said "We will fly home," I should +have made an attempt to fly, so absolutely was I, for the time, +deprived of the power of deciding my own movements. I did not see the +cat spring into the cab, but directly we were seated, there it lay +crouched in front of us; and when the driver pulled up at our house +there it was waiting for the street door to be opened. + +"Lie down and rest yourself for an hour," said my wife, with deep +concern in her voice. + +"No," I replied, "I will smoke a pipe in the garden." + +With wifely solicitude she filled my pipe for me, and held a lighted +match to the tobacco. I puffed up, thanked her with a look, and went +into the garden accompanied by the cat. + +In the part of London in which we live there are pleasant gardens +attached to many of the houses, and our little plot of ground is by no +means to be despised. It is some ninety feet in length, is divided in +the center by a broad graveled space, and has a graveled walk all +around it; and here when the weather permits, my wife and I frequently +sit and enjoy ourselves. I am also the proud possessor of a +greenhouse, which, as well as the borders and beds I have laid out, is +in summer and autumn generally bright with flowers, of which I am very +fond; and into this greenhouse I walked to smoke the green fly, which +was doing its worst for my pelargoniums. There are a couple of trees +in my garden, and birds' nests in them. The birds were flitting among +the branches, and I looked at the cat, wondering whether it would +spring after its feathered victims. + +It took no notice of them, nor they of it. I remained in the +greenhouse ten or twelve minutes, and then it occurred to me to make +an experiment. With a swift and sudden motion I left the greenhouse +and pulled the door behind me, shutting the cat inside. I walked +toward the center of the garden, and the animal I thought I had +cunningly imprisoned glided on at my side. Doors shut and locked, and +doubtless stone walls, presented no greater obstacle to the creature +than the air I breathed. + +I sat down on the garden seat and smoked and pondered, and was aroused +by a soft purring at my feet, and the contact of a furry body against +my legs. I uttered an exclamation, and, looking down, saw our own +household cat--a tortoise-shell tabby--rubbing against me. Now, +thought I, there will be a fight. But there was nothing of the kind. I +felt convinced that the skeleton cat saw our tortoise-shell cat, and +presently I was quite as convinced that the flesh and blood reality +was unconscious of the presence of the disembodied spirit. + +I made another experiment. I went stealthily into the kitchen, and +filled a saucer with milk. This saucer I took into the garden and put +upon the gravel before the two cats. + +"You must be hungry," I said aloud to the spectral figure, with a +feeble attempt at jocularity. "Lap up." + +It made no movement. With a look of gratitude at me our tabby lapped +up the whole of the milk, and licked the saucer dry. + +My wife came out and, seeing what I had done, smiled. + +"Are you feeling better?" she asked solicitously. + +"There is nothing whatever the matter with me," I said, with an +unreasonable show of irritation. + +She wisely made no reply, and I was once more left alone with my +supernatural companion. + +Thus passed the day, and I was glad when the hour arrived for Bob +Millet to make his appearance. He came punctually and was cordially +received by my wife. + +"You are in time for tea, Mr. Millet," she said, shaking hands with +him. "I want you to feel that you are really welcome here." + +"Indeed I do feel so," said Bob, gratified by this reception, which I +fancy he hardly expected. + +They made a good meal, but though my wife had thoughtfully prepared a +dish of which I was very fond--a tongue stewed with raisins--I ate +very little. + +"No appetite, Ned?" said Bob. + +I shook my head gloomily. + +"He is out of sorts, Mr. Millet," said my wife, "and I am delighted +you are here to cheer him up. He has me to thank for his low spirits; +it is all because of my stupid wish to leave the house in which we are +as comfortable as we could reasonably hope to be. I have worried him +to death, almost, dragging him about against his will--though he has +never complained--from morning till night for I don't know how long +past. He is not half the man he was; he doesn't eat well and he +doesn't sleep well, and I am to blame for it." + +She was ready to cry with remorse, and I felt ashamed of myself for +not having the strength to battle with the delusion which surely would +not torture me forever. + +I patted her on the shoulder, and put on a more cheerful countenance. +She brightened up instantly, and then Bob asked whether we had been to +79 Lamb's Terrace. + +"Yes, we have," said my wife, "and I am truly thankful that we got out +of it safely." + +"Ah!" said Bob, lifting his eyes. + +"You were right, Mr. Millet," said my wife, "the house is haunted." + +"Oh," said Bob, "I only told you what I had heard. For my part, I +don't even know where Lamb's Terrace is." + +"Take my advice, Mr. Millet, and don't try to know. The less you see +of the place the better it will be for you." + +"Why?" + +"Because it _is_ haunted," she replied with emphatic shakes of her +head, "and I am much obliged to you for putting us on our guard." + +"Then you saw something?" + +My wife looked at me. + +"Tell him what you fancy you saw," I said. + +"It was not fancy," she rejoined; "I have been thinking over it during +the day, and the more I think, the more I am convinced that I did +see--what I saw." + +"I should like to hear about it," said Bob. + +"You shall." + +And she told him all; of our going over the house till we got to the +room on the second floor, of my pulling the bell, of the sounds we had +heard proceeding from the basement and approaching nearer and nearer +till they were outside in the passage, of my locking the door, of the +door opening of its own accord, and of the appearance on the threshold +of the specter of a young girl, and, finally, of her fainting away. + +"It was only my obstinacy," she said, "that took us up to the top of +the house. Edward was quite ready to leave it before we had been in +the place two minutes, but I insisted upon going into all the rooms, +and I was properly punished for it. I was frightened enough, goodness +knows, before I fainted, for I was chilled all over by what I had +already seen, and I ought to have been satisfied; but you know what +women are, Mr. Millet, when they take a fancy into their heads." + +"There, Bob," said I, "there's a confession to make; not many women +would say as much." + +Bob smiled, and said, "You are too hard on yourself. We are much of a +muchness--men and women alike; there is nothing to choose between us." + +"You are very good to say so, Mr. Millet." + +"When you recovered from your faint," said Bob, "was the figure still +there?" + +"No, it was gone." + +"And you did not see it again?" + +"No, thank God!" + +"Did you see it?" asked Bob, turning to me. "He says he didn't," said +my wife, quickly replying for me, "but----" + +"But," I added, "she does not believe me." + +"How can I believe you," said my wife reproachfully, "when the very +moment before I swooned away I saw your eyes almost starting out of +your head with fright." + +"Oh, well," I said, "I suppose I have as much right to fancy things as +you." + +"Of course you have, and it was very considerate of you to deny that +you saw anything. He is the best husband in the world, Mr. Millet, and +if he thinks I don't appreciate him he is mistaken." + +"Now, my dear," I said soothingly, "you know I don't think anything of +the sort; if I am the best husband in the world, so are you the best +wife in the world. What do you say to our going in for the flitch of +bacon?" + +"It is all very well to make a laughing matter of it," said my wife +seriously. "I will ask Mr. Millet this plain question. He may say, +like you, that it is all fancy; but pray how does he account for the +opening of a locked door?" + +"I told you," I interposed before Bob could speak, "that I must have +been mistaken in supposing I had locked it." + +"Very good. But the door was shut if it was not locked." + +"I don't deny that it was." + +"How did it come open, then?" + +"I told you that, too," I replied. "The wind." + +"What wind?" + +"The wind from the window through the broken panes." + +She turned to Bob triumphantly. "What do you think of that, Mr. +Millet? When we go into the room the door slams, and my husband says +it slams because of the wind through the window. I accept that as +reasonable, but is it reasonable to suppose that the same wind that +blows a door shut from the inside of a room should blow it open from +the outside?" + +"Well, no," said Bob, with a sly look at me; "I should say it was not +reasonable." + +I was fairly caught. My wife's logic was too much for me. + +"And now," said she, "as I know it will worry him if I go on talking +about it, I will leave you two gentlemen together while I go and look +after some affairs. You will spend the evening with us, Mr. Millet?" + +"With much pleasure," he said. + +"And I beg your pardon," she said, "for having misjudged you. I did +think that you and my husband were in a plot together to set me +against the house, and I did not think it was nice behavior in a +gentleman who was paying me his first visit. I told my husband as much +last night before we went to sleep, and he stood up for you like the +true friend he is; and now I am glad to say I have found out my +mistake. I hope you will forgive me. + +"There is nothing to forgive," said Bob, in the kindest and gentlest +tone imaginable. "All that you have said and thought and done was most +fair and reasonable, and I ought to be thankful for the little +misunderstanding, if it has given you a better opinion of me." + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + I TAKE BOB INTO MY CONFIDENCE. + + +"A sensible woman," said Bob, gazing after my wife; and then, in a +more serious tone, "Ned, is it all true?" + +"Every word of it." + +"About the phantom of the girl?" + +"Yes, about the phantom of the girl. Frightfully, horribly true!" + +"You saw it?" + +"I did; and I would swear it was no trick of imagination." + +"And the door opened, as your wife has described?" + +"It did, and I will swear that _that_ was no trick of the +imagination." + +We had moved our chairs and were sitting by the open window, from +which stretched the bright prospect of the flowers in my garden; there +was a space of some three feet between our chairs as we sat facing +each other, and on this space lay the skeleton cat. + +"There is something more," I said. "Look down here." I pointed to the +cat. + +"Well? I am looking." + +"What do you see?" + +"Nothing." + +"Absolutely nothing?" + +"Nothing, except the carpet." + +"Bob, would you judge me to be a man possessed of a fair amount of +common sense?" + +"Certainly." + +"Not likely to give way to fads and fancies?" + +"Certainly." + +"Caring, as a rule, more for the prosaic than the romantic side of +things?" + +"I should say that, without doubt." + +"And you would say what is true of me, up to the present moment. I +prefer the plain bread-and-butter side of life, and though I hope I +have a proper sympathy for my fellow-creatures, I am not given to +extravagant sentiment. I am putting this description of myself in very +plain words, because I really want you to understand me as I am." + +"I think I do understand you, Ned." + +"I have never had a nightmare," I continued, "and, as a rule, my sleep +is dreamless. It is true that my rest has been a little disturbed +lately by my wife's wish to move, but the few restless nights I have +passed from this reason are quite an exception. To sum myself up +briefly and concisely, I claim to be considered a healthy human being +in mind and body." + +"It is not I, Ned, who would dispute that claim." + +"I have told you that the spectral figure of the girl appeared to me. +A doctor would at once declare it to be a delusion of the senses. If +my wife informed the doctor that she also saw it, he would reply that +she also was suffering under a delusion, and he would attempt to +explain it away on the ground of sympathy between us. But the opening +of the door could be no delusion; it was tight shut, and the key was +incontestibly turned in the lock; and yet it opened to admit the +specter. The doctor would smile at this, and ask incredulously, 'Is it +necessary for the entrance of an apparition, that a door should be +open, when it possesses the power of passing through material +obstacles?' It _does_ possess such a power, Bob; I have tested and +proved it. Now, what I have been coming to is this. My wife saw one +apparition; I saw two." + +"Two?" exclaimed Bob, regarding me more intently. + +"Yes, two. One, the girl, vanished; the other, the cat, remained." + +"In Heaven's name what are you talking about?" + +"I am relating an absolute fact. By the side of the girl appeared the +apparition of a skeleton cat, which accompanied me from the house, +which glided along the streets at my side, which entered my own house +with me, and which now lies here, on this little space of carpet +between us, on which you see--nothing. Now, Bob, tell me at once that +I am mad." + +"I shall tell you nothing of the kind; I must have a little time to +consider. What kind of reading do you indulge in? Sensation stories?" + +"I chiefly read the newspapers." + +"Digestion good, Ned?" + +"In perfect condition; for the last ten years I have not had a day's +bad health." + +"All that is in your favor." + +"Thank you. I see that you are taking a medical view of my case." + +"Indeed, I am not; I only want to think it out for myself. You can +actually see the cat?" + +"There it lies, its yellow eyes fixed on my face." + +"Touch it." + +I stretched forth my hand and passed it over and through the +apparition. + +"Does it reply by any sign?" + +"By none." + +"And yet it moves?" + +"When I move. Otherwise it remains motionless, in a state of +expectation, as it appears to me. + +"I don't quite understand, Ned." + +"It is difficult to understand, but it seems to be waiting for +something in the near or distant future. It relieves me to unburden my +mind to you, Bob. I do not intend to confide in my wife; it would +frighten her out of her life, and in the kindness of her heart she +would try to make me disbelieve the evidence of my own senses. +Therefore not a word about this to her. I hear her singing; she is +coming back to us, and she is singing to make me cheerful. Why, +Maria," I said, as she entered the room, "what have you got your hat +on for? Are you going out for a walk?" + +"I am," she replied briskly, "and you two gentlemen are coming with +me. It is now half-past seven, and if you will be so good as not to +raise any objection I propose to treat you to the theater." + +"A good idea," said Bob Millet, in a tone as lively as her own. + +"No tragedies," she continued, "a play that we can have a good laugh +over; we have had enough of tragedies to-day, and I don't intend they +shall get the best of me. We will go to the Criterion, where you +always get a proper return for your money, and I hope you won't object +to the pit, Mr. Millet?" + +"I assure you," said Bob, with grave humor, "that when I sit in the +pit I shall consider myself one of the aristocracy. Your wife is a +capital doctor, Ned." + +Very willingly I fell in with the thoughtful proposition, and as Maria +insisted upon paying all the expenses out of her private purse I +allowed her to do so, knowing that it would give her pleasure. + +We arrived at the Criterion before the raising of the curtain and we +saw a laughable comedy most admirably acted, which afforded us great +enjoyment. I may say that the circumstance of the skeleton cat not +accompanying us was the mainspring of my enjoyment. Could it have +been, after all, an illusion? Was it really possible that the +apparitions I had seen were the creations of my fancy? Bob whispered +to me once: + +"Has it accompanied us?" + +"No," I whispered back, "I see nothing of it." + +When we were outside the theater, and were ready to depart our +separate ways, Bob said: + +"Will you come and spend an hour with me to-morrow evening, Ned?" + +"Yes, he will," said my wife; "it will do him good. It does not do, +Mr. Millet, for a man to mope too much at home." + +So I consented, and we shook hands, and wished each other good-night. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + I PAY BOB MILLET A VISIT. + + +I was naturally curious when I arrived home to see if the cat was +there. It was. It did not meet me at the street door, but it lay on +the spot on which I had left it a few hours previously. Of course this +distressed me, but I did not betray my uneasiness to my wife. I had at +least cause for thankfulness in the silent announcement made by the +apparition that it was not its intention to accompany me to every +place I visited. + +We had our supper and went to bed; and it was an additional comfort to +me when I found that it did not follow us to our bedroom. + +It was not likely, after such an exciting day, that I should pass a +good night. My rest was greatly disturbed; and at about three o'clock +I was wide awake. My wife was sleeping soundly. I rose quietly, thrust +my feet in my slippers, and went downstairs to the dining-room. There +lay the cat with its eyes wide open. + +"You infernal creature," I cried, holding the candle so that its light +fell upon the specter, "what are you here for? What do you want me to +do? Why do you not go back to your grave and leave me in peace?" + +I asked these questions slowly, and paused between each, with an +insane notion that an answer might be given to them. No answer was +vouchsafed, and I recognized the folly of my expectation. The +peculiarity of the apparition was that its eyes never seemed to be +closed, as the eyes of other cats are when they are in repose. It +appeared to be ever on the watch, but what it was watching for was a +sealed mystery to me. In a moment of exasperation I raised my hand +against it threateningly; it did not move. I went no further than +this, feeling that it would be cowardly to strike at a shadow. I +returned to my bedroom, and after tossing about for an hour fell into +a disturbed sleep. + +Bob lived at Canonbury, and had given me directions to take a North +London train, his station being about half a mile from his lodgings. + +All the day the cat had remained in the dining-room, but when I was +leaving the house on my visit to Bob, it rose and followed me. + +"Do you intend to favor me with your company?" I asked. "Very well, +come along." + +And come along it did, to the train I took, got into the carriage with +me, and emerged from it at the Canonbury station, where I found Bob +waiting for me on the platform. + +"I have brought another visitor with me, Bob," I said, "but I can +assure you it has accompanied me without any invitation." + +"Is it here, then?" he asked, following the direction of my eyes. + +"Yes, Bob, it is here." And as we walked to the old-fashioned house in +which he rented one room at the top, I remarked, "Is it not singular +that it did not come to the theater with me last night, and that it +should accompany me now upon this friendly visit to you?" Bob nodded. +"I am beginning to have theories about it," I continued, "and one is, +that something will occur to-night in connection with the haunted +house in Lamb's Terrace." + +"Do not get too many fancies into your head, old fellow," said Bob. + +"I will not get more than I can help, but ideas come without any +active prompting or wish of my own; I am like a man who is being +driven, or led." + +Bob's one room was by no means uncomfortable; it served at once for +his living and bedroom, but the bed he occupied being a folding bed, +and the washstand he used being inclosed, it did not present the +appearance of a bedroom. There were shelves on the walls containing a +large number of books; four or five of these were on the table. + +"Now, sir or madam," said I to the cat, "what do you think of Bob's +residence, and what can we do to make you comfortable?" + +The cat glided to the hearthrug and stretched itself upon it; I +wrested my attention from the unpleasant object. + +"I am very well off here," said Bob; "the landlady cooks my meals for +me, and allows me to have them downstairs. I am at the top of the +house, and there is a fine view from the roof; I often smoke for an +hour there. You see that door in the corner; it is a closet, with a +fixed flight of steps leading to the roof; in case of fire I should be +safe. Sit in the armchair, Ned, and let us reason out things. I have +been thinking a great deal about you to-day, and talking about you, +too." + +"That was scarcely right, Bob." + +"Don't be afraid; you were not mentioned by name, and the gentleman I +conversed with is blind. That is the reason, very likely, why he +believes in what he does not see." + +"A friend of yours?" + +"A dear friend; a poor gentleman who has suffered, and who bears his +sufferings with a resignation which can only spring from faith. I told +you yesterday that I had been married and that I lost my wife. The +gentleman I speak of is the son of my dead wife's sister, who is +herself a widow. My wife's family were gentlefolk, who had fallen from +affluence, not exactly into poverty, but into very poor circumstances. +Ronald Elsdale--the name of my nephew--is a tutor; he was not born +blind; the affliction came upon him gradually, and was accelerated by +over study in his boyish days. Four years ago he could see, and when +blindness came upon him he was fortunately armed, and able to obtain a +fair living for himself and his widowed mother by tutoring. He is an +accomplished musician, and frequently obtains remunerative engagements +to play. He speaks modern languages fluently, is well up in the +sciences, has read deeply, and is altogether as noble and sweet a +gentleman as moves upon the earth." + +Bob spoke with enthusiasm, and it was easy to perceive that he had a +sincere love for Mr. Ronald Elsdale. + +"In every way so accomplished and admirable," I said, "and with such a +misfortune hanging over him, he needs a wife to look after him." + +"His mother does that," Bob replied, "with tender devotion, and Ronald +will never marry unless--but thereby hangs a tale, as Shakspere says. +He is not the only man who cherishes delusions." + +"Ah! he has delusions. I hope they are more agreeable than mine. How +is it, Bob, that you have had time for so much talk to-day with your +nephew?" + +"This is Thursday, and Mr. Gascoigne closes his office on Thursdays at +two o'clock, so I have had a few hours at my disposal, which have been +partly employed in talking with Ronald and partly in studying your +case." + +"Explain." + +"I have been looking up apparitions," said Bob, pointing to the books +upon the table. + +I did not trouble myself to examine them; it did not seem to me that +the books would be of much service in my case; the facts themselves +were sufficiently strong and stern, and I mentally scouted the idea +that printed matter would enable me to get rid of the apparition that +haunted me. + +"It is clear to me," I said, "that you think I am laboring under some +hallucination, and that I see the specter, now lying on the hearthrug, +with my mental and not my actual vision. Very well, Bob; a difference +of opinion will not alter the facts." + +"The awkward part of it is," said Bob, "that all evidence is against +you." + +I nodded toward the books on the table, and said, "All such evidence +as that." + +"Yes, but you must not forget that cleverer heads than ours have +occupied years of their lives in sifting these matters to the bottom." + +"In trying to sift them, Bob." + +"Well, in trying to sift them; but they give reasons for the +conclusions they arrive at which it would be difficult, if not +impossible, for men like ourselves to argue away." + +"There are two strong witnesses on my side," I remarked; "one is +myself, the other is my wife. Bear in mind that we both saw the +apparition of the girl; there was no collusion between us beforehand, +and if, in our fright, our imaginations were already prepared to +conjure up a phantom of the air, it is hardly possible that that +phantom should, without previous concert, assume exactly the same form +and shape; nor was there any after conspiracy between us as to the +manner in which this phantom was to be dressed. Now, my wife has +described to me the dress of the girl, the shreds of a cap sticking to +her hair, the frock of faded pink, the carpet slippers, the black +stockings, and I recognize the faithfulness of these details, which +presented themselves to me exactly as they did to her. Granted that +one mind may be laboring under a delusion, it is hardly possible that +two minds can simultaneously be thus imposed upon. Answer that, Bob." + +"Sympathy," he replied. + +"The word I used yesterday evening, when I was imagining what the +doctors would say upon my case; it is an easy way to get out of it, +but it does not satisfy me. I suppose you have come across some +curious cases in looking up apparitions?" + +"Some very curious cases. Here is one in which a door, not only locked +but bolted, plays a part. A great Scotch physician relates how a +person of high rank complains to him that he is in the habit of being +visited by a hideous old woman at six o'clock every evening; that she +rushes upon him with a crutch in her hand, and strikes him a blow so +severe that he falls down in a swoon. The gentleman informs the +physician that on the previous evening, at a quarter to six o'clock, +he carefully locked and double bolted the door of the room, and that +then he sat down in his chair and waited. Exactly as the clock strikes +six the door flies wide open--as the door in Lamb's Terrace did, +Ned--and the old woman rushes in and deals him a harder blow than she +was in the habit of doing, and down he falls insensible. 'How many +times has this occurred?' asks the physician. 'Several times,' is the +reply. 'On any one of these occasions,' says the physician, 'have you +had a companion with you?' 'No,' the gentleman replies, 'I have been +quite alone.' The physician then inquires at what hour the gentleman +dines, and he answers, five o'clock, and the physician proposes that +they shall dine the next day in the room in which the old woman makes +her appearance. The gentleman gladly consents; they dine together as +agreed upon, and the physician--who is an agreeable talker--succeeds +apparently in making his host forget all about the apparition. +Suddenly, the clock on the mantelpiece is heard striking six. 'Here +she is, here she is!' cries the gentleman, and a moment afterward +falls down in a fit." + +"Very curious," I said, "and how does the wise physician account for +the delusion?" + +"By the gentleman having a tendency to apoplexy." + +"There is, generally," I observed, "a weak spot or two in this kind of +story. Does it say in the account that the door was locked and bolted +when the gentleman and the physician dined together, and that the door +flew open upon the appearance of the old lady?" + +"No, it does not say that." + +"The omission of the precaution to lock the door," I said, "is fatal, +for the absence of that visible and material manifestation deprives +the physician of the one strong argument he could have brought +forward. Had the door been locked and bolted, and had the old woman +appeared without its flying open, the physician could have said to the +gentleman, 'You see, the door remains fastened, as we fastened it +before we sat down to dinner; you imagined that it flew open, and +there it remains shut, a clear proof that the old woman and her crutch +is but a fevered fancy.' That would have disposed of this gentleman at +once." + +"Quite so," said Bob. + +"You will, I suppose, admit that if the locked door had opened in the +physician's presence, it would have been a sign that some spiritual +power had been exercised for which he could not so readily have +accounted?" + +"Yes, I should admit that." + +"Admit, then, that as my wife and I--two witnesses, each uninfluenced +by the other--saw the locked door in Lamb's Terrace fly open, that +_that_ is an evidence of the exercise of a spiritual power." + +Bob laughed a little awkwardly. "You have made me give evidence +against myself," he said. + +Here there came a knock at the door, and Bob calling "Come in," the +landlady of the house made her appearance. + +"Mr. Elsdale is downstairs," she said, "and was coming up, when I told +him you had a friend with you, and he sent me to ask whether he would +be intruding." + +Bob looked at me inquiringly. + +"Not so far as I am concerned," I said; "I should very much like to +make your nephew's acquaintance." + +"Ask Mr. Elsdale to come up," said Bob; and the landlady departed. + +"I have more than a passing fancy to see your nephew," I said; "you +tell me he has delusions; what he says in our discussion, which I +don't propose to drop when he joins us, may be of interest." + +As I spoke Ronald Elsdale entered the room. + +"My nephew, Ronald Elsdale," said Bob, introducing us. "My old friend, +Mr. Emery." + +As we shook hands my attention was diverted to an incident which, +insignificant as it might appear, struck me as very singular; the +skeleton cat had risen from the hearthrug and was now standing at +Ronald Elsdale's feet, looking up into his face. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + RONALD ELSDALE GIVES OPINIONS. + + +Something more singular than this next attracted my attention. Ronald +Elsdale, blind as he was, inclined his head to the ground and seemed +to be returning the gaze of the cat. "Can it be possible," I thought, +"that this man, physically blind, and this cat, invisible to all eyes +but mine, are conscious of each other's presence?" I put this to the +test. + +"You appear to be listening for something," I said. + +"Did you bring a dog with you?" he asked. "My uncle, I know, keeps +neither cat nor dog." + +"No," I replied, "I brought no dog." + +"Then I must be mistaken," he said, and he felt his way to the seat he +was in the habit of occupying in Bob's room. The cat lay at his feet. + +I was prepossessed in the young man's favor the moment I set eyes upon +him. He was tall and fair, a true Saxon in feature and complexion. +There was an engaging frankness in his manner, and his bearing was +that of a gentleman. He aroused my curiosity by a habit he had of +closing his eyes when any earnest subject occupied his mind. He closed +them now as he sat upon his chair, and when he opened them he said, in +a singularly gentle voice, "My uncle has told you I am blind, Mr. +Emery?" + +"Yes," I replied; "I sincerely sympathize with you. + +"Thank you. It is a great misfortune; but there are compensations. +There are always compensations, Mr. Emery, even for the worst that can +happen to a man." + +"It is good if one can think so," I remarked. "As a rule men are not +patient when things are not as they wish." + +"It is not only useless to repine," was his reply, "it is foolish, and +morally weak. For, admitting that there is such a principle as divine +justice, we must also admit a divine interposition even in the small +matters of human life. I should not speak so freely if my uncle had +not told me of his early association with you, and of the friendly and +affectionate greeting he received from you after a separation of +nearly forty years. I look upon you already as a friend." + +"I am glad to hear you say so; we will seal the compact." + +I pressed his hand once more, and he responded as I would have wished +him to respond. + +"I knew you would like each other," said Bob. + +"When I closed my eyes just now," resumed Ronald Elsdale, "it was +because of the impression I had that there was some other living +creature in the room beside ourselves." + +Bob and I exchanged glances, and Bob said: + +"We three are the only living creatures within these four walls of +mine." + +"Of course, of course. Mr. Emery said so, and it is not likely he +would deceive me. Blind people, Mr. Emery, are generally very +suspicious; it follows naturally upon their affliction. Seeing +nothing, they doubt much, and are ever in fear that they are being +imposed upon and deceived. I am happy to say this is not the case with +me; where I have not a fixed opinion I generally believe what is told +me." + +A pang of self-reproach shot through me as he spoke. Here was I, in my +very first interview with this frank and ingenuous young gentleman, +deliberately deceiving him. Bob, also, did not seem quite at his ease. +He was playing with his lower lip, always an indication in him of +mental disturbance. + +"You said something just now," I observed, with a wish to change the +subject, "about compensations for misfortune, and I infer that you +have compensations for yours. But it must cause you regret?" + +"It does, but I do not fret, I do not take it to heart; I accept the +inevitable. The proper use of the higher intelligence with which we +are gifted is to reason calmly upon all human and worldly matters +which touch us nearly. Those who can thus reason have cause for +gratitude; and I have cause. Compensations? Yes, I have them. +Difficult to describe, perhaps, because they are spiritual; inspired +by faith or self-delusion, which stern materialists declare are one +and the same thing." + +"Your uncle and I," I said, "were having a discussion upon delusions +when you entered." + +"In continuation"--he turned to Bob; he seemed to know always where +the person he was addressing was standing or sitting--"in continuation +of the discussion we were having this afternoon?" + +"Yes," said Bob, "and we do not quite agree." + +"My uncle is a skeptic," said Ronald, "he does not believe in +miracles." + +"You do?" I inquired. + +"Undoubtedly. It will be a fatal day for the world when faith in +miracles is dead. Do not do my uncle an injustice, Mr. Emery; I never +heard him speak as he spoke this afternoon when we were discussing +this subject, and it almost seemed to me as if he were desirous of +arguing against himself. Do you require absolute visible proof before +you believe?" + +"Not always," I replied, with my eyes on the spectral cat. "I am +forced to believe in some things which are not visible to other eyes +than mine." + +"I do not quite understand you," said Ronald thoughtfully. "It is, at +the best, but a half-hearted admission, and, regarding you in the +light of a friend, as I do Uncle Bob, I would like to break down the +barrier." + +"Try," I said anxiously. + +He was silent for a moment or two, considering. + +"My uncle, this afternoon, in the attempt to support his argument, +brought forward some instances of spectral illusions such as that of a +man who was in the habit of seeing in his drawing room a band of +figures, dressed in green, who entertained him with singular dances; +and he instanced other illusions of a like nature. These are waking +fancies, produced either by a disordered mind or a disordered body; +they are of the same order as dreams. + + + At dead of night imperial Reason sleeps, + And Fancy, with her train, her revel keeps. + + +So by day, when the mind is disturbed by such fancies, does imperial +reason sleep. For my own part I make no attempt to dispute the facts +of these cases. They have been brought forward by physicians in proof +of certain functional and scientific facts, and by wise treatment +suffering mortals have been won from madness. In this respect they +have served a good purpose; but materialists, and persons who now +fashionably call themselves agnostics, seize upon these illustrations +in proof that mortal life is of no more value, and means no more, than +the life of a flower or the growth of a stone, and that when we die we +are blotted out spiritually and materially forever. In their eyes we +are so many pounds of flesh and blood; there is nothing divine, +nothing spiritual in us; we are surrounded by no mystery. 'Miracles!' +they cry. 'Stories for children; fables to tickle, amuse, and delude!' +What we see and feel is, what we do not see and feel is not and cannot +be. If this view were universal what would become of religion? The +high priests of God, under whichever banner they preach, insist upon +our accepting miracles, and they are right in thus insisting. You +laugh at faith and destroy it, and in its destruction you destroy +comfort and consolation; you destroy salvation. God is a miracle. +Because we do not see him are we not to believe in him? Are we not to +believe in the resurrection? Then farewell to the sublime solace that +lies in the immortality of the soul. There is a road to Calvary called +the Via Dolorosa, and there pilgrims kneel and see a miracle in every +stone; there, hearts that are crushed with sorrow tarry, and go away +blessed and comforted for the struggle of years that yet lies before +them." + +His voice was deep and earnest, his handsome face glowed with +enthusiasm. I touched his hand, and a sweet, pathetic smile came to +his lips. + +"Mr. Elsdale," I said, "I thank you from my heart. May I venture to +ask if you believe in spiritual visitations?" + +"Believing what I believe," he replied, "I must believe in them." + +"You have spoken," I continued, "of receiving comfort and consolation +from such belief. Do you think that a man who is not, to his own +knowledge, interested or involved in something which, for the sake of +argument, I will call a crime, may receive a spiritual visitation +which compels him to take an active part in it?" + +"Not in the crime," asked Ronald, "in the discovery of it, I suppose +you mean?" + +"Yes. In the discovery of it." + +"I think," said Ronald, "that a man who is not in any way connected +with it may be made an agent in its discovery." + +We had some further conversation on the subject, and at the expiration +of an hour or so Ronald Elsdale took his departure, and expressed the +hope that we should meet again, to which hope I cordially responded. + +As he stood with his hand on the handle of the door, the cat, which +had risen when he rose, stood at his feet. + +"Are you going with him?" I mentally asked. "You are quite welcome." + +A troubled expression crossed Ronald's face, and he made a motion with +his hand as if to dispel it. Then he left the room, but the cat +remained. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + BOB RELATES TO ME SOME PARTICULARS OF + RONALD ELSDALE'S DELUSION. + + +I listened to the blind gentleman's footsteps as he slowly descended +the stairs, and I asked Bob if he considered it safe to allow his +nephew to go home unaccompanied. + +"Quite safe," replied Bob. "When a man loses the sense of sight he +acquires other senses which have not been precisely defined; he seems +to have eyes at his fingers' ends. And Ronald prefers to be alone." + +"Can you account," I inquired, approaching a subject which I knew was +in Bob's mind, and to which he was unwilling to be the first to refer, +"for his impression that there was another presence in the room beside +ourselves?" + +"I cannot," said Bob curtly; "nor can you." + +"I do not pretend that I can; but it has set me thinking. Would you +object to let me into the secret of the delusion under which he +labors?" + +"There can be no harm in my doing so," he replied, after a pause. "In +a certain way it is a love story, of which I believe Ronald has seen +the end, a belief which is not shared by him. The incidents are few, +and he sets store upon them, as most young men do who have been in +love. It commenced about six years ago, when Ronald, fagged with +overwork, went for a summer ramble on the Continent. He spent a few +days in Paris, and then took the morning train to Geneva. It is a long +travel from Paris to Geneva, and to anyone not cheerfully inclined a +wearisome one. A happy spirit is required to enjoy a dozen hours boxed +up in a railway carriage, but probably this day was to Ronald the +happiest, as it was certainly the most eventful, in his life. For +traveling in that train were a young lady and her father, a widower, I +believe, though upon this point I cannot speak with certainty, nor can +I tell you the gentleman's name, for the reason that Ronald has never +mentioned it to me. The lady's was Beatrice, and that is all I know. +In the course of that eventful day Ronald found opportunity to make +himself of service to the young lady, but his attentions did not +appear to be as agreeable to the father as they were to the daughter. +It could not be doubted that she accepted them very readily, and that +Ronald was as attractive to her as she was to him. From what I have +gathered I should say that it was a case of love at first sight on +both sides. Ronald, as you have seen, is a handsome young fellow, who +would be likely to win favor with ladies all the world over, and at +the time I am speaking of he was not oppressed by the fear of losing +his sight. + +"When they were within a short distance of Geneva he asked Beatrice at +which hotel they were going to put up, and she replied that she did +not know. He inquired of her father, and that gentleman said he had +not made up his mind. + +"'I hope we shall meet again,' said Ronald to Beatrice. 'Where do you +go from Geneva?' + +"'To Chamounix, of course,' she replied. 'I have never been in +Switzerland before. Have you?' + +"'Oh, yes,' he said. And then he described to her some of the most +beautiful spots in Switzerland, and you may be sure that those +beautiful spots were the places he intended to visit, and for which he +had taken a circular ticket. + +"'Perhaps I shall see you in Chamounix,' he said. 'Do you remain long +in Geneva?' + +"She could not inform him, and he had perforce to live on hope; for, +to a fishing inquiry he put to Beatrice's father as to their probable +length of stay in Geneva, the reply he received was that no definite +plan of travel had been laid out. They might remain in Geneva a week +or a fortnight, or they might leave it the next day. Even at this +early stage of his acquaintanceship with Beatrice, Ronald discovered +that her father did not wish to be intruded upon by strangers. It was +dark when the train stopped at the Geneva station, and all Ronald's +offers of assistance with the luggage were refused. However, he had +the satisfaction, when he shook hands with Beatrice and wished her +goodnight, of receiving from her something more than a careless +pressure, and he marched to his hotel with the determination not to +lose sight of her. + +"It was his intention to go to Cluses by rail, and thence by diligence +to Chamounix. 'They will take a carriage, of course,' he thought, 'but +we shall travel on the same day and arrive in Chamounix the same +evening.' + +"I have no doubt that he dreamt of Beatrice that night, and that, in +his fancy, he saw her fair face in the depths of the beautiful lake +the next morning. But that is all he saw of her in Geneva, for though +he made diligent search and most industrious inquiries he could not +discover the hotel at which Beatrice and her father were staying. + +"I know," continued Bob, "that you have formed a favorable opinion of +Ronald, but still you can have no idea of the stability of his +character and of certain traits in it which distinguish him from most +men. Once let an idea take firm possession of him and it is next to +impossible to dislodge it. He dwells upon it, strengthens it by +self-argument, and begets a strong faith in it. He is not easily +discouraged and he seldom gives way to despair; he is, in a word, +extraordinarily tenacious, and he was tenacious in this, the first +serious love affair in his life. As he has expressed it to me, he felt +that fate had brought him and Beatrice together, and that fate would +not separate them. These are comfortable convictions; they rob life of +many small miseries. Thus strengthened and fortified, Ronald continued +his search for Beatrice in Geneva, and was not dashed because of the +non-success that attended it. On the third day he determined to go on +to Chamounix, and if they were not there to wait for their arrival. In +so small a village as Chamounix Beatrice's father could scarcely hope +to conceal his daughter from Ronald's eyes. On he went, and discovered +that he was before them. There is but one road from Cluses to +Chamounix, and from three to six o'clock on the afternoon of every +successive day there was no more indefatigable pedestrian on that road +than Ronald Elsdale. At length his patience was rewarded. An hour +before the diligence was due he saw on the road which crosses the Arve +a carriage, in which were seated Beatrice and her father. He did not +wish to be seen by them so early on their arrival and he stepped out +briskly before them to the Chamounix village. Their carriage drew up +at the Hotel d'Angleterre and in the course of half an hour they left +the hotel for a stroll. The moment they were out of sight he entered +and engaged a room, and maneuvered to have his seat at the dinner +table placed next to theirs. They were greatly surprised to see him, +and I need scarcely say that of the two Beatrice was by far the better +pleased. Such chance meetings, however, as these between tourists on +the Continent are common enough, and, as Ronald is unmistakably a +gentleman, Beatrice's father could not but receive him politely. In +the course of conversation over the dinner table Beatrice informed +Ronald that they intended to remain in Chamounix for at least a week. + +"'We are not quite sure,' said Beatrice's father quickly. + +"'Oh, yes, we are,' said Beatrice. 'It was a binding promise.' + +"He made a grimace, but did not reply. + +"I mention these small matters," said Bob, breaking off here, "so that +you may rightly understand the attitude adopted by the elder gentleman +toward my nephew, and it certainly seems to be not open to doubt that +he did not regard Ronald with a favorable eye. + +"In the course of that week at Chamounix some understanding must have +been arrived at by the young people which caused them to consider +themselves engaged, but I believe there was nothing absolutely +definite between them at the time. Beatrice and her father left +Chamounix for Lucerne, and Ronald followed; but he was as unsuccessful +in his endeavors to find them in Lucerne as he had been in Geneva. He +went from place to place in the hope of meeting them, and it was not +until a fortnight had elapsed that he had the happiness of tracking +them to Como. To make short of a long story, Beatrice's father could +no longer affect ignorance of the feelings which existed between +Ronald and Beatrice, and in a conversation with Ronald he expressed +open disapproval of my nephew's attentions. The only effect this +opposition had upon Ronald was to deepen his love for Beatrice, and it +appeared to be the same with the young lady. In one of the interviews +between the gentlemen, Beatrice's father did not hesitate to declare +that Ronald was following his daughter for her money, which Ronald +indignantly denied, the truth being that he had no idea that Beatrice +was in any way an heiress; and, except that she was a lady, and her +father a gentleman, he was entirely ignorant of their social position. + +"From this point of Ronald's story, what I have to relate must be +conveyed in more general terms. I gather that when the tour was ended +the young people met occasionally and corresponded; and also that +every obstacle that he could devise was placed in their way by +Beatrice's father. Thus passed twelve months or so, at the end of +which time the young lady mysteriously disappeared; and all Ronald's +efforts to trace her were of no avail. It was in the midst of this +trouble that his sight began to fail him, and then it was that he was +assailed by the doubt whether, threatened with blindness, he had any +right to marry. Had it not been for this impending visitation he had +sufficient confidence in his prospects to warrant him in setting up a +home to which he could bring a wife. But now all was changed, and the +best he could hope for was that his exertions would enable him to +support himself and his mother in fair comfort. If he had known how to +communicate with Beatrice he would have explained this frankly to her, +but he did not know where to address her; and consequently Beatrice's +father was thus far master of the situation. As you have seen, Ronald +was not spared the affliction; the most experienced specialists could +do nothing for him; he finally lost his sight, and I am afraid there +is no hope of his regaining it. + +"Misfortunes never come singly, and they did not come singly to +Ronald. About a year after blindness fell upon him he heard that +Beatrice was dead, and that before her death she had been for some +time in London. If her love for him had been lasting and sincere it +was strange that, being in London, she had made no effort to see him +and had not even written to him. There would have been no difficulty +in her doing one or the other, because she was acquainted with his +address; and here comes in one of his delusions. Notwithstanding her +silence he believes that she was faithful to him. Upon this you may +reasonably ask, 'Why, then, did he himself not endeavor to meet +her--why did he discontinue his efforts to ascertain where she was +living?' His answer is that he could not offer her a home, that he +dared not ask her to share his lot, and that it was his duty to set +her free entirely. There is a lack of logic in the method of his +reasoning. By his own action he wishes her to believe herself in no +way bound to him, and at the same time he believes that she is +faithful to the vows they exchanged. Lovers are seldom logical, and my +nephew is no exception to the rule. + +"But this is a trifling delusion in comparison with one I am now about +to mention. + +"Beatrice did not die a natural death. Retiring to rest one night, +apparently in good health, she was found dead in her bed the next +morning. Bear in mind that I do not vouch for the exact correctness of +the particulars I am giving you. Ronald has always been exceedingly +reticent upon the subject, and it is only from chance observations +that have fallen from him that I have gathered and put together what I +am now relating. She met her death by asphyxiation. Putting out the +gas before getting into bed she must have accidentally turned it on +again, for her room was filled with its fumes. In the face of all +this, what will you think of my nephew when I tell you that he is +under the delusion that Beatrice still lives?" + +With the spectral cat in full view of me, I replied: + +"Seeing what I see, I cast no doubt upon any man's delusions. It is +warm here, Bob, let us go on the roof; perhaps this lady here would +like a mouthful of fresh air." + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + A HOUSE ON FIRE. + + +Bob's phantom visitor and my faithful companion had no objection to +the tiles, in which it may have found an endearing memory of old +associations. Bob had fixed a couple of seats to the roof, where we +sat and chatted and smoked, and enjoyed the usual prospect of chimney +pots and attic windows. Sitting upon that height, accompanied by the +spectral cat, reminded me in an odd way of one of Cruikshank's +pictures, and I made an observation to this effect to Bob. + +"It _is_ rather weird," he said, "and especially in this light." + +The sun had set, and in the skies we saw the reflection of the yellow +glare from the shops of crowded neighborhoods. Our conversation was +confined within narrow limits because of the one engrossing subject +which occupied my mind, and as we had pretty well threshed that out, +and there was nothing particularly new to say about it, we fell into +occasional silences, which suited the mood I was in. During one of +these silences I observed what appeared to be an unusual restlessness +in the cat. Instead of sitting quietly at my feet it crept backward +and forward, and at length paused at a little distance from me, with +its face to the west. I described these movements to Bob, and remarked +that it seemed to be expecting something. + +"I wish with all my heart," was his reply, "that we could find some +other subject to talk about than this wretched creature." + +"I wish so, too; but I don't see how it is possible till it bids me +farewell. I no longer possess a will of my own, but am led or driven +as if I were a machine." + +"Keep cool, Ned. I am not going to argue with you any more about the +spiritual existence of your apparition. I accept it, and almost wish +that it were as plain to my eyes as it is to yours. But what I want +you to do, old fellow, while this visitation is upon you, is to keep +cool. For less cause than you have, men have gone mad. That is an +unusual glare in the sky; it can hardly be the reflection of +gaslights." + +He extended his hand to the west--the direction in which the spectral +cat was looking. + +"Do you see any connection," I asked, "between that glare and the +attention which the apparition is bestowing upon it?" + +"No," replied Bob. + +"I do. That is the reflection of a house on fire." + +As the words passed my lips the cat glided up to me, and I could +almost have deluded myself into the belief that it plucked at my +trousers. This, of course, from so unsubstantial and impalpable a +figure could not have been; but it is certain that by its motion it +made me understand that I must not remain idle on the roof of Bob's +house--that there was a fire in the distance, and that I must go to +it. + +I obeyed the voiceless command. + +"Come!" I said to Bob. + +"Where to?" + +"To the fire, in which my spectral friend is taking the greatest +possible interest." + +Bob shrugged his shoulders. "It must be a long way off." + +"We shall find it. Come!" + +There was no excitement in the immediate neighborhood as we walked +along in the direction of the fire, being guided by the glare in the +sky. A few persons turned their eyes upward, and, remarking that there +was a fire somewhere, passed on. Their indifference arose from the +circumstance that they were in no danger; I could not help reflecting +upon the selfishness of human nature which causes men to look unmoved +upon tragedies in which they themselves are not involved. Being +anxious to reach the spot quickly I called a cab, which in half an +hour conveyed us to the corner of Stanmore Street, West. This was as +far as the driver could go, the street being deluged with water, and +blocked with fire engines and firemen. It had been a serious +conflagration while it lasted, but the efforts made by the brigade to +confine it to the house in which it broke out were successful. This +one building, however, was completely gutted, even in that short space +of time, and the enthralling incident in connection with it which was +upon every man's tongue was that a gentleman had perished in the +flames. From the remarks that reached my ears I gathered that the +house had been let out as chambers, and that when the fire arose there +were no other persons in it except the housekeeper and the gentleman +who lived on the first floor. The housekeeper was saved; the gentleman +was burned to death. + +As I stood pondering, Bob at my side, the spectral figure of the cat +at my feet, Bob asked, "Well, Ned, where's the connection?" + +"Wait," I replied, rather irritably. + +A woman, supported by two female friends, passed us. She was crying, +and wringing her hands, and I learned that she was the housekeeper who +had been saved. Instinctively I followed her, and my visible and +invisible companions accompanied me. It was not a difficult matter to +elicit from the housekeeper all the information it was in her power to +impart. The gentleman who had met with so untimely an end was a single +man, with few friends and no relations. + +"I don't think," said the housekeeper, "that he had a brother, or a +sister, or a cousin in the world; leastways, so far as I know, no one +ever came to see him who had any claim upon him. He was a quiet +gentleman, and didn't give no trouble. What do you want to know, sir? +Was he very rich? All I can say is he always paid his way, and always +seemed to have plenty and to spare. His name? Mr. Alfred Warner, sir. +Are you a friend of his?" + +"No," I replied--for it was I who had asked the questions to which she +had replied--"I was not acquainted with him." + +"What name did she say?" asked Bob, in a whisper. + +"Mr. Alfred Warner," I said. + +Bob caught his breath, and said, "That's strange! It is the name of +the gentleman who put into our hands No. 79 Lamb's Terrace." + +"There is the connection, Bob," I said. "What do you say now to the +spectral cat and its having urged us to come to this fire?" + +"What can I say, except that it is most bewildering and mysterious?" + +"Do you think I am still laboring under a delusion?" + +"No, I do not." + +"It was not without a motive," I said, "that I asked your nephew this +evening whether he believed that a man who is not interested in +something which, to make myself fairly clear, I called a crime, might +receive a spiritual visitation which compelled him to take an active +part in its discovery. His reply was that he did believe such a thing +could be. I believe it, too, more than ever now, after this strange +fire; and I believe, also, that there is a crime involved in it, and +that I--whether by design or accident I will not pretend to say--shall +be instrumental in its discovery. My memory does not deceive me, does +it, Bob? You told me yesterday that the gentleman who has met his +death in that fire, Mr. Alfred Warner, when he placed 79 Lamb's +Terrace in your employer's hands to let, did not mention the name of +his last tenant." + +"Yes, I told you so," Bob answered, "and there seemed to be no reason +why we should ask for it." + +"So that it is probable," I continued, "that there is not a +disinterested person in London to whom we could go to obtain the name +of the last tenant." + +"Not that I am aware of," said Bob. + +I looked at my watch. It was ten o'clock. "If we went to your nephew's +house, do you think we should find him up?" + +"Very likely." + +"I am going there, Bob. I have a question to ask him." + +He put no opposition in my way. A kind of stupefaction appeared to +have come over him. We drove to the residence of Ronald Elsdale, and +found him up; his mother had gone to bed. As we entered his room, I +observed again an uneasy expression flash into his face, and I saw his +blind eyes turn toward the spectral cat. + +"Only yourselves?" he inquired. + +I left it to Bob to reply, and he said, "Only ourselves." + +"It is very odd," said Ronald, "but I have the same impression that I +had when I entered my uncle's room this evening, that there is +somebody or something else present. It is useless trying to account +for it." Then he asked, "Is there anything you wish to know?" + +"It is a late hour to visit you," I said; "but I have a reason, which +I cannot at present explain, for asking you where the young lady to +whom you were attached lived when she was in London?" + +He turned his troubled face toward his uncle, who said, "It is not an +idle question, Ronald. I should like you to answer it." + +"She may not have lived there all the time she was in London," said +Ronald; "but I heard where it is supposed she met her death. It was in +the Northwestern district--Lamb's Terrace, No. 79." + +"Thank you," I said. + +We wished him good-night, and left the house. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + I TAKE THE HAUNTED HOUSE. + + +I was too much excited to go home by train, though I knew that my wife +would be waiting up for me. I felt the need of physical motion; the +idea of sitting down in a railway carriage, and being compelled to +keep still because of the people with which at this time of night it +was sure to be filled, was unendurable. The confinement and the close +air would stifle me. The advantage of walking through streets more or +less crowded is that you can be alone if you choose. Every person you +meet or pass is so wrapt up in his own affairs that no notice is taken +of you. You may wave your arms, flourish your stick or umbrella, +mutter to yourself, even talk aloud, without attracting conspicuous +attention. An idle fellow or two might think you eccentric--that is +all. In a railway carriage or an omnibus such license and freedom are +impossible; you cannot shift your seat without drawing all eyes upon +you, in a certain sense you become the property of other passengers, +who would be likely to regard you with alarmed suspicion, and would +probably conclude that you were an escaped lunatic. In such +circumstances you are deprived of the power of devoting yourself to +the one absorbing subject which occupies your mind. + +"I shall walk home," I said to Bob. + +He nodded, as though he understood why at so late an hour I +deliberately inflicted upon myself a good four mile tramp. For a +quarter of that distance we proceeded in silence, and only then did it +occur to me that Bob was coming out of his way. I made an observation +to this effect. + +"If you don't object to my company," he said, "I shall be glad to walk +with you." + +"What do you think of it all?" I asked. + +"I don't know what to think," was his reply. + +"No delusion, eh, Bob?" I said, in a tone of sarcastic triumph. "You +will not hunt up any more cases of spectral illusions to prove that I +am on the road to madness." + +"No, Ned. Don't harp upon my lack of faith; the doubts I entertained +were reasonable doubts after all. It is altogether a most awful +mystery, but I accept it, and place myself at your service. Heaven +only knows if I can be of any assistance to you, but it may be that +even the renewal of our old friendship, and our coming together after +a separation of forty years, are not due to chance. If so, I stand +within the charmed circle." + +"It was not by chance we met, Bob; in the smallest incident that has +occurred in connection with that house--which I can see now with my +mind's eye, dark, silent, spirit-haunted--I perceive the hand of fate. +You _can_ be of service to me." + +"In what way?" + +"I wish to take the house in Lamb's Terrace!" + +A startled exclamation escaped his lips, but he said immediately +afterward, as if in apology, "Yes, Ned, yes." + +"I should say, rather, that I wish to have the refusal for a certain +time of taking it for a term of years. This can be managed, I think, +through you, and the death of your client may make it easier than it +would otherwise have been. Say to your employer that I have not made +up my mind whether it will suit me, and that I want a few weeks for +consideration. Pending my decision, I will pay three months' rent, and +at the expiration of that period, if I do not then take it for a term +of years, it will be open to another tenant. I have no doubt that Mr. +Gascoigne has some sort of provisional power in the matter, and that +he will be glad of the chance there is in my offer of securing a +permanent and responsible tenant. Will you undertake to carry this +through?" + +"Yes." + +"Then you may as well walk all the way home with me, and I will write +a check to-night, which you can give to Mr. Gascoigne in the morning. +There is another thing which I must seriously consider. On the two +occasions to-day when we and your nephew, and this specter of Fate +gliding at my heels, were together, he was troubled by the fancy that +I had brought some creature with me of which we made no mention. Is +this new to you, or has your nephew expressed himself to a like effect +on other occasions?" + +"It is quite new to me. Ronald has never had such a fancy before." + +"The natural conclusion, therefore, is that he was conscious of the +presence of this apparition, without being able to define its nature. +There is here a chain of psychological circumstances which would not +be admissible in a court of law, but which I, with my strange +experiences, cannot but believe to be of supreme importance. I have an +odd impression upon me that the mysterious adventure in which I am +engaged has lasted for some considerable time, whereas scarcely two +days have elapsed since my introduction to beings of another world. I +seem to be familiarized with mysterious incident, and I am so prepared +that I doubt if anything would astonish me. Reflect, Bob, upon the +links of a chain which is dragging me on, and which is not yet +completely formed. Fate directs my steps, through the agency of my +wife, to the office of Mr. Gascoigne; link number one. You, my old +schoolfellow, whom I never thought to meet again, are employed in that +office; link number two. My wife, against my wish, insists upon +looking at a house to let in Lamb's Terrace, which I am certain will +not suit us; link number three. These three links, to perfectly +disinterested observers, would appear to be the result of the merest +chance. We know that it is not so; we know that there is here at work +a supernatural agency, every step in which is directed by an unseen +power. You renew your old friendship with me, and accompany us home, +and there you attempt to dissuade us from having anything to do with +the house in Lamb's Terrace. Your kindly efforts are thrown away; link +number four. You may ask me here how this seemingly trivial incident +can be made into a link. My answer is that you are the uncle of Ronald +Elsdale, and that when we left Mr. Gascoigne's office, had you not +followed us and accepted my invitation to accompany us home, the +natural probability is that I should not at the present moment have +known of the existence of your nephew, who stands now a foremost stone +in this monument of mystery. My wife and I visit the haunted house, +and there we behold two apparitions, only one of which makes itself +visible to her. I perceive two reasons for this. The first is, that +she shall be so horrified by what she sees as to give up all idea of +taking the house, and perhaps of ever going near it again. The second +is, that I am the person appointed to carry this dark mystery to its +as yet unknown end. The apparition of the girl and the cat form link +number five. I visit your house this evening, and make the +acquaintance of Ronald Elsdale; link number six. On this occasion, and +on the occasion of my seeing him again in his own house an hour ago, +he has a troubled consciousness of a spiritual presence--the presence +of the specter now gliding at our feet; link number seven. The eighth +link is fashioned from the circumstance that the young lady whom +Ronald Elsdale loved and loves is said to have met her death in the +house in Lamb's Terrace." + +"You have reasoned all this out," said Bob, "in a most wonderful way." + +"It is not I who reason it out. I am conscious of the extent of my own +natural powers, and it would be impossible for me to bring forward +these links and to logically connect them were I not spiritually +directed. What is occupying my mind just now is the question whether I +ought to take Ronald Elsdale into my confidence without waiting for +further developments?" + +Bob's reply was very humble. "Whatever you decide upon, Ned, will be +right. The fatalist never doubts that the least incident in his life +could have been otherwise than it is." + +"Truly," I said, "I am in the position of a fatalist, and once a step +is decided upon I shall not hesitate to take it, and shall not +question its wisdom. By to-morrow morning the question will be +answered for me." + +My wife opened the street door for us. + +"Why, who would have thought of seeing you, Mr. Millet!" she +exclaimed. "But come in, come in; there's a bit of supper for you. +Now, you two keeping together at this time of night shows what friends +you must have been when you were boys. I hope you've had a pleasant +evening." + +"Rather an exciting one," I said. "We have been at a fire." + +"A fire! Where?" + +"In Stanmore Street; a long way from here." + +"No one hurt, I hope?" + +"An unfortunate gentleman lost his life in the fire. It is rather +curious, Maria, that this gentleman should have been the owner of the +house we looked over in Lamb's Terrace yesterday." + +The news made her grave. "There is nothing but trouble connected with +that dreadful place," she said. "But there, I don't want to think of +it. I'd have given a good deal never to have set foot in it." + +Before Bob left I wrote out the check for Mr. Gascoigne, and when I +went to bed I was kept awake for a long time by thinking whether I +ought to take Ronald Elsdale immediately into my confidence. I fell +asleep with this question in my mind, and when I awoke in the morning +I decided that it would be first advisable that I should ascertain +some particulars of the last tenant, and of the death of the young +lady, Beatrice. It was not an easy task I now set myself, and I felt +that there was little chance of success, if I attempted it unaided. +Desultory inquiries could lead to no satisfactory result, and I +therefore determined to enlist the services of a private inquiry +agent. Casting my mind over the most likely person to assist me, I +recollected that a friend some years ago had need of the services of +such a person, and had employed one Mr. Dickson, with good effect. +Looking through the columns of a morning paper I saw Mr. Dickson's +advertisement; and at eleven o'clock I set out for his office, which +was situated in Arundel Street, Strand. On my doorstep I confronted a +telegraph boy with a telegram for me. It was from Bob, and it ran as +follows: + + + Arranged house, Lamb's Terrace; yours for three months. + + +My interview with Mr. Dickson was soon over. I explained to him what I +wanted done, and he undertook the commission for a specified sum. It +was arranged that he should give me his report in writing, and he +promised to set about the inquiry without delay. + +"Will it lead to anything further?" he asked. + +"It is quite probable," I replied; "but at present this is all I +require of you." + +Two days afterward I received his report. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + A MEAGER REPORT FROM THE INQUIRY AGENT. + + +"Sir: From inquiries I have made I am enabled to give you certain +information respecting the matter you placed in my hands. + +"The uncompleted term of the lease of the house, 79 Lamb's Terrace, +was transferred, about nine years ago (not six or seven as you gave me +to understand), to a gentleman of the name of Nisbet. At the time that +this transfer was made the principal landlord was abroad--I believe in +Australia--and his business affairs were in the hands of a firm of +solicitors whose address I have not taken the trouble to ascertain, as +it does not come within the limit of my instructions. Any information +you wish upon this, or any other points which you did not mention in +our interview, I shall be happy to obtain for you. + +"Mr. Nisbet's family, at the time he entered into possession of 79 +Lamb's Terrace consisted of himself and his stepdaughter Beatrice--he +being her mother's second husband. Beatrice's mother died four months +after her marriage with Mr. Nisbet, and by her will she left the bulk +of her fortune to her daughter, and only a small portion of it to her +husband. He was appointed guardian to Beatrice, and in the event of +her death her fortune was to revert to him. + +"Should you desire to become acquainted with the precise terms and +phraseology of the will, you can do so at Somerset House. + +"The young lady inherited £60,000 invested in consols. From the +interest of this sum Mr. Nisbet was to receive £1000 a year for his +guardianship of his stepdaughter; and £200 per annum was apportioned +to the young lady for pin money. The remaining portion of the interest +was to accumulate until the young lady was twenty-one years of age, +when she was to come into possession of it and the original capital. I +have glanced through the will, and it appears to be carefully and +sensibly worded, and devoid of complications. + +"According to my information, Mr. Nisbet was deeply affected by the +death of his wife, and he sought consolation in foreign travel. The +consequence was that he and his stepdaughter spent much of their time +abroad, and the house in Lamb's Terrace was occupied but a few weeks +every year. About four years ago they returned to London, with the +intention, as I learn, of remaining here some time. + +"Their domestic affairs, however, do not appear to have gone on +smoothly; they had difficulties with servants, and after a while were +left with only one, a young woman who, I should judge, was willing to +make herself generally useful, and was rather more amiable than the +majority of her class; otherwise she would not have remained. Keeping +house under such circumstances presented few attractions, and they +were contemplating taking up their permanent residence on the +Continent when a calamity occurred which frustrated this intention and +broke up the establishment. + +"The young lady, going to bed, turned off the gas in her room, as she +supposed, and went to sleep. + +"Certain conjectures must be taken into account. If she had turned out +the light and taken away her hand at once, there would have been no +escape of gas. Whether, after the light was out, she carelessly or +willfully turned on the tap again, or whether she got up in the night +and did so, cannot be proved at this distance of time, because there +was no witness of the incident with the exception of herself. Next +morning she was found dead in her bed, having been suffocated by the +fumes of the escaped gas. + +"There was an inquest, and the evidence given of the cause of death +was accepted as conclusive. Mr. Nisbet shut up the house in Lamb's +Terrace, and left England. Having no instructions to ascertain where +he is at the present time, I have made no inquiries. + +"By the terms of his wife's will he came into possession of his +stepdaughter's fortune. + +"I inclose a newspaper, containing an account of the inquest, and I +shall be happy to prosecute the inquiry in any further direction you +desire. + + "Yours obediently, + + "James Dickson." + + +Although this report was not so full as I expected it to be, I had no +cause of complaint against Mr. Dickson. He had kept strictly within +the limit of his instructions, which he had taken down in writing from +my lips, and he had lost no time; I had, therefore, reason to be +satisfied with him. I turned my attention to the account of the +inquest. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + WHAT THE INQUEST REVEALED. + + +"An inquest was held yesterday at the Hare and Hounds on the body of +Beatrice Lockyer, a young lady residing with her stepfather at 79 +Lamb's Terrace, who met her death by suffocation. The coroner said +this was a sad case, the deceased being young and apparently in good +health on the night of the occurrence. The facts appeared to be very +simple, and the jury would have little difficulty in arriving at a +verdict. The first witness called was Mr. Nisbet, the deceased's +stepfather, who gave his evidence with manifest distress. + +"'What is your name?' + +"'Oliver Nisbet.' + +"'Profession?' + +"'None. I live on my means.' + +"'What relation do you bear to the deceased?' + +"'She was my stepdaughter.' + +"'Her age?' + +"'Twenty last birthday.' + +"'Is her mother living?' + +"'No, she died four years ago.' + +"'How long were you married?' + +"'A few months only.' + +"'At the time of her mother's death the deceased was sixteen years +old?' + +"'Yes.' + +"'Did her death affect the deceased in any particular way?' + +"'She was deeply grieved at the loss, but apart from this natural +feeling there was no change in her.' + +"'Have you observed any change in her during the last few days or +weeks?' + +"'No; we had had domestic worries with servants, such as happen to +most housekeepers in London, but they had passed away, and as we had +determined to reside abroad we regarded them rather with amusement. We +looked forward to an easier life in a foreign country.' + +"'On the night of your stepdaughter's death, at what hour did she +retire to her room?' + +"'At a little after ten.' + +"'Who was in the house besides yourselves?' + +"'No one.' + +"'You had a servant left. What became of her?' + +"'It was arranged that she should remain in our service on the +Continent, and we sent her on before us.' + +"'Where to?' + +"'To Lucerne. I had taken a châlet in Vitznau, and she was to proceed +there to see to the rooms, and to await our arrival.' + +"'How is it that you and the deceased remained in the house when there +were no servants in it?' + +"'It was against my desire. I wished my daughter to go to a hotel, but +she refused. She said we could manage very well at home. She had an +aversion to English hotels, and was never happy in one. As we were to +leave London the next day, I humored her.' + +"'Can you give us any explanation of the cause of her aversion to our +hotels?' + +"'She was in the habit of saying that they were so different to +Continental hotels--so stiff and formal. But I do not think that was +quite the reason. She was nervously distrustful of herself in the +society of strangers, and was, I regret to say, of a melancholy +disposition.' + +"'Had this been always the case with her?' + +"'From her childhood, her mother used to tell me. For years past I +have endeavored to bring her to a more cheerful frame of mind by +travel and constant change of scene, but I fear my efforts were +wasted.' + +"'Was her mother of a similar disposition?' + +"'Yes. It is a natural inference that it was inherited.' + +"'How did you pass the day before her death?' + +"'We breakfasted together in the morning--a simple breakfast, which +she herself got ready--and then I went into the city to complete the +arrangements for our journey, and to settle my monetary affairs. This +occupied several hours. At six o'clock I returned home, with the +intention of taking her out to dinner; but she had a little dinner +prepared for us, and said she would enjoy it much more than dining +out. After dinner we chatted, and she played upon her zither.' + +"'Cheerful airs?' + +"'No; but she was a very sweet player, and whether her music was sad +or bright, it was a pleasure to listen to it.' + +"'Have you at any time observed a disposition in her to commit +suicide?' + +"'Never; and I never heard her utter a word to indicate that she was +tired of life.' + +"'Was her general health good?' + +"'Yes, fairly good; she suffered a little from headaches, but she has +had no serious illness in my experience of her.' + +"'Describe your movements on the morning of her death.' + +"'I rose at about eight o'clock, and employed an hour in packing my +bags. We were to leave the house for the station at half-past ten. At +nine o'clock I listened, and did not hear her move. I was not +surprised at this, because she was a late riser and frequently +overslept herself. During our travels we have lost trains from this +cause. I went to her room, and knocked and called, and, receiving no +answer, opened the door, and was immediately driven back by the fumes +of gas. Dreading a calamity, I rushed in and threw the window open; +then I saw my dear daughter lying motionless upon her bed. I was +educated in the medical profession, though I do not follow it. I made +a hasty examination of her condition and, fearing the worst, I ran for +Dr. Cooper. He accompanied me back to the house, and confirmed my +fears.' + +"'Her bedroom door was unlocked?' + +"'It was; she would never lock it, being, I think, afraid of fire. It +was hard to reason her out of any of her fancies. I frequently +expostulated with her upon her dislike to fresh air. I tried to induce +her to keep her bedroom window open a little from the top, but I could +not persuade her that it was unhealthy to sleep in a close room.' + +"'That is all the information you can give us?' + +"'I know nothing further.' + +"Dr. Cooper's evidence tallied with that already given. He had been +called to the deceased by Mr. Nisbet, who had come to him in a state +of great agitation, and whom he had accompanied immediately to Lamb's +Terrace, arriving at the house too late to be of any service. The +unfortunate young lady had been dead for hours, and the cause of death +was indisputable. + +"There were no other witness and after a brief summing up a verdict +was returned of death by misadventure." + + +I gathered from the account that the case had excited very little +interest and attention, and was soon over and forgotten. + +This is all I learned from the report of Mr. Dickson and the account +of the inquest. + +The bare facts were clear enough to the ordinary mind, that is to say, +to the mind that had no profound motive to urge it to look beneath the +surface. They were clear enough to me, but not in any sense +satisfactory. It appeared to my judgment that the inquest was hurried +over, that statements had been accepted which should have been the +subject of more searching examination, and that any person deeply +interested in the case would have asked questions which did not seem +to have occurred to coroner and jury. My own experience had led me to +the conclusion that at these hasty inquests many important matters of +detail which might have a vital bearing on the verdict are altogether +overlooked. The coroners have too much to do, too many inquiries to +make in the course of a few hours; the jury, dragged from their +occupations without adequate remuneration, are only anxious to get the +matter over and return to their businesses and homes. There should be +some better method of procedure in these important investigations if +it is desired that justice shall be properly served, and for my part I +was stirred by an uneasy consciousness that in this instance justice +had been hoodwinked. How, indeed, could I have felt differently with +the specter cat lying at my feet, and looking up into my face? + +The silent monitor was an irresistible force. Although the death of +Beatrice Lockyer did not personally concern me, and I had no direct +interest in discovering whether she died by fair means or foul, I was +impelled onward by the conviction that I should never be freed from +this supernatural visitation until the truth was brought to light. + +It was evening when I received and read the report of the inquiry +agent and the account of the inquest, and I had made no appointment to +meet Bob. On the chance of finding him at home, I took the train to +Canonbury, leaving a message with Maria that if he called during my +absence he was to remain till I returned. Accompanied by my spectral +companion, I mounted Bob's staircase, and he, hearing my footsteps, +received me on the landing. + +"I half expected you," he said, casting his eyes downward. + +"It is with me, Bob," I said, answering the look. "Have you seen your +nephew to-day?" + +"No," he replied. "I should not be surprised if he pops in to-night. +You have some news?" + +"Mr. Dickson has sent me certain particulars relating to the death of +the young lady, whose name, as you will see, is Beatrice Lockyer. I +should like to go through them with you, and to hear what strikes you +as having a suspicious bearing on the case." + +I handed him the papers I had brought with me, and he read them +carefully. + +"I doubt," he said, when he had finished, "whether Ronald knows to +this day that Beatrice was not Mr. Nisbet's daughter." + +"Would he not have read the account of the inquest?" I inquired. + +"He could not read it himself; he was blind at the time, recollect; +and I know no one who would have inflicted upon him the pain of making +him acquainted with the sorrowful details. I am convinced that these +published particulars have not come to his knowledge." + +"Point out weak and suspicious points, Bob." + +"She was not his daughter," said Bob. + +"Exactly. And therefore there was no reason why he should have had any +strong affection for her." + +"I suppose," said Bob, "that we had best take the worst view of +anything that suggests itself." + +"I don't intend to soften anything down," I replied. "At present we +are doing no one an injustice, and I am inclined to accept the most +terrible suggestion without shrinking. We need not give it a name, +Bob. If it is in your mind as it is in mine, let it rest there till +the time arrives to proclaim it aloud." + +Bob nodded and said, "There was a large fortune. £60,000 is a tempting +bait." + +"Observe," I remarked, "that at the inquest no allusion is made to the +fact that Mr. Nisbet would so largely benefit by the death of his +stepdaughter." + +"It is singular, Ned. Could it have been willfully suppressed?" + +"If so it was suppressed by only one man--the man who has obtained +possession of the fortune. Who else at the inquest could have known +anything about it? Not the coroner, certainly, or it would have been +mentioned; certainly not the jury, to whom the unfortunate young lady +and her stepfather were absolute strangers. Mr. Nisbet, as it appears +to me, had the game entirely in his hands, and could play it as served +him best. There was no one to question him or his motives, not a soul +to come forward to verify or falsify anything he cared to say. He and +Beatrice were alone together in this great city, cut off, as it were, +from all mankind. There is no mention of the name of a single friend. +On the night of her death only he and she were in the house, in that +lonely, wretched house which my stupid wife had set her heart upon." + +"It must have been in a better state then than it is now." + +"Granted; but there are large grounds attached to the house, and there +was not even a fitful gardener employed to keep it in order, who could +come forward and say, 'I will tell you what I know.'" + +"Are you sure of that, Ned?" asked Bob. + +"Ah! It is a suggestion that must not be lost sight of. There is the +value of talking a thing over in an open way. At all events, no such +man makes his appearance. Now, does it stand to reason that a lady and +gentleman of ample means would willingly bury themselves in such a +place? If the man had been straight minded and right minded, would he +not have insisted on taking a young lady whom he calls his daughter +into more comfortable quarters? He is her guardian, her protector, she +has no one else to depend upon, she has no friend in whom she can +confide. Although, as you say, the house must have been in a better +condition then than it is now, is it at all likely that, without some +sinister motive, Mr. Nisbet should have deliberately selected a +residence in so cheerless a locality? He says she was averse to +society. We have only his word for that. From the little concerning +her which Ronald Elsdale has imparted to you it does not appear that +she was disinclined to make pleasant acquaintances. Why did not her +stepfather give her opportunities of doing so? On the contrary, he +regards with aversion even the slight advances which a gentleman like +Ronald, with everything in his favor, pays her on a legitimate +occasion. Is that in his favor?" + +"It tells against him distinctly." + +"Your nephew describes her as a young lady of singular attractions. +What does such a lady naturally look forward to? Would it not be to +marriage, to a home of her own? But, that accomplished, all chance of +Mr. Nisbet coming into a fortune of £60,000 would be lost? Here we +find the motive spring of his actions. It was for this, probably, that +he married the mother. So dark are the thoughts that keep cropping up +in my mind that I ask myself, 'How did the mother meet her death?'" + +I had worked myself into a state of great excitement, and I was now +restlessly pacing Bob's little room. + +"Even without this evidence," I continued, pointing to the apparition +of the cat, "I should suspect his motives. With such evidence I am +almost ready to condemn him unheard. The arguments I bring forward +seem to me reasonable and conclusive, and so far as lies in my power I +will bring the matter to its rightful issue." + +"I cannot blame you," said Bob, "and, as I have already told you, I +will assist you if I can. The difficulty is, where to commence. You +have no starting point." + +"I have. The house in Lamb's Terrace. I shall put your courage to the +test before I leave you to-night; but I will speak of that presently. +There is another circumstance I wish to refer to with respect to Mr. +Nisbet's evidence at the inquest. He speaks of the one domestic who +remained in their service after the others had left, or had been +discharged." + +"Why do you say discharged?" + +"It has only at this moment occurred to me. Things suggest themselves +as I ventilate the subject which I did not think of at first. We may +be able to find one of these servants who left of their own accord, or +were turned away. Keeping to this one domestic who remained faithful +to them, the probability is that it was an English girl of humble +origin. This being so, it is still more probable that she knew nothing +of foreign countries and foreign travel; and that she could speak no +language but her own." + +"Well?" + +"Mr. Nesbit says he sent her on to Lucerne before the day on which he +intended to start with Beatrice, and that she was to proceed to +Vitznau from Lucerne to attend to the rooms he had taken there. Was +that not a curious thing to do, and was it likely that an ignorant +London domestic could be expected to reach the place without mishap." + +"It was a strange proceeding." + +"It is more than strange. If we could lay hands upon that girl we +might learn something useful. If we can find her people----" I paused; +there were footsteps on the stairs, and I knew, from the care that was +being taken in ascending, that it was Ronald Elsdale who was coming +up. I opened the door for him, and gave him good-evening. I observed +again the look of discomposure on his face as he entered the room; +again I saw him turn his eyes downward to the spot upon which the cat +was lying. He made no reference, however, to the fancy which oppressed +him, but brushed his hand across his forehead, as he had done before. + +"I am glad you are here, Mr. Emery," he said. "I wished to ask you +something. Why did you want to know where the young lady lived whom, +but for my blindness, I should have asked to be my wife?" + +I paused a moment before I spoke. I felt that the time had not arrived +to take him fully into my confidence. + +"I beg you will not press me," I said; "I had a reason, but I cannot +disclose it at present." + +"You will some day?" + +"Yes, I promise you." + +"Thank you. I have been thinking of it a great deal, and I felt that +you did not ask the question out of idle curiosity." + +"I did not. And now, if you will deal more generously to me than it +may appear I am dealing to you, I should like to ask another question +or two concerning her--if," I added, "the subject is not too painful +to you." + +He turned to his uncle, who said, "Yes, answer the questions, Ronald." + +"I will do so freely," he said. + +"I assure you," I commenced, "that I am impelled by a strong and +earnest motive, and that before long you shall know all that is +passing in my mind. When you met her on the Continent, did she give +you the impression that she was of a morbid or melancholy +temperament?" + +"Not at all. She was always cheerful and animated." + +"Was she averse to society? Did she show that it was distasteful to +her?" + +"Oh, no. With modesty and discretion she seemed glad to converse with +people whose manners were agreeable and becoming." + +"She had a favorite instrument, had she not, upon which she was fond +of playing?" + +"You seem to know a great deal about her, Mr. Emery. Her favorite +instrument was the zither." + +"Have you heard her play upon it?" + +"Yes, and her touch was sweet and beautiful." + +"Would you say that her inclination was to play sorrowful or somber +airs?" + +"By no means. The zither does not lend itself to boisterous music, +there is a tenderness in the instrument which goes to the heart. Her +taste lay in the direction of sweetness; but there was nothing +sorrowful or somber in her playing." + +These questions answered, I succeeded in changing the subject of +conversation, and Ronald stopped with us an hour, and then took his +departure, saying before he left, "I rely on your promise, Mr. Emery." + +When he was gone I said to Bob, "False in one thing, false in all. Mr. +Nisbet's evidence at the inquest was a tissue of fabrications. Now, +Bob, I am going to put you to the test. The house in Lamb's Terrace is +mine for three months. Will you spend a night or two with me there?" + +He looked up, rather startled at the proposition; but any uneasiness +he may have felt passed away almost immediately. + +"Yes," he replied. "When?" + +"Not to-morrow night. It would not be fair. You have to get to the +office on the following morning, and a night of unrest may interfere +with your duties. Your Sundays are free. Let us fix Saturday night." + +"Very well, Ned. What explanation will you give to your wife?" + +"I shall exercise a pardonable deceit upon her. On Saturday afternoon +you and I will be supposed to be going to Brighton for a blow. She +will raise no objection and we may depend upon her not disturbing us. +Untold gold would not tempt her into that house again." + +"I will join you," said Bob, in a serious tone. "I should not like you +to be alone there." + +So it was arranged, and I bade him good-night. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + IN 79 LAMB'S TERRACE. + + +As I supposed, my wife was entirely agreeable to the seaside +excursion, and professed herself delighted at the idea. + +"You should go about more," she said. "Too much moping at home is bad +for a man. We don't notice the changes that take place in ourselves, +but others do." + +"You have noticed some change in me?" I asked. + +"I have. You are not half the man you used to be; your good spirits +seem to have quite deserted you, and you keep looking about you in a +most suspicious way." + +"Tell me, Maria, in what particular way?" + +"Well, as if you were afraid somebody was going to pick your pocket, +or as if you fancied you had a shadow for a companion. My opinion is +that you have not got over that unfortunate visit we paid to the house +in Lamb's Terrace." + +"Have you got over it?" + +"No, and never shall. I can't keep my thoughts away from the place, +and I often feel as if something was dragging me to the house again, +though a second visit would be the death of me." + +"Never be tempted, Maria; don't go near the neighborhood. We both need +change of scene to clear the cobwebs away. When I come back from +Brighton you shall run off to the seaside for a day or two; you can +easily get a lady friend to keep you company, especially if I pay all +the expenses." + +"Why should we not go together?" + +"Because in each other's society we should brood over the frightful +adventure we had. Change of company, Maria, as well as change of +scene; that is what will do us good." + +This conversation proved that my wife had not succeeded in forgetting +the adventure, and had only refrained from speaking of it out of +consideration for me. Her confession that she sometimes felt as if she +was being dragged to the house against her will rather alarmed me, and +I determined to adopt some means to send her from London for longer +than a day or two. It would be beneficial to her, and would leave me +free to act. + +Before the hour arrived upon which Bob and I were to set out upon our +pretended holiday, I paid a second visit to the inquiry agent, Mr. +Dickson, and commissioned him to ascertain for me: + +First. The name of the servant girl who was sent to Switzerland by Mr. +Nisbet; where her family lived; when she returned from the Continent. + +Second. The names and residences of the other servants in Mr. Nisbet's +employ who had discharged themselves. + +Third. Where Miss Beatrice Lockyer was buried. + +Fourth. Any particulars he could gather relating to the death of Miss +Beatrice's mother. + +Fifth. Where Mr. Nisbet was living at the present time. + +Mr. Dickson informed me that these inquiries could scarcely be +answered in less than a couple of weeks, and I left them in his hands, +requesting him to use expedition. + +Contrary to my expectation I received a letter from him on Saturday +morning, in which he informed me that he was enabled to give me +imperfect answers to three of my questions. + +First. The name of the servant girl who was sent to Switzerland was +Molly Brand. She had no parents, and the people she lived with when +she entered Mr. Nisbet's service had emigrated. At that time she had a +little sister dependent upon her, a child of some six years of age. +This child had presumably been taken by Molly's friends to Australia, +but upon this point, and upon the point of the child's age, he could +not speak with any certainty. He had not yet succeeded in obtaining +any traces of Molly from the time of her departure from London, and +could not therefore say whether she had returned or where she was. + +Second. From what he could gather Mr. Nisbet had had no other servants +in his employ. + +Third. The young lady was not buried. She was cremated at Woking. + +To these scanty particulars was attached a memorandum to the effect +that he was cramped by a limit I had mentioned as to the amount of the +expenses to be incurred in his investigation. It was a measure of +prudence I had adopted, for I was not inclined to give him quite a +free hand, but it seemed to be fated that my desires to reach the +heart of the mystery should be continually baffled by meeting with +closed doors, and I now determined to be more liberal in my +instructions. I wrote to Mr. Dickson to this effect, inwardly +marveling as I wrote the letter that, in a matter in which I did not +appear to be in any way personally interested, I should be impelled +into a reckless course of expenditure. But, casting my eyes downward, +I saw the phantom cat at my feet, and I felt that I should not be +released from this frightful companion until my task was completed. + +"Rest content," I said to the specter; "I will pursue it to the end." + +There was no sign, no movement from it. Waiting for the development of +events, it was ever on the watch. If, like Poe's raven, it had uttered +but a word, it would have been a relief to me, for nothing could +intensify the terror of the dread silence it preserved. There was +within me a conviction that a moment would arrive when it would take +some action toward the unraveling of the mystery, but in what shape +this action would display itself was to me unfathomable. + +At one o'clock Bob called for me, and I bade Maria good-by. + +"Now, mind you enjoy yourselves," she said; "and take good care of +him, Mr. Millet." + +"I will do that," said Bob, rather guiltily. + +He was not an adept in deception, but my wife had no suspicion that we +were deceiving her, and we took our departure in peace, each of us +provided with a Gladstone bag, Bob's being the bulkier of the two. In +mine my wife had placed, in addition to toilet necessaries, two flat +bottles, one containing brandy, the other port wine, and the usual +packet of sandwiches which the middle-class feminine mind deems a +positive essential for a railway journey. Bob had also provided +himself with food and liquids, and thus furnished we started upon our +expedition. + +On our road we discussed the information I had received from Mr. +Dickson, each item of which strengthened our suspicion of foul play. +The strongest feature in confirmation of this suspicion was the +cremation of the body of the unfortunate young lady. We would not for +one moment admit that Mr. Nisbet was an enthusiast on the subject of +cremation, but accepted the course he had adopted as damning evidence +against him. I mention it to show to what lengths the prejudiced mind +will go in arriving at a conclusion upon an open matter; but, apart +from this consideration, we certainly had ample reason for the strong +feelings we entertained. A hasty inquest held by incompetent persons, +the acceptance of conclusive statements from the party most interested +in the young lady's death, the falsehoods of which he already stood +convicted, and other falsehoods which I had little doubt would be in a +short time discovered, pointed one and all to a miscarriage of +justice. Bob no longer disputed the conclusions at which I arrived, +but accepted them with gloomy avidity. + +Needless to say that we did not set out upon our expedition without +the society of my spectral familiar, and that we were both in a state +of nervous excitement as to what would occur. Bob had never been in +the neighborhood of Lamb's Terrace, and its desolate appearance +surprised him. Dismal and forlorn as was its aspect on the occasion of +my first introduction to the region, it was still more so now. This +sharpened accentuation of its desolate condition was probably caused +by the knowledge I had since gained, and by the vagaries of our +beautiful London climate. When we stated from home there was the +promise of a tolerably fine day, but during the last half hour the sky +had become overcast and dreary mists were gathering. + +"Cheerful, isn't it, Bob?" I said. + +"Do you mean to tell me," was his response, "that having come so far +on your first visit, your wife did not immediately abandon the idea of +taking a house in such a locality?" + +"Whatever may have been in her mind," I replied, "she certainly +insisted upon finding the house and going over it. It was offered to +us at half the value of a house of such dimensions, and did you ever +know a woman sufficiently strong minded to resist a bargain? I do not +believe she would have had the courage to complete the arrangement, +but she went quite far enough." + +We turned down the narrow lane and skirted the dilapidated wall till +we arrived at our destination. As we walked through the front garden +entrance, choked up with its weeds and rank grass, and ascended the +flight of steps, I asked Bob how he felt. + +"It is impossible not to feel depressed," he answered; "but you will +not find me fail you, Ned. We will go through what we have +undertaken." + +"Well said. We shall get along all right till Monday morning. There +was a little furniture in one or two of the rooms, and I do not +suppose it has been removed. When my wife was here we only examined +the front room on the second floor; the rooms I have not seen may be +habitable. I expect we shall have to go out and buy some necessaries. +What have you got in your bag?" + +"You shall see presently." + +The cat entered the house with us, but it did not remain with us in +the lobby. I saw it pass down to the basement, and it gave no sign of +expectation that I should accompany it. + +"That's a comfort," I remarked. + +I had to explain my meaning to Bob, and he seemed to regard the +departure as a significant commencement of our enterprise. We did not +follow our spectral companion to the basement, but proceeded upstairs +to the apartments I had already seen. In all, with the exception of +the front room on the second floor, in which I had rang the bell which +summoned the apparitions, there was some furniture left, and Bob +expressed his astonishment that it had not been removed or sold by the +last tenant. + +"It would have been a simple matter," he said, "to call in a broker, +who would very soon have cleared the house of every stick in it." + +"He must have had his reasons," I observed. "Perhaps his coming into +possession of a large fortune made him careless of these trifles." + +"They are not exactly trifles," said Bob, who was better able than I +to speak on the subject. "A broker would give at least fifty pounds +for what is on this floor. The wonder is that the place has not been +robbed." + +We had not yet reached the second floor, and we now ascended to the +room in which my wife and I had met with our appalling experience. +Before entering it we examined the back rooms, and in one, a bedroom, +we found two beds, which we determined to occupy for the night. Bob, +having lived a bachelor life for many years, now showed his handiness. +He examined the stove, to see that the register was up, and then he +opened his Gladstone bag, the contents of which surprised me. He +produced first a bundle of wood, then a remarkable case which +contained within its exceedingly limited space a kettle with a folding +handle, a gridiron, two tin pannikins, knives, forks, and spoons, and +a spirit lamp, fitting in each other. + +"Bravo, Bob," I said; "living alone has taught you something." + +He smiled, and proceeded to further surprise me, fishing out a loaf of +bread, tea, sugar, a tin of condensed milk, sausages, salt, pepper, a +revolver, a pack of cards, and a Bible--a motley collection of +articles. + +"A bachelor's _multum in parvo_," he said, adding, as he touched the +revolver, "wouldn't be bad for the bush. We are short of two things, +coal and water. But look here--we are in luck. A scuttle nearly full. +There will be no water in the house fit to drink. We shall have to go +and market, but there will not be so much to get in as I expected." + +With the manner of a man accustomed to attend to his wants he knelt +down and burned some paper and wood in the grate, and the draught +being all right, laid the fire, but did not set light to it. Rising, +he expressed a wish to see the front room. + +It was, as before, quite bare and empty, and Bob said it looked as if +it had not been furnished. The bell ropes were there, one broken, the +other in a workable condition. I laid my hand on the unbroken cord, +and cast an inquiring glance at Bob. + +"Yes," he said, "pull it." + +He threw the door wide open, and stood with his back to it, to prevent +its closing. He held his revolver in his hand, his finger on the +trigger. I gave the rope a smart tug, and, as on the previous eventful +occasion, it was followed by the jangle of a host of discordant bells. +The sounds died away in a low wail, and we waited in silent +apprehension. But this time there was no response to the call; it was +answered only by a dead silence. The feeling of relief I experienced +was shared by Bob, though, curiously enough, there was an expression +of disappointment in his face. + +"Of course it is better as it is," he said, "but I expected something +very different. Where is your apparition, Ned?" + +"I cannot tell you. Thank Heaven, it is not in sight!" + +"Perhaps this is an end of the matter." + +"You are wrong, Bob; there is more to come before we finally leave the +house." + +"We will wait for it, then," he said, and I saw that he was beginning +again to believe that I had been under the spell of a delusion. "And +now, as we have determined to remain here two nights, we had best go +and get in the things we want to make us comfortable. I will empty my +bag to carry back what we purchase, and if what we leave behind us is +carried away we shall know that human, and not supernatural, agency is +at work. Come along, old fellow." + +We left the house and no spectral apparition accompanied us. Bob's +spirits rose, and I confess that I myself was somewhat shaken by the +desertion of my familiar. + +We had to go some distance before arriving at a line of shops, and not +wishing to attract attention I purposely selected those which lay +apart from the principal thoroughfares. Our principal difficulty was +water, and this we carried back with us in a zinc bucket I purchased. +The shopkeeper stared at us when I asked him to fill it, but he did +not refuse, and, furnished with all we required, we returned to Lamb's +Terrace, and ascended to the room we intended to occupy for the night. +By this time it was dark, and we lit the fire and saw to the beds. +Then we prepared a meal, and were fairly jolly over it. Every few +minutes one of us went into the passage and listened, but we were not +disturbed by any sounds from below or above. It had been my intention +to search the various rooms for some chance clew relating to the last +tenant, but it was too late and dark to carry it out; I therefore +postponed it till the morning. Bob proposed a game of cards, and we +sat down to cribbage, which we played till ten o'clock. Under such +circumstances it was rather a lugubrious amusement, but it was better +than doing nothing. After the game we drank hot brandy and water out +of the pannikins, and prepared for bed. The lock of the door was in +workable order, and for a wonder the key was there. We turned it, +undressed, put out the light, and wished each other goodnight. + +"If your good wife had the slightest suspicion of our proceedings," +said Bob drowsily, "she would never forgive me. I have an odd Robinson +Crusoe-ish feeling upon me, as though the civilized world were +thousands of miles away." + +I answered him briefly, and soon heard him breathing deeply. For my +part I could not get to sleep so easily. For a long time I lay awake, +closing my eyes only to open them and gaze upon the monstrous, uncouth +shadows which the dying fire threw upon the walls and ceiling. At +length, however, I closed my eyes and did not open them again till, as +I judged from the circumstance of the fire being quite out, some hours +had passed. It was not a natural awakening; I was aroused by the sound +of something moving in the lower part of the house. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + BARBARA. + + +I sat up in bed, and quickly lit a candle. Bob was sleeping soundly, +and I saw nothing in the room to alarm me; I was quite prepared to +greet once more the apparition of my faithful companion, but as the +cat was not in sight I inferred that it was contented with its +quarters in the basement. On a small table by Bob's side lay his +revolver, ready to his hand, and even in this moment of apprehension +I smiled at the idea of my friend--the most humane man in the +world--possessing so murderous an instrument. I was thankful, however, +that he had brought it; powerless as it would be against spectral foes +it inspired me with confidence. I slid from my bed, seized the pistol, +stepped to the door and listened. My movements aroused Bob, as I +intended they should, and he jumped up. + +"Who's there?" he cried, clapping his hand on the table. "What's the +matter?" + +"Hush," I said, "make no noise. Your pistol's all right; I've got it. +Slip on your clothes, and come and keep watch while I get into mine. +There's someone--or something--downstairs." + +He was soon ready and he took his station by the door while I dressed +myself. + +"I don't hear anything," he said, when I joined him. + +"All is quiet just now, Bob, but I was not mistaken. I am positive I +heard it." + +"What was it like?" + +"Like somebody moving softly about, wishing not to be heard." + +"Rats or mice, perhaps. I shouldn't wonder if the lower part of the +house is full of them." + +I caught his arm. "Listen, Bob." + +With our ears close to the door, we both caught the sound of a +stealthy movement below. + +"There it is," he whispered, and I felt his arm tremble in my grasp. A +moment afterward he said, "We are trapped." + +"Don't lose your nerve," I responded, in as cheerful a tone as I could +command; "we must see it through, now we are here. I am sorry I +brought you, Bob; the next time I come, I will come alone." + +"Indeed you shall not, Ned," he replied, "and I am ashamed of my +weakness. I was prepared for something of the sort, and here am I +showing the white feather. I am all right now, old fellow." + +"Bravo! Take your pistol; I brought a weapon with me." + +It was a thick flat strip of iron, tapered at one end, which I used at +home to open cases, and which, unknown to my wife, I had secreted +about me. Bob nodded as I produced it. + +"A formidable weapon," he said, "but useless against apparitions; we +may have more formidable foes to contend with, however, and it is as +well to be provided. It would be foolhardy to leave the room. We +should have to carry a candle, and it might be dashed from our hands; +the darkness would be horrible. We are safer where we are." + +"We will not go out yet, Bob. The sound has ceased. Take a nip of +brandy, and give me one." + +This dialogue was carried on at intervals. We paused in the middle of +sentences, and finished them as though it was our customary method of +pursuing a conversation. In the fever of our senses we lost sight of +the natural order of things, and the shadows created by the flickering +light appeared to be in harmony with the position in which we were +placed. The silence--as dread in its mysterious possibilities as +threatening sounds would have been--continuing, Bob rekindled the +fire, and we remained quiescent for an hour and more. Bob looked at +his watch. + +"It is past two, Ned." + +"Yes. I have been thinking over what is best to be done." + +"Have you decided?" + +"I have, but I hardly like to propose it to you." + +"I am ready for anything," he said, divining my wish. "Every moment +that we are shut up here grows more oppressive." + +"My feeling. We are fairly strong men, and are well armed. Have you +the courage to explore the house with me?" + +He straightened himself and replied, "Let us set about it at once." + +We adopted every reasonable precaution. We each carried a candle, and +held pistol and iron bar in our right hands, firmly resolved to use +them promptly in case we were attacked. Throwing open the door we +stepped into the passage. + +So far as we could judge from the evidence of our senses, there was +not a movement in the house which did not proceed from ourselves. +Slowly and cautiously I led the way downstairs, and when we reached +the hall I unlocked the street door and left it ajar, thus affording a +readier means of escape should the need for flight present itself. In +our progress we entered and examined every room on the three floors, +and saw no spiritual or material foe. Then we descended to the +basement. + +As I touched the handle of the kitchen door I fancied I heard a faint +sound, and looking at Bob I gathered from the expression on his face +that he also was impressed by a similar fancy. + +"What do you think it is?" I asked in a whisper. + +"It sounds like soft breathing," he replied, in a voice as low as my +own. + +We paused a while, and then, receiving from Bob a silent approval, I +gently pushed the door and we entered. We had not been beguiled by our +fancies. In the extreme corner of the kitchen we observed a huddled +heap of clothes and coverings, from beneath which issued the low +breathing of a person asleep. Treading very softly we drew near to the +spot, and to our astonishment beheld--no form of ruffian or +bloodthirsty marauder, but the form of a child, deep in slumber. + +It was a girl whose age appeared to be eleven or twelve. She was +undressed, and was lying upon some strips of old carpet; other strips +of old carpet and the clothes she had taken off comprised her bed +coverings. Her face was not clean, but there dwelt upon it, even in +her sleep, a pathetic expression of want and suffering. There was a +loneliness and helplessness in the figure of this young child +slumbering unprotected in such a place which stirred me to pity. Her +tangled hair lay loose across her face, and her eyelids were swollen, +as if she had been weeping before the angel of sleep brought ease and +oblivion to her troubled heart; one little naked arm had released +itself from its wrappings, and lay exposed; it was thin, and sharp, +and pointed, and the tale of woe it told accentuated the pity I felt +for the child. + +Bob put his pistol in his pocket, and I buttoned my coat over my +weapon. + +"Nothing to scare us here," he said. + +"No, indeed," I replied. "See, Bob--there are three boxes of matches +which look as if they have been carried in her little hands for hours. +She has been trying to sell them, perhaps, to get a bit of supper. +Poor soul! What brings her to this dismal, haunted hole?" + +"No other roof to cover her," suggested Bob. + +So engrossed had I been in the contemplation of the pathetic figure +that I had not noticed another figure crouching close to it. It was +the apparition of the skeleton cat, seemingly keeping guard over the +child. The moment my eyes fell upon it Bob knew from my startled +movement what it was I beheld. + +"It is there, Ned," he said quietly. + +"Yes, it is there, and this child has some connection with the mystery +which hangs over this house." + +He did not dispute with me. The hour, the scene, and all that had +passed, were favorable to my opinion, and he accepted it without +question or remonstrance. The presence of the apparition, although it +was not evident to his senses, disturbed him more than it disturbed +me. I was by this time accustomed to it, and the feeling of horror +with which it had at first inspired me was now replaced by a feeling +of agitated curiosity as to the issue of the mission upon which I was +convinced we were both engaged. There was not the slightest doubt in +my mind that its presence by the side of the sleeping child, in +conjunction with our discovery of the child herself, was an indication +that I had advanced another step toward the unraveling of the mystery. + +The latter part of our conversation had been carried on in our natural +voices, our desire being to arouse the child from her slumbers. As, +however, she still slept on, I knelt by her side and laid my hand upon +her shoulder. Even then she did not awake, and it was not till I had +shaken her--which I need scarcely say I did with a gentle hand--that +she opened her eyes. With a terrified scream she started up, and then +she plunged down again, and hiding her face in her clothes, began to +shake and sob. + +"We are not going to hurt you, my child," I said. "We are your +friends. You have nothing to fear from us." + +"I aint got no friends," she sobbed, "and I aint done no 'arm. Oh, +please, please, let me go away!" + +"Where to?" I asked. + +"I don't know, I don't know," she sobbed. "Please don't do nothink to +me, and let me go away." + +"You shall go away if you like," I said, to soothe her, "but you must +dress yourself first, you know." + +"I will this minute, sir, if you'll only let me alone. Oh, my! oh, my! +What shall I do, what shall I do?" + +"You shall be let alone--you shall do exactly what you want to do. +Only believe, my child, that we are really your friends and that we +want to help you. You went to bed hungry, did you not?" + +"Yes, I did, sir. I 'ad three boxes of matches, and I couldn't sell +'em, though I tried ever so. I've been all day at it, and nobody'd buy +a box or give me a ha'penny." + +"Been all day at it," I said, the tears starting to my eyes at the +infinite pathos in the girl's voice; "you have been hungry all day?" + +"Yes, sir, I 'ave," she answered plaintively. "I'm used to it. A boy +give me a bit of bread this morning, and nothink else 'as passed my +mouth all the blessed day." + +"He was a good boy to be so kind to you." I turned to Bob. "Would you +mind going upstairs alone, Bob, and bringing down some bread and +butter and sausage. Then the little girl will believe that we wish to +be as good to her as the boy was this morning." + +Bob did not hesitate. All his fears had vanished, and he hastened from +the kitchen, and soon returned with food and a cup of cold tea. +Meanwhile I continued to speak to the child in my kindest tones, and +she mustered courage to peep at me two or three times, and each time, +I was pleased to observe, with renewed confidence. Once she asked why +I had asked the gentleman if he wouldn't mind going upstairs alone, +and I replied that my friend was rather timid because the house was so +lonely. + +"It is, sir," she said upon this; "it's awful!" + +"In what way, my dear?" I inquired, but she closed her lips, firmly, +and did not answer. I did not urge her, deeming it prudent not to +press her until her confidence in us was completely won. + +"Now, my dear," I said upon Bob's return, "sit up and eat this. The +tea is cold, but we will give you a cup of hot tea presently if you +care to have it. And see--I will buy your matches of you. Here is +sixpence for them." + +Her eyes, with wonder in them, were raised to mine, and her hot +fingers closed over the coin, as she tremblingly sat up in her +wretched bed, and wiped her tears away with her naked arm. + +"Thank yer, sir," she murmured, and she began to eat and drink. Never +in my life have I beheld a human being devour food so eagerly and +ravenously, and she made no pause till she had drained the cup and +disposed of every crumb. + +"Do you feel better?" I asked, with a smiling nod at her. + +"Ever so much, sir; thank yer kindly," she said humbly and gratefully. +"I'm good for another day." + +"And for many more after that," I said. "I dare say we shall be able +to do something for you if you are a good girl." + +"I aint bad, sir," she said, with an imploring look; "don't believe +that I am. I never forgit what Molly sed----" she stopped with a +sudden gasp. "You aint come from 'er, 'ave yer, sir?" + +"From Molly, my dear? No, we have not come from her. Who is Molly?" + +"My sister, sir," she replied with a sigh; "the only one, I aint got +no other brothers or sisters." + +"You have a mother and father, my dear?" + +"No, sir, there was only Molly and me." + +"Some relatives, surely?" + +"No, sir, not as I knows on." + +"Have you no home, my dear?" + +"No, sir, 'xcept this, unless you turn me out of it." + +"If we do turn you out of it, my child, it will be to put you in a +better one." + +"Don't, sir; oh, please don't!" she cried. + +"Not put you in a more comfortable home, my dear?" I asked in +surprise. + +"I don't want a more comfortable one, sir, till Molly comes back. If +she don't find me 'ere, where's she to look for me, and 'ow am I to +know? I 'ope you won't turn me away; I do 'ope it, sir!" + +"There, there, my dear," I said, "you need not distress yourself. +Depend upon it we will do nothing that you do not wish done, and that +is not for your good. We will see about it all presently. Where is +your sister?" + +"That's wot I want to know, sir; that's wot I want to find out. Oh, +wot wouldn't I give if I knew where Molly was!" + +There was pregnant matter here for me to think about. The child did +not want to find another home till her sister came back. Came back +where? To this Heaven-forsaken house. It was here that Molly would +come to look for the poor little waif. The conclusion was that Molly +knew something of the house, was familiar with it, else she would not +expect to find her young sister in it. Was it a reasonable conclusion +that she knew something of the last tenant, and could give me some +information concerning him? I did not pursue the subject with the +little girl in this direction, deeming it best to await a more +advantageous opportunity for learning what I desired to know. + +"What was it Molly said to you that you will never forget?" I asked. + +"She said, Molly did, 'Look 'ere, Barbara, mind you're good, and mind +you allus keep good. If you don't you shan't be no sister of mine.' +That's wot I won't forgit as long as ever I live. But O Molly, Molly, +why don't you come back? Why don't you come back!" + +The imploring earnestness of this appeal powerfully affected me, and I +gazed pitifully at poor Barbara, from whose eyes the tears were +streaming. That when she put her hands up to her eyes, she should keep +her little fist tightly clenched, touched me to the heart; the little +silver piece was her shield against hunger, for a few hours at least, +and she clung to it instinctively through all her grief. I waited till +she was calmer before I said: + +"Dress yourself quickly, Barbara, and come upstairs with us. There's a +nice fire there, and I want to talk to you about Molly. We will try +and find her for you, and you shall not be hungry again. Will you +trust me?" + +"Yes, sir, I will; no one could speak kinder, and you're not the sort +of gentleman to take me in. Perhaps you won't mind telling me 'ow long +you've been 'ere. I didn't know there was anybody in the house but +me." + +"We came only a few hours ago, Barbara," I answered, "and I have been +here but once before." + +"Wot did you come the first time for, sir?" + +"The house is to let, and I thought of taking it." + +"To live in, sir?" + +"Yes, to live in." + +"But you're never going to, sir?" + +"No, I am not going to." + +"I should say yer wouldn't," she muttered. "Who would, I'd like to +know? What did you come for this time, sir?" + +"I will tell you more when you're dressed," I said. "It will be warmer +and nicer upstairs. Be as quick as you can." + +Bob and I went out of the kitchen while Barbara put on her ragged +garments, in which she looked a truly miserable object; Bob patted her +cheek, and I took her hand and led her upstairs, the cat following at +our heels. I noticed that she kept her eyes closed most of the time, +and that when she lifted her lids she did so timorously and +apprehensively, but I refrained at present from asking her the reason +of this. It was only when we were in the room which we had selected +for our sleeping apartment that she opened her eyes and kept them +open. + +"Now, Barbara," I said, putting a chair by the fireside for her, "sit +down there, and warm yourself; then we will talk." + +She sat down obediently, and spread out her thin hands to the +comforting flame, and with a kind of wonder watched Bob as he put the +kettle on and prepared to make the tea. He poured out a cup, and put +in milk and sugar liberally, and gave it to her. She thanked him and +drank it, saying when the cup was empty, "That's good, sir." + +"Are you ready to talk, Barbara?" I asked. + +"Yes, if you please, sir." + +"I am going to ask you a good many questions, and perhaps they'll lead +to good." + +"I'll answer all I can, sir." + +"So you sleep in this house regularly, Barbara?" + +"Yes, sir; I aint got no other place. Where else'd I go to, I'd like +to know?" + +"How long have you lived here?" + +"I can't tell you that, sir; it must be years and years." + +"Since the house has been untenanted, perhaps?" + +"Unwhat, sir?" + +"I mean, Barbara, since it has been empty?" + +"I dessay, sir. I know one thing--it was three weeks to a day after +Molly went away that I first come 'ere, and I've 'ardly missed a night +all the time. There was twice I couldn't git in for the snow, and I +was 'most perished. When I did git in I was that numbed and froze that +I could 'ardly move, but I knew I was done for if I didn't stir my +pegs, so I put some sticks on the 'earthstone and set fire to 'em, and +little by little I got thawed. It was touch and go with me then, sir, +but I managed to dodge 'em that time. I don't know as I'd 'ave cared +much one way or the other if it 'adn't been for Molly. Once there wos +a gal she knew that throwed 'erself in the water, and she sed to me, +sed Molly, 'It wos a wicked thing to do, Barbara,' she sed. 'There's +'eaven,' sed Molly, 'and there's 'ell,' she sed. 'If we do good things +we go to 'eaven, if we do wicked things we go to the other place.' +It's the way Molly used to talk to me that's kept me up over and over +agin." + +I had made up my mind not to interrupt Barbara even when she wandered +from the subject in which I was most interested. By doing so I might +lose valuable suggestions to be gathered from her chance words, and I +naturally wished to hear everything it was in her power to impart. +Impatient as I was to learn more of Molly--who evidently was imbued +with a strong sense of duty, and whose story, I felt convinced, had a +direct connection with the mystery I was endeavoring to solve--I +recognized the advantage of leading gradually up to it. It was by far +the wisest plan to allow her to ramble on in her own way, and not to +startle her by abrupt questions. + +"Why did you not light the fire in the stove, Barbara?" + +"I wosn't sech a mug as that, sir," she replied with a faint dash of +humor. "When smoke comes out of the chimney of a empty 'ouse the +peeler sez, 'Ho, ho!' and in he pops to find out who's done it. Wot'd +become of me then, I'd like to know? They'd 'ave made precious short +work of me." + +"And you have not lit a fire in a stove all the time you have been +here." + +"Never once, sir." + +"How did you manage for coals, Barbara?" + +"Well, sir, when I first come, there was a lot of coal in the cellar, +and I used it all up. It lasted ever so long, but there was a end to +it. Then I begun on the furniture and odd bits of sticks I found +inside the house and out. Sometimes when it was dark and rainy I +foller the coal wagons, and pick up wot drops from the sacks. Then +there's dead branches; I've got 'arf a cupboardful downstairs." + +"What time did you come"--I hesitated at the word--"home to-night?" + +"Past one, I think, sir. I kep' out late trying to sell my matches, +but I 'ad to give it up for a bad job." + +"It was you we heard moving about?" + +"Did I make a noise, sir? I don't, 'ardly ever, but I s'ppose I wos +desp'rate, being so 'ungry, and thinking wot I should do to-morrer for +grub. I wosn't long gitting my clothes off, cos I wanted to git to +sleep quick and forgit everythink and everybody--everybody but Molly. +I'm 'appy when I'm asleep, sir." + +"Poor child! Do you mean to tell me, Barbara, that all these years you +have never once been found out, that all these years you have come and +gone from the house without being seen." + +"Yes, sir, as fur as I know. If I aint clever in nothink else I've +been clever in that. Oh, but the way I've had to dodge, and the tricks +I've played! They'd fill a book if they wos took down. Allus coming +'ome late at night, looking about me, and turning another way if +anybody wos near; allus very careful when I went out agin, peeping +round corners, and 'iding quick if I 'eerd a step. Eyes, sir! I can +see a mile off. Ears, sir! I could 'ear a blade o' grass whisper." + +"You have had a hard life, my dear," I said, taking her hand. Despite +her ragged clothes she looked more comfortable now. There was no wolf +tearing at her vitals for food. This, and the warmth of the fire, the +excitement of the conversation, the consciousness that we were her +friends, and the novelty of such an association in a house in which +she had not heard the voice of a human being during all the years she +had slept and starved in it, had caused her cheeks to glow and her +eyes to sparkle. + +"Yes, sir, there's no denying it's 'ard, but it'll be all right when I +see Molly agin." + +"You expected to do so long before now?" + +"Oh, yes, sir, ever so long before. She can't 'ave forgot me, she +can't 'ave forgot me! You don't think that, do yer, sir?" + +"I am sure she has not, my dear. She was always a good sister to you, +from what you have told me, and always a good girl." + +"The best in all the wide world, sir. There's nobody like 'er, I don't +care where you look. 'I'm more than yer sister Molly,' she sed, 'I'm +yer mother, and I'll never, never turn from yer as long as I live.'" + +"Tell me, Barbara. What was your sister?" + +"A servant gal, sir. I'd like to be one." + +"Was she in a situation in London?" + +"In course she wos, sir." + +"Where?" + +"In this 'ouse, sir. That's why I'm 'ere now." + +And that, thought I, looking down at the cat, is why _I_ am here now. +I glanced at Bob; the revelation that poor Barbara's sister was in +domestic service with the last tenant had brought a flush of +expectation into his face. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + MOLLY. + + +I continued the conversation. + +"That must be a long time ago, Barbara?" + +"Oh, yes, sir; ever so long ago." + +"What was the name of her master?" + +"I don't remember, sir." + +"If you heard it, would you remember it?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Was it Mr. Nesbit?" + +"That's the name, sir. 'E 'ad a daughter, sech a nice young lady, +Molly told me." + +"Miss Beatrice Nesbit?" + +"That's 'er, sir. Molly was so fond of 'er, and she liked Molly, too." + +"Do you know, Barbara, what became of Miss Beatrice?" + +"No, sir; do you?" + +I evaded the question. "Can you read?" I asked. + +"Large letters, when they're wrote plain, sir." + +"You can't read newspapers?" + +"No, sir." + +"When Molly went away--we will speak about that presently--did nobody +tell you that something had happened in this house?" + +"No, sir; I didn't speak about Molly or the 'ouse to nobody, and +nobody spoke to me. Wot did 'appen, sir?" + +"Never mind just now. It is for me to ask questions." + +"I beg yer pardon, sir." + +"No need, Barbara. Where and how did you live, my dear, while Molly +was in service here?" + +"It's 'ard to say, sir. I lived anywhere and any'ow. If it 'adn't been +for Molly I don't think I'd 'ave lived at all. She used to say, used +Molly, 'One day we'll live together, Barbara. When yer grows up, +per'aps Miss Beatrice 'll give yer a place with 'er. Then we shall be +in the same 'ouse, and we'll be as 'appy as the day's long.' The day +aint come yet, sir." + +"When Molly worked here used you to come and see her?" + +"On the sly, sir. Mr. Nesbit, Molly sed, wouldn't allow no followers, +and nobody else come to the 'ouse that didn't 'ave no business there, +so I 'ad to come unbeknown to 'im. One night I wos in the kitching +when Molly 'eard 'im coming down. She 'id me quick be'ind the clothes +'orse, as 'ad some things drying. It was lucky for me and Molly that +he didn't ketch sight of me, or he'd 'ave bundled us both out. My +'eart wos in my mouth all the time." + +"You saw Mr. Nesbit?" + +"Yes, sir; I peeped through the things and sor 'im." + +"A nice looking gentleman, Barbara?" + +"Quite the other, sir; but 'e spoke smooth to Molly." + +"Did you ever see Miss Beatrice?" + +"Once, sir, the same way, and I think she knew I wos 'iding, but she +never sed nothink. She was the nicest looking young lady I ever sor." + +"Tell me about Molly going away." + +"She sed she was going into the country with 'er master and Miss +Beatrice, and that she wouldn't be away long. She give me some money, +and promised to send me some more every week, but I aint 'eerd nothink +of 'er from that day to this. There wos Mrs. Simpson, sir; she let me +sleep in a corner of 'er room. She wos allus 'ard up, Mrs. Simpson +wos, and two weeks after Molly wos gone she got into trouble, and went +away, I don't know where to, and I'd no place to put my 'ead in. I +walked about the streets and slep' in the park, and then I thought I'd +come 'ere and wait for Molly. There wos nothink else for it, 'cause +Mrs. Simpson 'ad cut 'er lucky, and Molly wouldn't know where else to +look for me. It wos orfle lonesome 'ere at fust, and I wos frightened +out of my life almost; but I got used to it after a bit, and it _wos_ +a slice of luck, wosn't it, sir, that I found a place to sleep in +without being arsked to pay no rent? Then there wos the coal cellar +pritty well full of coals, and lots of wood to make a fire with. +Daytime I'd go out selling matches, begging, doing anythink to make a +honest penny, and it wosn't easy to do that, I can tell yer. But 'ere +I am, no better off and no wus since I begun, and never found out till +to-night." + +"You must have managed very cleverly, Barbara." + +"Oh, they don't make 'em much artfuller nor me," said the poor girl +rather proudly. It was a pitiful boast from one who had suffered such +hardships, and who, after years of struggle, presented so lamentable +an appearance. "I aint told yer all, though," she continued eagerly. +"I don't keep no count of the days 'xcept with bits of sticks--one +stick, Monday, two sticks, Tuesday, three sticks, Wednesday, up to six +sticks, Satterday, and then I know to-morrer's Sunday, and I begin all +over again. Weeks I don't know 'ow to reckon, and that's why I can't +tell 'ow long Molly's been away. I dessay it was three months when a +Satterday night come--not the last by a good many--and I got 'ome as +'ungry as 'ungry could be, and not a ha'penny to get grub with. So wot +do I do but prowl about on the chance of finding somethink that 'll +'elp me on. Molly used to sleep in the basement, next to the kitching, +and there's a cupboard in the room. Wot 'yer think I found in that +there cupboard on the top shelf, that I 'ad to stand on two chairs to +git to? A wooden money-box, sir, that rattled as I shook it up. There +wos letters outside wrote large by Molly, 'For Barbara.' Yer might +'ave knocked me down with a feather when I sor it, and I did tumble +off the chairs and 'urt myself, but I 'ad the money box in my 'and for +all that. It wos locked, and there wos no key, but I soon prised it +open, and there it was, 'arf full of coppers that Molly'd been saving +up for me, else she wouldn't 'ave wrote 'For Barbara' outside. Wosn't +that good of Molly, sir?" + +"Indeed it was," I replied. + +"I counted it out--six and tenpence, no less, sir, and I kissed the +box, and the writing, and the money too, and I only wanted Molly +alongside of me to make me as 'appy as the day's long. It lasted me a +long while, that money did." + +"Did you ever find any more?" I asked. + +"No, sir, though I looked everywhere for it." + +"Now, Barbara, can you tell me the name of the place your sister was +going to with Mr. Nisbet and Miss Beatrice?" + +"No, sir, she didn't know 'erself, she sed, but she promised to write +to me--in large letters--directly she got there." + +"Where did she say she would send the letter?' + +"To the house that Mrs. Simpson lived in, sir." + +"You remained in that house two weeks after Molly went away?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And no letter came?" + +"No, sir." + +"How can you be sure of that?" + +"Mrs. Simpson didn't git none for me, sir--I'm sure of that, 'cause I +know she wouldn't deceive me. Why should she? It wouldn't 'ave done +'er no good to keep it from me; and she wosn't one of that sort. Then, +sir, there wos the two postmen as used to leave the letters in the +street. I made bold to arsk both of 'em about it, 'Is there a letter +for Barbara, wrote large, please?' I sed to them every day, and they +sed no, there wosn't. 'You won't give it to no one else, will yer, +please, when it comes?' I sed to them and they sed they wouldn't. +After Mrs. Simpson wos gone I went to the street regularly, and 'ung +about for the postmen, and arsked 'em if there wos a letter for +Barbara, or if there'd been one, and they allus sed no, and that +they'd keep it for me if they got 'old of it. But it never come, sir. +I couldn't 'ave done nothink else to make sure of it, could I, sir?" + +"You could do nothing more, Barbara; and you were very clever in doing +what you did. Did you understand from Molly that she was going +abroad?" + +"Abroad, sir!" exclaimed Barbara, in manifest astonishment. + +"Out of England, I mean." + +"Oh, no, sir; she'd 'ave been sure to 'ave told me if she'd 'ad any +idea of that. And she'd never 'ave done it, sir; she'd never 'ave gone +so fur away from me!" + +"I don't think she would, Barbara, if she had known it. Did she tell +you she was going alone first, and that her master and Miss Beatrice +were to follow afterward?" + +"No, sir, they wos to go all together." + +"Are you sure of that?" + +"As sure as I can be, sir." + +"You have given me sensible answers to all my questions, my dear. I +noticed when you came upstairs with us that you kept your eyes closed. +I suppose you were sleepy." + +"It wasn't that, sir." + +"What was the reason?" + +"I was frightened, sir." + +"Of what?" + +Barbara looked around timidly, and drew closer to the fire. "There's +shadders in this 'ere 'ouse," she said, in a low tone. + +"There are shadows everywhere, Barbara," I answered, as Bob and I +exchanged glances. "Tell us what you mean." + +"I can't, sir; it's beyond me. I 'eerd once, permiscuous like, that +there wos a 'ouse somewhere in these parts as wos 'aunted, and I sed +to myself, 'It's this one.' Then I begun to feel shadders about. It's +months and months since I've come 'igher than the kitching; I've been +frightened to. It's allus as if somethink wos going to 'appen, and +when you woke me up to-night I thought it 'ad." + +"You began to _feel_ shadows about, Barbara?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"But what have you seen?" + +"Nothink, sir; but I know they're 'ere." + +"Have you heard anything?" + +"Only a shaking and rattling, sir." + +"When there was a wind blowing, Barbara. From your description that +must have been what you heard. Some of the window sashes are loose, +and of course, in a high wind, they would make a noise." Barbara did +not answer, but seemed dubious, and at the same time a little +relieved. I glanced at the cat at my feet. "You have seen nothing +to-night?" + +"No, sir." + +"You see no shadows now?" + +"No, sir." + +In these replies there was no such confirmation of my own strange +experiences as I had expected, and hoped, to receive when she began to +speak of shadows, and I ascribed her fears to the natural nervousness +of a child living in a lonely house. They were no stronger than +sensitive children living in comfortable homes, with parents and +brothers and sisters around them, often suffer from. I had tired +Barbara out with my string of questions; her eyelids were closing and +opening; her head was nodding. In the silence that ensued she closed +her eyes, and did not open them again. The child had fallen asleep. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + IMPORTANT INFORMATION. + + +Bob and I conversed in whispers; but Barbara was sleeping so soundly +that we might have spoken in our natural voices without fear of +awaking her. + +"What do you think of it, Bob?" I asked. + +"I don't know what to think," he replied. "I only know one thing--that +the child has spoken the truth." + +"Of that there is no doubt," I said; "but what does it point to?" + +He conveyed his answer in two words, "Foul play!" + +I nodded. + +"My own opinion, not newly formed, for I have had it all along; but +what we have been told gives a new turn to it. And still," I added +fretfully, "we are in the dark. Where can we look for direction as to +the next step to be taken?" + +"Has it not occurred to you," said Bob, "that it was singular that Mr. +Nisbet should have had the body of his stepdaughter cremated instead +of buried in the usual manner?" + +"He may be an enthusiast on the subject of cremation," I observed. +"Many eminent men advocate such a disposal of the dead." + +"There is another answer to the question. We are both agreed that +there has been foul play. If we are right, Mr. Nisbet, by having the +body cremated, has effectually destroyed the most important evidence +that could be sought against him." + +"The doctor testified at the inquest to the cause of the young lady's +death." + +"Ah, the doctor. The inquiry agent gave you his name, I believe?" + +"He did. It is Cooper." + +"Might not something be gained from him?" + +I caught at the suggestion. + +"A good thought, Bob." + +"We do not know," continued my shrewd adviser, "who this Dr. Cooper +is, whether he is a practitioner of repute, and whether any relations +of a confidential nature existed between him and Mr. Nisbet." + +"You are letting in light," I said. "Go on." + +"So far as you have gone you are ignorant of this doctor's standing. +If he holds a good position, if he has an extensive practice, we shall +obtain no assistance from him. No respectable medical man would run a +risk for the sake of a bribe. As a rule, doctors are the kindest men +in the world; but here and there you may meet with a backslider, or +with one who has been careless in such a matter as this, or with one +whose necessities lay him open to temptation. That is the extent of my +suggestion; but it appears to me to be worth following up--on the +off-chance, as sporting men say." + +"It shall be followed up," I said. "To-morrow I will make inquiries +concerning him. And now we will get a little sleep. It is not likely +we shall be disturbed again." + +We lay down in our clothes, and were awake betimes. But Barbara was up +before us; and when we rose we found the room nicely tidied up, a +bright fire burning, the kettle singing on the hob, and the table +ready spread for breakfast. + +"Bravo, Barbara," I said. "You are a handy little girl." + +"I thought you'd like it done, sir," she said; "and I moved about very +quiet so as not to wake yer. I slep' like a top, and I feel ever so +much better than I did last night. But yer did give me a start, yer +did, when yer come upon me in the kitching." + +"You are not sorry for it now?" + +"I'm glad, sir. It was a reg'lar slice of luck." + +"You shall find it so. Any more shadows, Barbara?" + +"No, sir. I never feel 'em in the daytime; it's only at night that I'm +afeerd." + +"We'll put a stop to all that, my girl. Let us get breakfast over; I +dare say you're ready for it." + +"That I am, sir. I'm allus ready to tuck in." + +Despite the seriousness of our situation, we were quite a cheerful +party. We had provided liberally, and we made a hearty meal, Barbara, +to our mingled pity and admiration, proving herself a champion in that +line. Had she been of colossal proportions instead of an attenuated +mortal, literally all skin and bone, she could scarcely have eaten +more. A full meal was a delightful novelty to her, and she greatly +distinguished herself. + +"I wouldn't call the queen my aunt," she declared, when we rose from +the table, which we considered a very original remark, although its +application was not exactly clear. + +While she was clearing away the things and washing up, Bob and I had a +consultation. It was decided that he should remain indoors with +Barbara, and that I should go out to make inquiries for Dr. Cooper. +During my absence it was his intention to thoroughly examine the house +from top to bottom. He had the idea that he might light upon something +that would furnish a clew; and as he had greater experience than I in +untenanted houses, he was the better fitted for such a search. + +It being Sunday, the facilities for seeking information were limited; +but in the by-streets I found a common cigar shop open here and there, +and I laid out a great many pennies without satisfactory result. + +At length, however, I entered a poor little shop, which I was told had +been established for several years. An elderly woman answered to my +raps on the counter; and after spending sixpence with her, I led up to +the important subject, and soon discovered that I was on the track. +Dr. Cooper had lived in the neighborhood, not very far from her shop; +but he had removed two or three years ago to another part of London. +Was he a doctor in good practice? She could not say as to that. He was +a poor man's doctor, and gave advice and medicine for a shilling. He +had a large family, and did not pay his way. Then his business could +not have been a flourishing one? Not at all; he had run away in debt +to everybody--to her among the number. But by accident she found out +his new place of business, and had served him with a county court +summons. He had run up a bill of twenty-five shillings with her, and +he pleaded that he was not in a position to pay it. Judgment was given +for her, and he was ordered to pay half a crown a month, which, he +said, was the utmost he could afford. The trouble she had to get her +money! She had to threaten him over and over again, and at last +succeeded in obtaining what was due to her. + +"A bad lot, sir," she said. "Always drinking on the sly, and as fit to +attend to sick people as my old cat there. If I was dying, and there +was not another doctor in London, I wouldn't call him in." + +Had she any objection to give me his address? Not the least objection. +She ought to know it, as she had been there twenty times to get her +money. It was in Theobald's Row, South Lambeth, when she saw him last; +she did not remember the number, but there were not many houses in the +Row, and I should have no difficulty in finding it; "if he hasn't run +away again," she added. + +I left the shop, thanking the chance that had led me to it. In the +information I had gained there was pregnant matter for thought. That a +wealthy gentleman like Mr. Oliver Nisbet should call in such a man in +a case of life and death was something more than strange; it was in +the highest degree suspicious, and I felt confident that some +information of importance to my mission was to be elicited from one +whose necessities, as Bob had observed, might lay him open to the +temptation of a bribe. South Lambeth was a long way from the north of +London; but so anxious was I to lose no time, that I determined to +proceed there at once. + +With this intention I walked into the wider thoroughfares to look for +a cab, and was about to hail one when a man walking quickly toward me, +stopped as we came close to each other, and accosted me. + +"Why, Mr. Emery," he said, "I heard you were in Brighton." + +It was Mr. Dickson, the private inquiry agent. + +"I am in London, as you see," I replied. "Who told you I was in +Brighton?" + +"I learned it at your house two hours ago." + +I groaned inwardly, thinking of what was in store for me if my good +wife discovered that I was deceiving her. + +"Did you see my wife?" + +"No, a servant answered the bell, and said you had run down to the +seaside for the day." + +"I wished the business between us," I said rather severely, "to be +kept secret. What took you to my house, Mr. Dickson?" + +"Oh, there was no fear of my saying anything about the commission you +gave me. I did not even leave my name." I breathed more freely. "I +went to see you because I had something to tell you which I thought +you would like to know immediately." + +"What is it?" + +"Mr. Nisbet is in London," replied Mr. Dickson. + + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + DR. COOPER. + + +I caught my breath. There was nothing strange in the information; for +all I knew Mr. Nisbet might have been in London for years, as ignorant +of my existence as, until lately, I had been of his; but the +accidental discoveries of the last few hours seemed to me to be +pregnant with important possibilities. + +"I am glad you have lost no time in telling me," I said. "How did you +discover it?" + +"Almost by accident. I have a partner, whose methods are of the quiet +order, I being the active worker in our business, and it is he who +made the discovery--almost by accident, as I have said. Nisbet is not +a very uncommon name, but tack Oliver to it, and it becomes +exceptional. Yesterday there arrived from the Continent a gentleman +bearing those two names, and he is now at the Hôtel Métropole." + +This destroyed the hypothesis that Mr. Nisbet had been a constant +resident in London since my introduction to the skeleton cat. + +"From what part of the Continent?" I inquired. + +"Lastly from Paris; but by way of Paris from any one of a hundred +different places. Can you give me a personal description of the +gentleman?" + +"No," I replied, "I have never seen him; but I can obtain it for you." + +"Do so, and let me have it as soon as possible. At present my partner +is shadowing him, and he will not be lost sight of. You will never +guess where I have just come from, Mr. Emery." + +"I shall be glad to hear." + +"In the course of such a business as ours," said Mr. Dickson, "we +become acquainted with strange things, which, as a rule, we keep to +ourselves, secrecy being an integral part of our operations. Some +cases take hold of us, some do not, and I confess that my curiosity--a +human weakness, you know--has been excited in this particular case. +So, after leaving your house, the idea entered my mind of strolling to +Lamb's Terrace and having a look at No. 79. That is where I have just +come from." + +"You have not been inside the house," I said, rather startled, as I +thought of Bob and Barbara. + +"How could I get inside," he retorted, "without the key? What a +melancholy, Heaven-forsaken place! I will tell you what occurred to +me, if you like." + +"Yes, tell me." + +"Just the spot for a crime, thought I as I wandered about; just the +spot to carry out a deep-laid scheme in comparative safety. I have no +wish to pry into your secrets, Mr. Emery; but one cannot help what +comes unbidden into one's mind, and men engaged in such pursuits as +mine are more open to suspicion than others. We see shadows behind +locked doors, we work out theories in the dark, and sometimes we come +upon unexpected results. However, it is no affair of mine, as my own +personal interests are not involved in it." + +"If they were," I hazarded, "you would follow it up." + +"Undoubtedly. I could not possibly evade the duty, with three such +links as a sudden death, a cremation instead of a burial, and a vast +fortune on the issue." + +"And if you were to add," I thought, "the experiences I have gone +through, you would be still less inclined to rest till the mystery was +unraveled." Aloud I said, "Do not let the matter flag for a few +pounds. I am most anxious to work it out, if there is a possibility of +doing so." + +"It shall not flag. The mischief of it is, the most important clews +are destroyed. Only through the principal agent can the crime--if one +has been committed--be brought to light." + +"Or through an accomplice," I suggested. + +"Quite so. But where to look for this accomplice--there lies the +difficulty. Still it is the unexpected that often happens. Well, +good-day, Mr. Emery; I hope to hear from you to-morrow." + +Theobald's Row, South Lambeth, if not so desolate a neighborhood as +Lamb's Terrace, was sufficiently depressing in its general aspect to +cause one to resolve to give it a wide berth unless special business +called him to the spot. There were sad, melancholy railway arches +which might serve for a chapter in a modern "Inferno"; there were +timber yards stacked high with discolored lumber, which appeared to be +piled up not for purposes of trade, but to add one more melancholy +feature to a worn-out, dilapidated locality; there were workingmen's +lodging houses, whose flat surface of stone walls resembled prisons in +which every vestige of brightness in life was hopelessly entombed; +there were rows of houses as hopeless and despairing, and as +poverty-stricken and irremediably shabby; and there was the most +leaden atmosphere of which even London could boast. The men, women, +and children I saw there were in keeping with their surroundings; the +youngsters were playing listlessly and with no heart in their games; +the men smoked pipes and haunted street corners or wandered in and out +the beer shops and public houses; the worn-faced women conversed +jadedly and dispiritedly; and everywhere the spirit of discontent +proclaimed itself. Even the dogs nosing the gutters were infected with +the prevailing gloom. + +In the center of Theobald's Row, which consisted of sixteen small +houses, eight on each side, and all of a flat dead level, I came upon +Dr. Cooper's place of business, a parlor window, with two large +dust-covered bottles displayed therein, whose ghostly colors were +green and red. Half a dozen ragged children were disporting themselves +on the doorstep, and as I approached the shop a slatternly woman came +to the door and swooped them all into the house. As she was turning to +follow them I accosted her. + +"Is Dr. Cooper at home?" + +"What do you want of him?" she retorted. + +"I wish to see him on a matter of business." + +I had stepped into the shop, and as I looked around at the nearly +empty shelves, dotted here and there with a few miserable fly-blown +bottles, I thought that a man in search of health or of a remedy for a +bodily ailment could not have found a more unlikely place for relief. + +"Is it opening medicine?" said the woman. "I can serve you." + +"My business is not professional," I replied. + +She cast a suspicious glance at me, and I guessed that she supposed me +to be a dun. + +"It may be something of advantage to him," I observed. + +She brightened up instantly. + +"My husband is not in," she said; "but you may find him at the +George." + +"At the George?" + +"Or the Green Dragon," she added. + +"Where are they? Far from here?" + +"Oh, no, not far; he has to keep himself handy in case he is called in +anywhere. The George is at the corner of the next street, and the +Green Dragon is at the opposite corner. If he is not at either of +those places he is sure to be at the Britannia. Anybody will tell you +where that is." + +As I walked to "the corner of the next street" I could not help +smiling at the idea of Dr. Cooper being so considerate as to pass his +time in a public house, within convenient hail of his place of +business, in case he might be "called in anywhere"; but I pitied those +who needed his assistance in a case of sickness. He was not at the +George, and I was advised to try the Green Dragon; he was not at the +Green Dragon, and I was advised to try the Britannia; and at the +Britannia I found him. + +He was a washed-out, weedy man, with an inflamed countenance, and when +I presented myself he was in the act of clinking pewter pots with some +boon companions, who, according to my judgment, were standing treat to +him. He drained his pot to the dregs, and turned it upside down on the +counter, with a thirsty air about him notwithstanding the long draught +he had just taken. I am not a teetotaler, nor an advocate of +teetotalism, but it has always been a matter of regret to me that the +persevering search for enlightenment on the part of the British public +at the bottom of pewter pots does not lead to more encouraging +results. + +At the moment of my entrance he and his companions were discussing a +criminal case which had excited great interest and had largely +occupied the newspapers for several days past. It was a supposed case +of poisoning, and the person charged--it was a woman--had been +acquitted after a long trial. Her husband had been the victim; but the +medical evidence was inconclusive, and she had been given the benefit +of the doubt. The woman and her husband had been on proved bad terms, +and she had much to gain by his death. There was a man in the case, +the woman's lover, and there was a strong suspicion that he was +implicated; but, guilty or not guilty, he was not arraigned because no +direct evidence could be brought against him. Only on the previous +night had the case been concluded, and the result was published in the +Sunday morning's papers, the jury having been locked up for eight +hours before they arrived at their verdict. + +"She's escaped by the skin of her teeth," said one of the topers. "If +I'd been on the jury she'd have had the rope." + +"Law's law," said a half-tipsy Solon, "and justice is justice. I don't +believe in hanging a woman upon presumption. My opinion is that he +poisoned himself to get rid of her." + +"That's a queer way of getting rid of a nuisance," was the reply. +"Besides, there was no poison found in the body." + +"You're all at sixes and sevens," said a third speaker. "The doctors +disagreed, and the weight of evidence was in favor of the woman. She's +as artful as you make 'em; but that's no reason for hanging her." + +"The man was killed," persisted the first speaker. "He didn't die a +natural death." + +"Nothing was proved," said the third speaker, "and when nothing's +proved you can't bring anyone in guilty. This is a free country, I +believe." + +What struck me in the expression of these opinions--if opinions they +could be called--was their utterly illogical bearing. It was like a +lot of weathercocks arguing; and when the half-tipsy Solon said, "Ask +the doctor," they turned toward him, as though a direct question had +been put to him, which he, as a weighty authority, could answer in a +word, and thus settle the whole matter. + +"What I say is," said Dr. Cooper thirstily and with indistinct +utterance, "that there are more ways of killing a man than one." + +"Ah," they all observed in effect, "Dr. Cooper knows." + +What it was that Dr. Cooper knew with respect to the case was not very +clear. What I knew, when I heard him speak, was that he was drunk. +Quickly came to my mind the suggestion whether he would be of more +service to me drunk than sober. + +"Who's going to stand treat?" he inquired, with a nervous fingering of +his pewter pot. + +"Your turn, doctor," they said. + +"If it's my turn," he replied pettishly, "you'll have to wait." + +They laughed, and left him one by one. Then he asked for liquor across +the counter; but the barman shook his head and devoted himself to +ready-money customers. I saw my opportunity, and advancing toward him, +asked if he would join me in a friendly glass. + +"In a friendly glass," he said, "I would join Old Nick himself." + +A declaration which, frank as it was, could scarcely be said to be a +recommendation. It was a peculiar feature of Dr. Cooper's tipsy +condition that, although his speech was thick and somewhat indistinct, +he did not slur or clip his words, which denoted that he still +preserved some control over himself. + +"Beer or whisky, doctor?" I asked. + +"Whisky for choice," he said. "Irish." + +Whisky it was, and Irish; I spilled mine on the floor, and filled my +glass with water. Dr. Cooper dealt with his as he dealt with the beer; +it was evidently not his habit to take two bites at a cherry. + +"Another?" I suggested. + +"You're a gentleman," he said. + +When he had disposed of this second portion in a similar manner to the +first, I opened the ball, and inwardly took credit to myself for +rather artful tactics. + +"I came down this way, doctor," I said, "especially to see you." + +He seized my wrist with one hand, and put the other into his waistcoat +pocket, removing it immediately, however, with a husky cough and an +angry shake of his head. + +"No, no, doctor," I said, laughing, as he fumbled at my pulse, "I do +not need professional advice to-day. The fact is, I have come to pay +an old debt." + +He retained my hand, as though to prevent my escaping him. + +"You're one of the lot that has brought me down," he growled. "How +much is it, and how long has it been due?" + +"It has been due a long time past," I replied; "and the amount is two +shillings, for two bottles of medicine and advice." + +"Are you sure it isn't more?" + +"Quite sure. I should have paid you before to-day, but when I went to +your place--a long while ago, I must tell you--I found you had gone. +You practiced in the north of London, you know." + +"I do know; I have reason to know. If I had got my rights I should not +be as I am. I should be practicing in Belgravia, and driving in my +carriage. I'll take another whisky." I nodded at the barman, who +refilled the glass, which he instantly emptied again. "What do we +slave for? What do we study for? What do we waste the midnight oil +for? To be taken in, to be robbed and swindled, to have promises made +to us that are never fulfilled." + +"Unfortunately," I said, sympathizing with him, "it is the way of the +world. It is the simple-minded and the honest that are defrauded." + +"You know how it is. Five shillings, you said." + +"No; it is two shillings I owe you." + +"Interest added, makes it three. You can't object to that." + +"I don't object; here is the money." + +He took it, and dropped it in his pocket. We had each of us only one +disengaged hand, as he still kept hold of my wrist. + +"A feeble pulse," he said, shaking his head with tipsy gravity, "a +very feeble pulse. Needs a stimulant." + +"Irish whisky?" + +"Irish whisky," he echoed; and disposed of his fourth glass, while I +spilled mine as I had done before. + +These rapid potations had the effect I desired; they weakened his +self-control, they loosened his tongue. + +"That was an interesting discussion you were having," I observed, +"when I came in. What was it you said? That there are more ways than +one of killing a man. How true that is! But it is only those who are +experienced in such matters that can speak with authority. Do you +suspect, doctor, that the woman is guilty?" + +"I will take my oath she is guilty." + +"But the fact of poison being administered was not absolutely +established." + +He snapped his fingers. "That for being established! There are poisons +and poisons; there are way and ways. Did you ever take a sleeping +draught?" + +"Never." + +"Well, when you want one, come to me, and I will give you something +that will make you sleep so sound that you will never wake up again." + +"Declined with thanks. But would it not be discovered?" + +"It might or it mightn't. Suppose it is discovered that you died of an +overdose. Then comes the question, who administered it? When a man +suffers from insomnia he doses himself as a rule, and if he overdoes +it he has only himself to blame. There's the bottle at his bedside +empty. There are the people who are interested--generally two, a man +and a woman. If there are servants in the house they are asleep. What +have they to do with it? The man, or the woman, does not wake up +again. Now prove that the man, or the woman, who is left alive forced +the sleeping draught down the other one's throat. You can't do it. I +can tell you where you can buy some effervescent sleeping globules +that you put in your mouth, and fall asleep while they are dissolving. +One makes you sleep for six hours, two makes you sleep for ten hours, +three makes you sleep for twenty, four makes you sleep forever. Some +of us doctors have secrets that we keep to ourselves; make you as wise +as we are, and where should we be? There was a case--I mention no +names--of a man suffering under a painful disease which might run its +course for months, perhaps years, before it prove fatal. Wife suggests +that it would be a mercy to kill him, and so put him out of pain. A +little syringe, a slight injection while the man is sleeping; it is +done in a moment; the man is dead. The woman comes into a fortune, and +marries her lover. Medical testimony, the disease from which the man +has been suffering, and which _must_ prove fatal some time or other. +Quite natural. Everybody's happy, and nothing more is heard of the +matter. There are other ways. Charcoal, which English people don't +take to; escape of gas"--I caught my breath, but fortunately my sudden +spasm passed unnoticed--"quite as easy, quite as natural. For one +murder discovered, how many undiscovered? Work that out!" + +"An interesting study for statisticians," I said. + +"If they had the facts before them; but they can't get hold of them. +There are liquid poisons that can be mixed with food, and are +tasteless and colorless; they can be administered for months, and +nobody the wiser. You may find a trace in the body after death, but +not sufficient to account for what has taken place, not a twentieth +part sufficient to account for it. There are others to weaken not only +the body but the mind, to destroy memory, to make one oblivious of the +past. Perfectly pleasant and painless. Now, what do you think of a man +who knows what I know being in such a position as I am." + +"It is disgraceful," I said. + +"It is infamous. You are struggling, you are poor, you have a large +family, you are fond of the pleasures of life. A person--again I +mention no names--comes to you, and says such and such a thing--never +mind what thing. This person is rich; you are in debt. I am only +supposing a case, you know." + +"Of course." + +"The person says, there's a sudden death in my house--an accident, say +by charcoal, say by gas. A pure accident, most lamentable. A doctor's +testimony is required, for formality's sake. Any doctor will do. You +are in the neighborhood. Will you testify? Fee, so many guineas, and +afterward a lift up in life, a chance to get along. As our national +poet expresses it, 'My poverty, but not my will, consents.' You do no +wrong; the person is a gentleman, and you take his word; you testify +at the inquest, and all is smooth sailing. The affair is forgotten. +You receive your few guineas, and you wait for the chance to get along +in life, for the lift up that will bring you a lucrative practice. It +never comes. The person shrugs his shoulders, contradicts you, jockeys +you. What's the consequence? Your suspicions are excited. The person +inherits a great sum of money by the death. You ferret that out; your +suspicions grow stronger. You go to the person, and you mention your +suspicions. He says, 'You are putting yourself in danger; if you have +given false evidence, the law will make you suffer for it; you are a +fool and a knave. Get out!' You are bound to submit. What are your +feelings toward the person who has treated you so shamefully? What +would you do him if it was in your power?" + +"I would certainly--supposing this not to be a hypothetical case----" + +"Which it is," interposed Dr. Cooper, "purely hypothetical." + +"Exactly. How could it be otherwise? But such conversations are most +interesting to an outsider like myself. Supposing then, this not to be +a hypothetical case, I would certainly be glad of any chance to be +even with the person who has imposed upon me. Carrying the hypothesis +further, what should you say became of the body of the--did you say a +lady?" + +"No, I don't think I said a lady; but let it be a lady, for the sake +of argument." + +"What became of the body--though that's a stupid question, because, of +course, it was buried in the usual way?" + +"It might not have been. There's such a thing as cremation." + +What turn the conversation would have taken after this startling +observation it is out of my power to say, for the slatternly wife of +the doctor made her appearance here, and told my tipsy companion that +a patient required his immediate attention. + +An hour afterward I was once more in Lamb's Terrace. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + BARBARA GIVES US SOME VALUABLE + INFORMATION. + + +"We thought you were lost," said Bob, and Barbara looked up with a +smile, a sign that she regarded me as a friend. + +They had waited dinner for me, and I was surprised to see on the table +quite an imposing array of crockery. + +"Where does all this come from?" I asked. + +"We have made discoveries," replied Bob, giving me a significant look. +"Barbara here had no idea what was in the house, which proves that she +is not one of the prying kind. All sorts of things have been bundled +out of sight in odd nooks and corners, crockery, cutlery, table linen, +and goodness only knows what. We have made another room ready for +Barbara to sleep in to-night; it is on the same floor as this, and she +says she is not afraid." + +"Not a bit," said Barbara, "now I aint in the 'ouse alone." + +"And she's going to bed early," added Bob. + +"As soon as ever you tell me," said Barbara. + +The dinner they had prepared was not at all a bad one, and I was +hungry enough to enjoy a much worse fare. To Barbara it was a +veritable feast, and she did as much justice to it as she had done to +the breakfast. The moment we finished she jumped up, and took the +plates and dishes to her own room where she washed them up. + +"You have something to tell me, Bob," I said, taking advantage of her +absence. + +"I have. You have something in your budget, too." + +"Yes." + +"We will wait till Barbara has gone to bed; we can talk more freely +then." + +"I have a question to ask her first," I said. + +"I also want a little information from her, the meaning of which you +will understand when we are alone for the night." The little girl +entering at this moment, Bob turned his attention to her. "Barbara, +was your sister fond of dress?" + +"Lor', sir," answered Barbara. "Aint all gals fond of it? She used to +say if she was a lady she'd allus dress in silk." + +"Do you recollect what frock she wore when you saw her last?" + +"It was a cotton frock, sir--pink, with little flowers on it. Miss +Beatrice give it to 'er." + +"You would know it again, I suppose, if you saw it?" + +"In course I should know it, sir, 'cause Molly'd be in it." + +"But it would be worn out by this time, Barbara." + +"Yes, sir, it would. I didn't think of that." + +"Do you recollect the dress that Miss Beatrice wore when you saw her +last?" + +"I should think I do, sir; it _was_ a beauty. A gray silk, it wos, +with steel trimmin's. She looked lovely in it, she did." + +Bob conveyed in a glance at me that he had no further questions to +ask, and I took up the cue. + +"You have a good memory, Barbara, and I dare say you can give me a +description of Mr. Nisbet. You told us he was not a nice looking +gentleman." + +"Not at all, sir, though he did 'ave a 'igh fore'ead. 'E 'ad a look +like ice in his eyes." + +"What color were they?" + +"A kind of cold blue; and 'e 'ad a red beard and mustache." + +"A tall gentleman, Barbara?" + +"Yes, sir. 'E didn't have no 'at on when 'e came into the kitching, +and I sor that 'is 'ead wos bald in the middle, and was flattish at +the top. As 'e looked round the kitching 'e put a pair of gold +spectacles on, and when they wosn't on 'is eye 'e was allus a-dangling +'em with 'is fingers, twiddling 'em about like." + +"You don't seem to have liked his looks?" + +"I didn't, sir; there was something about 'im that made my 'eart's +blood run cold. I pitied Miss Beatrice, I did." + +"For any particular reason, Barbara?" + +"Not as I knows on, sir, but I thought to myself, 'I shouldn't like to +'ave a father like that; I'd rather 'ave none at all.'" + +"What did your sister Molly think of him?" + +"She didn't care for 'im no more than I did, but she didn't say much +about 'im. It's my belief she wos frightened of 'im. She told me a +funny thing once." + +"Yes?" + +"She sed that sometimes when he looked at 'er she felt as if she +couldn't move or speak of her own accord. 'Barbara,' she sed to me, +'it's my opinion that if 'e ordered me to go up to the roof and stand +on the top of one of the chimbley pots I should go and do it without a +single word.' But he allus spoke soft to 'er, she sed." + +"Thank you, Barbara; and now it will be best for you to get to bed. +Last night was a broken night, and you must be tired." + +Wishing us good-night the girl went to her room, and when I opened her +door a few minutes afterward she was fast asleep. + +Then, before asking Bob to speak of what was on his mind, I related my +own adventures. He was greatly excited at my description of Dr. Cooper +and the supposititious case he had put to me, and also at the news of +Mr. Oliver Nisbet being in London. + +"There's never smoke without a fire," he said. "Dr. Cooper was not +drawing upon his imagination when he spoke about poisons and sleeping +draughts, and of a poor doctor being called in to testify to a death +of which he knew less than nothing. It happened, Ned! it happened; it +fits in with what occurred in this house. He supplied the proof in the +last words he spoke to you--'there's such a thing as cremation.' It is +as clear as the noonday sun. Mr. Nisbet wanted a doctor's certificate +of death; he calls in Dr. Cooper and obtains what he requires, in the +exact shape he desires, for the payment of a few guineas and the +promise of a further reward which has never been fulfilled. What is +the consequence? This wretched pettifogger bears an animosity against +his employer, which may perhaps be turned to good account--though +whether he babbles when sober as he does when he is in his cups +remains to be seen. He must not be lost sight of." + +"He shall not be. I am thinking whether it will be advisable to put +the inquiry agent on his track." + +"We can decide nothing as yet, but the thing is moving, that's one +comfort. Every day, almost every hour, some new feature seems to come +to light. What are you doing?" + +"Writing the description of Mr. Nisbet's personal appearance with +which Barbara supplied us. I promised to let Mr. Dickson have it as +soon as possible, and I shall post it to him to-night. Now for your +news, Bob." + +"Almost as important as yours. When you left us I commenced to make a +thorough examination of the house, as I said I would. Barbara assisted +me. I examined every room, every cupboard, and found a lot of things +which had apparently been thrown away in haste. These discoveries gave +point to an observation I have already made to you--that it is strange +the last tenant did not call in a broker and dispose of articles for +which he had no use, as he evidently had no intention of occupying the +house. Barbara was much surprised at our discoveries, and I shouldn't +wonder, honest as I believe the child to be, if the idea occurred to +her that she might have made use of the property from time to time to +relieve her poverty. However, that is neither here nor there, and I +may be doing Barbara an injustice. We had occupied some time in our +search, when it became necessary to devote attention to the +preparation of dinner, so I sent the girl away, and continued to poke +about alone. It was well I did so, for I made what I conceive to be a +startling discovery. On the floor above this there are two attics, +presumably intended for servants' bedrooms. There is a rather large +landing, and in the wall of this landing I observed two low doors. +Opening them, I found that they were cupboards for the receptacle of +lumber; they extend far into the outer wall of the house. It was in +one of these cupboards, at the extreme end, that I made my startling +discovery. What kind of dress did Barbara say that Miss Beatrice wore +when she last saw her?" + +"A gray silk, with steel trimmings." + +Bob went to a corner of the room and brought forward a large bundle. + +"Here it is." + +There it was, sure enough--a very beautiful dress, perfectly made, of +expensive material. + +"Observe," said Bob, "this is not a dress which has served its day, +and which it is at all probable the wearer voluntarily discarded. It +is almost new, and could have been worn but a few times. I put this +aside, and I produce every other article of a lady's attire--silk +stockings, shoes, petticoats, mantle, hat. I produce also a lady's +nightdress, and every other requisite--the outfit is complete. All +these articles are in good condition; the stockings show no signs of +wear, the shoes are nearly new, the mantle must have cost a fair sum +of money. To whom did these clothes belong?" + +"To Miss Beatrice." + +"Yes, to Miss Beatrice. What did Barbara say was her sister's favorite +dress?" + +"A pink cotton, with little flowers on it." + +"Here it is." He produced it. "And also every other article worn by a +young woman in Molly's station in life. Nightdress as well. The two +outfits, complete in every particular. Now, a singular feature in this +discovery is that these things were not thrust hurriedly and hastily +into the cupboard. Each article that could be folded was carefully +folded, and each costume was carefully packed and wrapped in thick +brown paper. Time and attention has been devoted to the task, and +there must have been an underlying motive in the care that was +exercised in its accomplishment. What was this motive, and how are we +to act? My firm opinion is that Mr. Nisbet's hands are responsible for +the packing of these clothes. Ordinarily a man could be careless of +such things, and would not waste his time upon them. The conjectures +that present themselves are so extraordinary that I cannot reduce them +to order or reason, but I have an odd conviction--for which I can give +you no explanation--that we are on the threshold of further +disclosures. What is the next step, Ned?" + +"There are several," I replied, "and we will speak of them. First, let +me tell you that it is my intention to keep watch on this house." + +"To reside here?" + +"For a time. To eat, and drink, and sleep here, and to be absent from +the house as little as possible." + +Bob interrupted me by asking if the apparition of the cat was in the +room. + +"It is on the hearthrug," I replied, "seemingly waiting, as we are +waiting, for developments." Then I continued speaking of the realities +of the position. "I suppose it would be too much to ask you to keep me +company here this week, after your office work is over?" + +"It is not too much to expect; I should have proposed it myself if you +had not suggested it. Every evening, directly my work is done, I will +come and join you." + +"You are a good fellow. I intend to be very careful in my movements, +and, so far as possible, not to let it be known that the house is +occupied. I do not wish Barbara to remain. We must find a home for her +somewhere, and we must pledge her to secrecy. I would take her to my +own house, but at present I do not consider it prudent to do so. My +wife is an inquisitive woman, and something might leak out; besides, +in order that my time may be perfectly free, I intend to send her into +the country for a fortnight; she shall go to-morrow. I can easily find +an excuse for not accompanying her. You lodge in a quiet part of +London, and you have spoken in praise of your landlady. Would she, for +a consideration, give Barbara board and lodging for a little while?" + +"No doubt she would. In fact, I think she is looking for a girl to +assist her in the house." + +"Very well. At what hour in the morning are you due at your office?" + +"Half-past nine." + +"Then you will be able, if you leave here at about seven or half-past, +to take Barbara to Canonbury, and get to the office in time." + +"Yes, I can do that, and in the evening I will join you." + +"Thanks. The next thing is about your nephew, Ronald. It appears to me +to be almost an act of treachery to conceal from him what has +occurred." + +"What good purpose would be served," asked Bob, "by disclosing it to +him? He is blind, and could not assist us. By and by, perhaps, he may +be of use, though I do not see in what way; at present it would only +distress him to let him into the secret." + +"We will wait, then; but I shall call upon him to-morrow and have a +little chat with him about Mr. Nisbet. It will be a busy day for all +of us, and I shall be absent from the house till evening, but you will +find me here when you come. Another thing that is in my mind is +whether there is any special motive for Mr. Nisbet's return to +London--any special motive, I mean, in relation to this mystery." + +"Impossible to say, Ned." + +"That is so. Well, we must wait. Now I think we have threshed matters +out, and we will get to bed. I will just run out and post my letter to +Mr. Dickson, and this exciting day's work will be over." + +We were all up next morning before seven o'clock, and after a hasty +breakfast I told Barbara of our plans with respect to her. She was +quite willing, and expressed her gratitude; her only trouble was about +her sister Molly, who, she said, might come to the house in search for +her when she was absent. It was not difficult to set her mind at ease +upon this point, and she departed with Bob in perfect contentment. + +The first call I made--at ten o'clock--was upon Mr. Dickson. He had +received my letter, and he informed me that the description I had +given of Mr. Oliver Nisbet tallied exactly with that gentleman's +appearance. He had not ascertained from what part of the Continent Mr. +Nisbet had come, but he had learned that he had been abroad for some +time past. Our relations with each other being now on a more +confidential footing, I spoke to him about Dr. Cooper, and instructed +him to keep his eye on the pettifogger. From his office I proceeded to +the residence of Ronald Elsdale, and opened up a conversation with +him, leading artfully to the subject upon which I desired information. + +"From certain events that have transpired lately," I said, "I am +curious to learn something more of his character. Were you aware at +the time of your intimacy with him that his stepdaughter was heiress +to a large fortune?" + +No, he answered, he was not aware of it. From the manner in which they +traveled he judged Mr. Nisbet to be a man of means, but he knew +nothing further. + +"Respecting his acquirements," I said. "Was he of a scientific turn of +mind?" + +"He was fond of chemistry, I believe," said Ronald, "and of +experimentalizing. Your question brings to my mind a conversation +which took place at _table d'hôte_ when we were in Chamounix. It was +on the subject of anæsthetics, and the effect of certain poisonous +chemicals upon different temperaments. I fancy that Mr. Nisbet was at +first disinclined to take part in the discussion, but a remark escaped +him which was disputed by a person at the table, and he grew warm, and +spoke with authority upon the subject, with which he was evidently +familiar. It was the only occasion upon which I heard him speak +freely, and I think he was not pleased at having been drawn into the +conversation, for he stopped suddenly in the middle of a sentence, and +left the room. Beatrice told me afterward that he was very clever in +those matters, and that on occasions when she had passed a sleepless +night from toothache or some other ailment, he had given her a draught +which produced a good night's rest. I recollect now that she related +an incident which strangely interested me. She had been restless and +in pain for two or three days, and her stepfather prescribed for her. +When she awoke in the morning her pain had passed away, and she was +quite well physically, but a singular thing happened to her. She had +lost her memory. She could not recall what happened yesterday or the +day before, and she said with a smile that it was with difficulty she +remembered her name. Gradually her power of memory came back to her, +and she recollected everything perfectly." + +"Did this occur to her again, Mr. Elsdale?" + +"So far as I know it occurred only once. I suppose you will not tell +me why you are asking these questions, Mr. Emery?" + +"Not yet; and I am going to ask you two more. Do you believe that you +will ever see the young lady again?" + +"See her? No. How can I? You forget that I am blind. But I have the +firmest belief that I shall come into association with her again." + +"In life?" + +"In life," he replied gravely. + +"My other question is this. On former occasions, when we were in each +other's company, your uncle being present, you have had an impression +that there was a dog, or some other living creature, in the room. Have +you such an impression now?" + +"No." (I may mention that the apparition of the cat was not visible to +me.) "I know, Mr. Emery, that you must think I am laboring under some +hallucination, but I cannot help that. You must take me as you find +me, and make the best, and not the worst, of me. I have an engagement +with a pupil, and you will excuse me now." + +I had studied the time-tables, and, it being twelve o'clock, it was +safe for me to present myself to my poor deluded wife. On my way home +I met with another adventure. There was a block of vehicles in the +road, and cabs, omnibuses, and carts were waiting for the policeman's +instruction to proceed. In one of these cabs, a hansom, a gentleman +was sitting whom I immediately recognized as Mr. Oliver Nisbet. He had +a red beard and mustache, he had a high forehead, his eyes were of a +cold blue, and he was impatiently dangling a pair of gold-rimmed +eyeglasses between his fingers. The faithfulness of Barbara's +description rather startled me, and I should scarcely have been +surprised if he had accosted me. But I was a stranger to him, and he +took no notice of me; this gave me the opportunity of observing him +closely, and I was confident that I was not mistaken. What +particularly struck me was the steely blue of his eyes; there seemed +to be a compelling power in them which strangely affected me, and I +could not help thinking that I should not relish coming under their +influence. The policeman stood aside, and the vehicles passed on. In a +moment or two he was out of sight. + +My wife opened the door for me, and kissed me affectionately. + +"Have you enjoyed yourself?" she asked. + +"Immensely," I replied, with a guilty feeling. + +"I am glad to hear it," was her response, "though I must say, Edward, +you don't look much the better for the trip." + +"That is only your fancy, Maria. It has done me so much good that I +want you to spend a couple of weeks in Brighton." + +"I shall be very glad of the change. When shall we start?" + +"I cannot go with you," I said, "as I have business to attend to in +London. You can easily get a lady friend to accompany you, and I will +be responsible for all the expenses. Maria, I insist upon it. You are +pale, you are out of sorts, and the change will set you up. I intend +to exercise my authority, and to insist upon it." + +"You are very kind; but----" + +"I will have no 'buts.' It has to be done, and done it shall be." + +And I was so determined that done it was. I did not leave home till I +had seen Maria and a lady friend off; then, and then only, did I look +upon myself as free. If the necessity arose I could easily keep her +away for a longer time than two weeks. + +Once more I set my face toward Lamb's Terrace, riding in a cab, and +furnished with provisions, in the shape of a cooked ham, a supply of +chops, bread, butter, tea, and everything that was necessary to +victual the garrison. I took the things with me in a hamper, and at +the corner of the desolate thoroughfare I discharged the cab, and +carried the hamper to the house. + +It is necessary here to mention what I did before I left the house in +the morning. I can give no reason for my proceedings, and therefore I +must content myself with relating what it was I did. The two dresses +found in the attic cupboard I repacked carefully in their wrapping of +brown paper, and replaced them in the cupboard. I locked the two rooms +which had been occupied by Bob and me and Barbara, and I removed all +traces of any persons having been in the house. Again, I say, I do not +know why I adopted these apparently unnecessary precautions; I must +have been mysteriously prompted, as I had been on other occasions in +the course of my strange adventures. + +I did not expect Bob for an hour, and I busied myself with arranging +the supply of food I had brought with me. Then I went to the attic +cupboard, with the intention of bringing down the women's garments I +had discovered there. To my astonishment they were gone. Some person +had been in the house during my absence, and had taken them away. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + MR. NISBET VISITS LAMB'S TERRACE. + + +I had no doubt whatever that this person was Mr. Oliver Nisbet, who +must have in his possession the means of access to the house. This +being the case, the question of motive arose. It could not have been +the value of the garments, which, to a man of fortune, was of small +importance. The care which in the first instance had been taken to +conceal them became now in my judgment of extreme significance; still +more so the stealthy manner in which they had been removed. Mr. Nisbet +had been in London comparatively but a few hours before he carried out +a design the probable intention of which was to remove and destroy +evidence which might in some way place him in peril. Likely enough he +had come to London for this special purpose, fearing, as he was no +longer the tenant, that the house would be let to strangers, into +whose hands the clothing would naturally fall. Surely he would not +have paid his stealthy visit to Lamb's Terrace if he had not cause to +dread exposure! + +Bob, who presented himself punctually at the time he named, agreed +with me in this view, and when I told him of my coming by chance upon +Mr. Nisbet, and spoke of the impression he produced upon me, he looked +disturbed. I asked the reason, and he answered: + +"Well, Ned, I don't mind confessing to you that I have a secret horror +of Mr. Nisbet, and an unreasonable dread of him. I hardly think we two +would be a match for him." + +I could not help smiling as I remarked, "There is not much chance of a +personal encounter, Bob." + +"I am not so sure of that," he said. "I am not so sure that he is not +at this moment concealed in the house, the ins and outs of which he +must be much better acquainted with than we are." + +"Concealed for the purpose of doing us an injury?" I inquired. + +"Concealed," he replied, "first to ascertain if any persons were in +occupation and had any suspicions of the last tenant--in which case he +would in all probability endeavor to get rid of those persons as he +got rid of his unfortunate stepdaughter." + +"You forget, Bob, the gas is cut off." + +"Ned," said Bob impressively, "my firm belief is that the young lady +did not meet her death by asphyxiation caused by an escape of gas. +True, we have no evidence of a crime having been committed; our +suspicions go for nothing; your apparition of the cat goes for +nothing; a third-rate lawyer would laugh them to scorn; but none the +less do I believe that the lady my nephew loved was murdered by her +stepfather. Your interview with Dr. Cooper strengthens these +suspicions, the removal of the women's clothing confirms them in my +mind. And still, legally, we are no further advanced. Everything in +this house belongs to the last tenant. He paid the rent regularly +while he held the lease, and if he chose to leave his property here +unprotected, it was his affair; and if, after a long absence from +England, he returns and pays an early visit to the house, which is +still practically without a tenant, for the purpose of taking +possession of part of his property, he is still fairly within his +right. Even supposing that there were a law to touch him--which there +is not--he could easily explain the matter, and his explanation would +be accepted without question." + +"Unless," I interposed, "we stepped forward with what we know." + +"We know nothing, Ned, absolutely nothing. We should only bring +ourselves into trouble, lay ourselves open to a criminal action for +defamation, which the most skillful lawyer in the land could not +successfully defend. What do you think I have done to-day?" + +"I have not the least idea." + +"I asked my employer for a holiday, and I have got it. I have been +slaving in his office for years without a single week's vacation. He +gave me the holiday, three or four weeks, at my option, and I intend +to employ the time in remaining with you and assisting in the +elucidation of this mystery, if it is ever to be arrived at." + +"You are a real friend; but, Bob, that is a nice idea of a holiday, +after years of hard work." + +"Never mind. The mystery has got tight hold of me, and I don't mean to +leave it unless I am compelled by circumstances to do so. You have no +objection to company and assistance, I suppose?" + +"I am truly grateful for it." + +"You see," said Bob earnestly, "I happen to be more closely connected +with it than you are. You have no human relation with the parties in +the affair, who, until quite lately, were complete strangers to you. I +have some sort of connection with them through my nephew Ronald, whom +I have seen to-day, and who, I may tell you, is troubled by the +inquiries you have made of him. He has no notion of their tendency, +but he felt that something is being concealed from him which he has a +right to know. It is in his interests, and for his satisfaction, that +I enter into a direct partnership with you. Have you succeeded in +persuading your good wife to go to the seaside?" + +"I have, and she will be away for at least for a fortnight; if +necessary I shall insist upon her remaining at Brighton for a longer +time." + +"So that we are free to set actively to work without interruption." + +"Yes, Bob. How about Barbara?" + +"My landlady takes her upon trial. There will be no charge for board +and lodging, and if she gives satisfaction she will get a shilling a +week to commence with." + +"I am glad to hear it. And now to get back to your suspicions that Mr. +Nisbet may be concealed in the house even while we are talking. He +might endeavor to get rid of us, you said. When, and how?" + +"When? In the dead of night, when we are sound asleep. How? Well, I +put together these facts: Mr. Nisbet's knowledge of dangerous +chemicals, the narcotic which Ronald informed you he gave to his +stepdaughter, and the significant conclusions which can be drawn from +your conversation with Dr. Cooper. I propose, not this evening, +to-morrow morning, that you, or we together, pay a visit to Dr. +Cooper, and have an interview with him. He has a grievance against Mr. +Nisbet; it might be turned to effect." + +"You suspect him of being an accomplice?" + +"In a certain sense. What do they call it in law? Accessory after the +fact. He might have known nothing at the time; the belief that his +knowledge of poisonous narcotics--bear in mind his boast--had been +used to a bad end may have come afterward." + +"But if he makes any admission it could be used against himself." + +"It could, but he may be able to prove his innocence of a guilty +intention. However, that is a point for future consideration. A visit +can do no harm. He is desperately poor, and a little bribe may tempt +him; if we cannot worm anything out of him, we may out of his wife. +Now, Ned, before I consent to sleep in this house I intend to search +it thoroughly from roof to cellar." + +We carried out this proposal; we thoroughly examined every room, we +made fast every door when we closed it behind us; and we discovered +nothing. Our search over, we were quite convinced that we were the +only persons in the house. + +The following two hours were devoted to preparing supper, and while we +were thus employed we discussed our movements for to-morrow. Bob +insisted that Ronald Elsdale should be made acquainted with all that +had transpired, and I consented. Our first visit in the morning was to +be paid to the inquiry agent, our second to Dr. Cooper, our third to +Ronald. Bob was thoroughly in earnest, and I perceived that his +interest in the matter was now no less than my own. + +I have already stated that the room we had selected was on the second +floor, and that its windows faced the back garden. There were Venetian +blinds to the window, and some of the slats were awry and loose from +long neglect. For a reason which he did not explain Bob shaded the one +candle which we had lighted, so that the fact of the apartment being +occupied could not be quite clearly established from without. Several +times Bob went to the window and cautiously peeped through the crooked +slats. + +"What for, Bob?" I asked. + +"Just a fancy of mine," he replied. "Is your apparition present?" + +"It is not." + +The weather had suddenly changed, in fit accordance with the +extraordinary vagaries of our beautiful climate. A fine night had set +in, and there was a full bright moon. In the middle of a game of +cribbage Bob rose once more, and stepped to the window and remained +there. + +"Don't touch the candle, Ned," he said, "and move cautiously. Come +here quietly, so as not to give an observer outside any indication +that human beings are in the room." + +I obeyed him, and presently was standing motionless by his side, +peeping through the slats. + +The garden was bathed in light. Standing in full view I saw a man +facing our window, his eyes intently fixed in our direction in the +endeavor to discover whether the apartment was inhabited. + +"Can you see him plainly?' + +"Quite plainly, Bob." + +"Who is it?" + +"Mr. Oliver Nisbet." + +"Ah!" + +And now a strange incident occurred, visible to me, but not to Bob. In +the clear moonlight I saw the skeleton cat creeping toward the man who +was watching. Slowly it advanced and fastened itself upon him, and +climbed upward till it reached his shoulder. And there it squatted, +its yellow eyes resting ominously on Mr. Nisbet's face. He seemed to +be perfectly unconscious of the presence of the apparition, but to me +it was an unmistakable sign, more powerful than the strongest human +proof, that the man had been guilty of a horrible crime. In silence we +stood at the window for several minutes, and then Mr. Nisbet slunk +away to the rear of the garden. He climbed the crumbling wall which +encompassed it, and was gone. + +"What do you say to that, Ned?" asked Bob. + +I could not answer, so enthralled was I by the spiritual evidence of +guilt of which I had been a witness. Bob looked at me inquiringly. + +"Your face is as white as death," he said. "Are you ill?" + +"A moment, Bob," I replied; and when I was sufficiently recovered I +explained to him what I had seen. It stirred him as deeply as it had +stirred me. + +"If a shadow of doubt was in my mind," he said, "it is dispelled. The +villain must be brought to justice." + +"He shall be, if human effort can accomplish it. I will not rest till +his guilt is brought home to him." + +We slept but little that night, and did not take our rest together. +Fearful of consequences to which we could give no name, we slept and +watched in turn, Bob's pistol being handy for any emergency. Nothing +further, however, occurred to disturb us. Early in the morning we +breakfasted, and took our way to Mr. Dickson's office. + +"You received my message, then?" were his first words to me. + +"What message?" I inquired. + +"The one I sent to your house an hour ago. I knew it was safe to leave +it, because your wife was in the country. Oh, we find out things +without being told. It belongs to our business." + +"I did not sleep at home last night; I received no message." + +"It does not matter, now you are here. I have news for you. Yesterday +Mr. Oliver Nisbet paid two visits to the house in Lamb's Terrace." + +"You discovered that, did you?" + +"I should be a bungler if I had not. We have never left him, and I +will stake all I am worth that he had not the slightest suspicion that +he was being watched. His first visit was made at two o'clock. He let +himself into the house with a key, and remained there about an hour. +He went in with his hands empty; he came out with his hands full. He +carried a large parcel with him wrapped in brown paper, and this +evidently was the motive for his first visit. We do not know what was +in the parcel; he took it to his room in the Métropole, and left it +there. His second visit was paid in the night, at half-past nine. He +did not enter by the front door; indeed, he did not enter at all. He +climbed over the back wall of the garden, and stood there, watching +the back windows, for half an hour or so. Then he returned the same +way as he came. From Lamb's Terrace he went to Theobald's Row, South +Lambeth, and had an interview with a disreputable apothecary there of +the name of Cooper. He calls himself a doctor, but I doubt whether he +has a diploma. From Theobald's Row, Mr. Nisbet returned to the +Métropole, and left instructions to be called early. If you went to +the hotel now you would not find him there." + +"He has fled!" I exclaimed. + +"I do not know about that," said Mr. Dickson, with a smile. "We will +call it a departure. He has taken his departure." + +"Gone to another hotel?" + +"Not in this country. He left for the Continent this morning by the +early train." + +I stamped my foot impatiently. "Then he has escaped us!" I cried. + +"He has not gone alone," said Mr. Dickson calmly. "One of my officers +went by the same train. I am right in my understanding that you do not +mind a little extra expense?" + +"Quite right." + +"The question of expense is frequently a puzzling matter with us, +movements requiring an unauthorized expenditure of money sometimes +occurring suddenly, when there is not time to consult our clients. If +I had allowed Mr. Nisbet to leave the country unaccompanied he might +have slipped through your fingers; in any event it would have been a +great trouble, and have necessitated the expenditure of much more +money, to pick up the broken threads. Many a good case has been +spoiled by parsimony." + +"I understand that. Where has Mr. Nisbet gone to?" + +"I cannot inform you yet. As far as Paris, certainly; but my +impression is he goes farther. My officer will telegraph me from +Paris, and will not leave him till he has reached his destination." + +I considered a moment, and then took Bob aside. "Will you accompany me +to Paris?" I asked. + +"With pleasure." + +I turned to Mr. Dickson. "Your officer will telegraph to you from +Paris?" + +"Yes." + +"If I wait here for information I shall lose a day. You could +telegraph to me in Paris the address you receive from your officer?" + +"There is no difficulty. You intend to follow?" + +"I do. Give me the name of some central hotel in Paris where I can put +up till I receive your telegram." + +"Hôtel de Bade, Boulevard des Italiens." + +"That will do. I have something to do here in London before I can +start. I can get through my business in about an hour, perhaps a few +minutes more. Bob, run out and bring two hansoms with smart horses." +Bob vanished. "Now, the best train, Mr. Dickson?" + +"Let me see. It is not yet nine. Your business say an hour and twenty +minutes. A train from Victoria, another from Charing Cross, at eleven. +Could you catch one of these, whichever is the nearest for you?" + +"Yes." + +"You arrive in Paris at seven this evening. Our man will reach there +two hours and a half earlier. You may get a telegram from me at the +Hôtel de Bade within an hour or so of your arrival." + +"Capital. Good-morning." + +The cabs were at the door, and I told Bob to drive with speed to my +house, to pack up a bag for both of us expeditiously, and to meet me +at Ronald Elsdale's house at a little after ten. The cab was to remain +there, and he was to detain his nephew till I joined him there. +Pending my arrival he was to tell Ronald everything. I gave him a line +to my servant, authorizing him to take what clothes were necessary for +the journey. + +"Double fare," I said to both the cabmen, "if you drive at your +fullest speed." + +The next moment Bob was driving to my house and I was on my way to Dr. +Cooper. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + ON THE TRACK. + + +Theobald's Row was as depressing in the morning as it had been in the +evening, and looked as if a bath would do it good. The workingmen's +lodging houses bore even a more striking resemblance to prisons, and +the men and women I passed looked as if they had been up all night, +and had hurried out to their depressing occupations without having had +recourse to soap and water. On the doorstep of Dr. Cooper's shop the +same half dozen children were playing the same games with pieces of +broken crockery and dry mud, and bore no appearance of having been +washed since I last set eyes on them. One of the children, catching +sight of me, jumped up and ran into the shop, screaming: + +"Here's the gentleman, mother!" At which summons the slatternly woman +immediately presented herself. It struck me that there was something +aggressive in her aspect. + +"Oh," she said, in no amiable tone, "it's you!" + +"Yes," I replied, "it is I." + +"And you call yourself a workingman," she exclaimed. + +"I am not aware that I have done so." + +"So my husband told me last night; you are the man who called last +night, and went to seek my husband at the Britannia. Don't deny it." + +"I have not the least intention of doing so. You gave me the +information where to see him." + +"So I did, and he said you pretended to be a workingman. Now, a +workingman wouldn't say, 'it is I'; he'd say 'it's me.' I have been +brought pretty low, but I had fair schooling when I was young, and I +know a workingman from a gentleman." + +"Well," I observed, "say that I am a gentleman; is that anything +against me?" + +"It is everything against you. I heard from my husband all that passed +between you--as nearly as he could remember, in the state he was. When +he's in his cups his tongue runs too free, and you gave him rope +enough. Perhaps you're not a gentleman, after all. What do you say to +detective?" + +"I am not a detective," I answered, with, I confess, a rather guilty +feeling, for if I was not doing the work of a detective, what else was +I doing? "For what reason on earth should a detective be running after +your husband?" + +"An admission!" she cried, and I saw that I had to do with a sharp +woman. "Then you _are_ running after him." She folded her arms +defiantly. "Now, what for?" + +I smiled rather feebly as I said, "You would not believe me if I told +you I have come to put something in his way." + +"You are right there. I should not believe you." + +"But it is the truth, nevertheless, and it will not serve me to talk +it over with you. Can I see your husband?" + +"You cannot see him." + +"Is he not at home?" + +"He is not at home." + +"Will he be in soon?" + +"He will not be in soon." + +There was no mistaking her meaning; she regarded me as an enemy, and +it was her intention to be personally offensive. + +"You do not wish me and your husband to meet?" + +"You shan't meet if I can help it." + +"Then you must have something to fear." + +This thrust, which I gave involuntarily--for I had no desire to hurt +the poor woman's feelings--drove the color from her face. She +retreated a step, and stumbled over a child that was playing on the +floor. The slight accident seemed to infuriate her; she angrily pushed +the child away with her foot, and turned upon me like a tigress. + +"What are you hunting us down for?" she cried. "Do you think I have +not had trouble enough in my life? Driven here and there, with a pack +of hungry children in rags, and tied to a man who expects me to keep a +home and a family upon ten shillings a week! But he's my husband for +all that, and I'm not going to help you bring a deeper disgrace upon +us. You came here yesterday to set a trap for him, with a lying story +that you owed him a few pence which you were anxious to pay. God knows +what you wormed out of him, for, clever as he is, he's a fool when he +pours the drink down his throat. I've warned him over and over again +to be careful what he says; but I might as well have talked to a +stone. He's out of your reach now, at all events, and you'll have a +job to find him. I wish you joy of your task, you cowardly sneak!" + +The passion of her defiance of me was wonderful to witness; but +underlying this defiance was a terror which did not escape my +observation. + +"I came here," I said gently, for her despair and her poverty inspired +me with genuine pity, "in the hope that he would assist me in the +discovery of a crime which has not been brought to light. If he is not +implicated in it he would have earned a few pounds; if in any way he +is involved in it, all I can say is, Heaven pity him--and you!" + +My time was too precious to waste further words upon her, and I left +the shop, and entered the cab which was waiting for me. Before I could +close the door a man accosted me. + +"I heard what passed inside the shop," he said. "Make it worth my +while, and I'll tell you something about Dr. Cooper." + +"Jump in," I answered; "I have no time to stop talking here." I gave +the driver Ronald Elsdale's address, and we sped thitherward. "Now, +what have you to say?" + +"You want to know where the doctor is?" he commenced. + +"I do." + +"Well, I can't tell you that exactly, but I can put you on his track. +It's worth, I should say,"--he deliberated, and looked at me covertly +to decide what he would be likely to screw out of me--"not less than +half a crown." + +"I will give you that if you keep nothing back." + +"All right. Where's the coin?" + +"No, my friend," I said, "I'll have the goods before I pay for them." + +"You're a sharp old file, but I'm out of work; It's capital and labor, +and we know who's the grinder. Here was I, at six this morning, +looking for work and not getting it. The doctor's shop shut, it's not +the likes of him that catches worms. Back I come home at a quarter +past seven, and there's a telegraph boy banging at the doctor's door. +I help him bang, and out comes the doctor, doing up his buttons; takes +the telegram, reads it, turns red and white, rushes into the house, +rushes out in a brace of shakes, and scuds off. 'What's up?' thinks I, +and off I scuds after him; he's too excited to notice. At St. George's +Hospital, walking up and down in a fume, and looking as if he'd knock +everything and everybody into a cocked hat if he had his way, there's +a gentleman waiting for him, and a four-wheeler, with trunks atop, +waiting for both of 'em. They have a hurried talk; I'm not near enough +to hear what passes, but I get up to the cab as they step in. 'Charing +Cross Station,' cries the gentleman to cabby. 'Break your horse's neck +if you like; if I don't catch the Continental train I'll break yours.' +Off goes the cab, and then, what do you think? off goes another cab +that I hadn't noticed, after the first. I've got no money to pay for +cabs, but having nothing better to do, and looking upon the move as a +rum sort of move, I foots it to the station, and gets there at five +minutes to eight. There they are, Dr. Cooper and his gentleman friend, +as busy as bees, and there's the bell ringing and porters shouting, +and everything hurry scurry. Away they go through the gate, and off +goes the train; and if all that aint worth half a dollar I'd like to +know what is." + +"You shall have the money," I said; "are you sure they both went away +in the train?" + +"I'm sure they didn't comeback. I asked one of the porters what train +that was. 'Train for Paris,' he said." + +"Did you see the man who went after them in the second cab?" + +"Never caught sight of him in the cab or out of it." + +"But you saw the gentleman who met Dr. Cooper at the hospital." + +"Of course I did." + +"Was there anything peculiar in his appearance that you noticed +particularly?" + +"I noticed he had a red beard and mustache." + +"Did he wear spectacles?" + +"He had a pair of gold eyeglasses that he was continually putting on +and off." + +"You have earned the money. Here it is." + +He took the half crown, bawled to the driver to stop, jumped out of +the cab, and was off. + +At five minutes past ten my cab drew up at Ronald Elsdale's house. Bob +had been expeditious, and was there before me; he had even found time +to tell Ronald everything. He informed me of this as he himself +admitted me into the house. + +"How did he take it?" I inquired. + +"Very quietly," Bob answered. "He did not interrupt me once, nor did +he ask a single question. When I finished he said, 'I must write +letters to my pupils, telling them that there must be an unavoidable +interruption in their lessons for a short time----'" + +I did not follow Ronald's excellent example of listening quietly, but +interrupted Bob excitedly. "For what reason?" I asked. + +"He intends to accompany us. I did not argue with him. When my nephew +makes up his mind to a thing he is not to be turned from it. His +mother is packing his bag now. I had no difficulty at your house. The +maid showed me where your clothes were, and I bundled a lot of them +into the Gladstone. Here is Ronald. Don't oppose him; it will be quite +useless." + +"Good-morning, Mr. Emery," said the young man. "My uncle has related +to me all the particulars of this strange affair, which we have not +time to talk over now. You have heard of my intention to accompany +you." + +"Yes." + +"I have taken it upon myself to send to my uncle's house for the poor +child, Barbara, and she will go with us, too. She has no clothes for +such a trip, I understand, but my mother has found a few things that +will do for her, and when we are in Paris we can buy whatever else she +requires. She will not be an additional expense to you; I will pay for +her." + +"We can arrange that when we are on the road," I said, somewhat amazed +at this unexpected addition to our party. "Do you really consider it +necessary that she should accompany us?" + +"Otherwise," he replied, "I should not have ventured to send for her. +Mr. Emery, we must not allow a chance to escape us; we must take +advantage of everything that suggests or presents itself that is +likely to assist us. I am blind; if Mr. Nisbet stood before me I +should not know it. My uncle has not seen him; you are under the +impression that you would be certain to recognize him, but there are +thousands of men with red hair and gold eyeglasses. The only one of us +who can be positive is Barbara." + +I saw that he was resolved, and that it would be useless to +remonstrate. What struck me, also, was that he seemed already to have +assumed the command of the expedition, and to have placed himself at +the head of it. Undoubtedly he had the right to take the initiative, +for if a foul deed had been committed it was the lady he loved who had +been the victim. + +"Mr. Elsdale," I said, "I am satisfied with what you have done." + +"Thank you, Mr. Emery," was his response. "There is here a mystery to +be solved, a horrible wrong to be righted, a criminal to be brought to +the bar of justice. I do not pretend to say that in so short a time I +have reduced to order the terrible suggestions and possibilities that +have presented themselves to my mind, but a man's duty is before me, +and I will perform it faithfully and inexorably. Mere worldly +considerations do not weigh in the scale. Though I lived to be an old +man with this mystery still unsolved, I would not relinquish it. I +will pursue it unflinchingly to the end, if I walk the earth barefoot. +To you has come a spiritual sign and a spiritual mandate, and, through +you, it has come to me." He drew me aside. "Is the apparition that +first appeared to you in that ill-fated house visible to you? Is it +here with us in the room?" + +"It is not." + +"It will appear again; be sure that it will appear again; and when +justice is satisfied it will disappear, and you will no longer be +troubled by it." He turned to Bob, and included him in the +conversation. "Another reason why it is necessary and right that the +little girl, Barbara, should accompany us is that we go not only to +seek Mr. Nisbet, but to seek her sister. The young woman may have +fallen under the spell of Mr. Nisbet's evil influence; he may have +made her his slave. If that is the case, the efforts of strangers like +ourselves to enlist her on our side would be futile; the love she bore +her sister may help us here." + +"You have entirely convinced me, Mr. Elsdale," I said, honestly and +sincerely. "Little Barbara's aid may be invaluable to us." + +As I made this remark the child knocked at the door, and as the +maid-servant admitted her, Ronald's mother entered the room and said +that all was ready. I looked at my watch. + +"We have barely time to catch the eleven o'clock train," I said. + +"Wot d'yer want of me, sir?" asked Barbara, whose appearance denoted +that she had been summoned from household duties, without having had a +moment given to her to tidy herself. + +"We are going to take you for a trip, Barbara." + +"A trip! Where to, sir?" + +"To Paris, Barbara." The child gasped, and almost fell to the ground +in her astonishment. "Don't be frightened. A brave little girl like +you will be glad to see foreign countries." + +Ronald's mother was busy with the little girl, smoothing her hair and +arranging her poor clothes. She had a child's mantle, which she put on +the girl, and a hat which made her look quite presentable. It was +surprising what a few skillful touches achieved in poor little +Barbara's appearance. + +"Foring countries, sir!" she exclaimed, making no resistance to what +was being done. "But I can't go, sir; I can't go! I must wait in +London for Molly." + +"We are going to try and find Molly, my dear." + +"To find Molly! Oh--oh!" + +Her joy was so profound that she could not utter another word. And +when Ronald Elsdale, after embracing his mother fondly, took Barbara's +hand and led her to the door, she yielded unresistingly. Away flew the +cabs, and landed us at the railway station just in time to catch the +eleven o'clock train. It was fortunate that we had only hand baggage +with us, or we should have missed it. Within a few moments of our +seating ourselves in the carriage we were speeding to Dover pier. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + WE ARRIVE IN PARIS. + + +As we traveled to the sea I narrated what had occurred in my quest for +Dr. Cooper, and was allowed to do so without interruption. Bob was +unusually silent in the presence of his nephew and Barbara, and this +silence was, as it were, enforced by himself. Several times he seemed +to be on the point of interrupting me for the purpose of asking +questions, and on each occasion he pulled up short and said nothing. +Neither did Ronald speak much. It would have been natural had he made +some observations upon the reason of Dr. Cooper's sudden departure in +the company of Mr. Nisbet, and had he inquired whether I really +believed the two men were traveling together. But respecting these +matters he preserved absolute silence, and when he spoke it was upon +any other subject than that of our all-engrossing mission. Barbara, +also, had very little to say for herself--being altogether lost in the +wonder of the adventure which was to introduce her to foreign +countries--so we were not a very lively party as we were whirled to +Dover. We were less inclined for liveliness when we were at sea, all +of us, with the exception of Ronald, being prostrate and helpless, the +passage being a bad one. With the earth beneath our feet we soon +recovered, and were reconciled to life, though Barbara plaintively +inquired if we couldn't get back another way. Her appearance attracted +a great deal of attention to us, of which we took no notice, being too +deeply occupied with our own affairs. We were only twenty minutes +late, and before eight o'clock we alighted at the Hôtel de Bade, where +we engaged rooms, keeping Barbara as much out of sight as possible. +The first thing we did was to go out and purchase a suitable outfit +for the child at an immense establishment, the "Old England," where +everything in the way of dress could be obtained, and when she was +arrayed in her attire she said she felt like a princess. Of course she +was in a state of bewildered admiration at the lights of Paris, which +she declared beat "a theayter," and I have no doubt she thought either +that she was dreaming or taking a part in a ravishing fairy story. +Upon our return to the hotel I found a telegram awaiting me from Mr. +Dickson, from which we learned that Mr. Nisbet and a gentleman who had +accompanied him from London were at the Hôtel Chatham. The last words +of the telegram were, "Do nothing till you hear from me again. If you +make open inquiries you may ruin all." This advice was sound but +irritating, our mistaken impression being that by remaining idle, we +were playing into the enemy's hands. There was nothing else for it, +however; we were bound to wait for further information and +instruction. We sent Barbara to bed early, and bade her not to leave +her room in the morning till we called for her; then we went out and +paced the bright boulevards. As we strolled and chatted Ronald +suggested that we ought to ascertain for ourselves whether Mr. Nisbet +and Dr. Cooper were at the Hôtel Chatham; he had become very restless, +and we endeavored in vain to argue him out of the idea. We only +succeeded in prevailing upon him to allow Bob to go alone to the +hotel, and find some excuse for looking over the book of arrivals in +the office for the names of Nisbet and Cooper. + +"Mr. Nisbet knows you," I said to Ronald, "and if he should see you we +may as well return at once to England, for we shall have put him on +his guard and have brought about our own defeat. He may also have some +idea of my appearance, either from seeing me without my being aware of +it, or from the description given of me by Dr. Cooper, and there would +be danger in my going to make inquiries. Your uncle is the safest +party; Mr. Nisbet can know nothing of him, and if they meet his +suspicions will not be aroused." + +Bob went by himself to the Hôtel Chatham, not without inward +misgivings, for he knew but a few words of French, and Ronald's +assurance that the waiters and the managers could all speak English +did not set him at his ease. However, he left us at the corner of Rue +Daonou, making us promise not to wander away, in case he should not be +able to find us upon his return, for he was distrustful of himself in +the Paris streets, this being his first visit to the Continent. It was +also my first visit, and I could not help thinking how poor a match +for Mr. Nisbet Bob and I would have been without the assistance of +Ronald Elsdale. Ronald was blind, it is true, but he could speak +French and German fluently, and it was really he who guided us through +the streets; he was familiar with every shop and building of note, and +there was no fear of our losing our way in his company. + +Bob was absent fifteen minutes or so, and he came back with the +information that the name of Mr. Oliver Nisbet was on the books as +having arrived this evening, but that he could not find the name of +Cooper. + +"Did you see anyone answering to their description?" asked Ronald. + +"No one," replied Bob. + +"All the better," I remarked. + +"Why?" said Ronald. "Do you suppose they have any suspicion that they +are being followed?" + +"That is a question I cannot answer," I said, "though the probability +is that Mr. Nisbet believes himself safe, or he would hardly have gone +to so central a hotel as the Chatham; but it is certain that they are +proceeding with some degree of caution, or the name of Cooper would +have been found in the arrival book. Has any idea suggested itself to +you that would be likely to explain the reason of Mr. Nisbet choosing +Dr. Cooper as a companion?" + +"Many ideas have suggested themselves," answered Ronald, "of which I +have not yet spoken; but we will follow this one out, to see if we +agree. You paid a visit to Dr. Cooper on Sunday evening, and, as his +wife said to you this morning, he let his tongue run too freely. Her +remark proves that some conversation must have passed between them as +to your visit, and that Dr. Cooper recalled--not very distinctly +perhaps--what it was he said. My belief is that this conversation took +place in the presence of a third party, who was chiefly responsible +for it." + +"Of a third party!" I exclaimed. + +"The third party," continued Ronald, "being Mr. Oliver Nisbet, who +visited the Coopers on the following night. He must have had some +motive for this visit, for it is not likely--after what you learned +from Dr. Cooper's lips of the feeling he entertained toward Mr. +Nisbet--that this gentleman would have paid his accomplice a visit in +which there was no direct motive. I speak of them as accomplices +because there is no doubt in my mind on the point. Dr. Cooper was +bribed to give a false death certificate, false for the reason that he +was not in a position to give a true one, and for this service Mr. +Nisbet paid him, and made promises (according to Dr. Cooper) which he +did not fulfill. Whether these promises were or were not as Dr. Cooper +hinted is of small moment in what we are discussing, the one thing +certain being that Dr. Cooper labored under a sense of injury, and +believed himself to have been wronged. It is more than probable that, +in some way, Dr. Cooper conveyed this impression to Mr. Nisbet, and +that he was aware of it. This must have occurred years ago, and +shortly afterward Dr. Cooper loses sight of his employer, and has no +means of communicating with him. If he had known where to write to him +he would certainly have done so, in his state of poverty, and would +most likely have thrown out some kind of threat. During this interval +Mr. Nisbet keeps himself hidden from the man who has served him at a +critical time; he has no use for him; all evidence of the crime (the +nature of which has yet to be discovered) he has committed is +destroyed, and there is only one person in the world who can throw the +remotest suspicion upon him; that person is Dr. Cooper, and even he, +if he dared take open action, would find himself implicated in the +consequences. So matters rest for a considerable time, and we come now +to the present. It is on Sunday only that you are informed by the +private inquiry agent you employed that Mr. Nisbet had returned to +London and was staying at the Métropole. Again crops up the hidden +motive for his return. Was it to visit the house in Lamb's Terrace in +which the crime was committed? Was it to seek Dr. Cooper for the +purpose of obtaining his assistance in a fresh crime to be committed +on foreign soil? Conjecture only will assist us here, for we know +nothing; but conjecture, put to a logical use, may lead to the right +conclusion. I assert that Mr. Nisbet's visit to London was expressly +made either to go to Lamb's Terrace or to see Dr. Cooper; certainly +for one of these reasons, perhaps for both. When you learn that he is +in London you are on your way to Dr. Cooper's house; you find him; you +have a singular conversation with him; you return home, and my uncle +informs you of the discovery of the clothes he has found in the attic +cupboard. That those clothes belonged to Beatrice and the servant +cannot be disputed. On Monday morning, after my uncle leaves you to +find a temporary home for poor little Barbara, you also leave the +fated house several hours, and you take especial care to deposit the +clothes in what you believe to be a place of safety; unfortunately, as +it happened, in the place in which they were first discovered. Now, +who knows of that place of deposit? You, my uncle, and Mr. Nisbet. +During your absence Mr. Nisbet obtains easy admission to the house, +goes straight to the attic cupboard, and bears away with him the +garments which, by devious circumstantial evidence, might be a danger +to him. While he is in the house some signs therein lead him to +suspect that it is not absolutely untenanted, and he sets watch upon +it in the night. Looking from the window of the room occupied by you +and my uncle you see Mr. Nisbet standing in the garden in a watchful, +observant attitude; and as he stands there the spectral monitor which +has set this inquiry at work gives you a sign--an unmistakable sign +from the spiritual throne of justice. Rank heresy or blind fatuity +might misinterpret this sign; to you, to my uncle, to me, it is as +clear as sunlight. It declared this man to be guilty of a horrible +crime; it was like the writing on the wall. Satisfied or not, Mr. +Nisbet leaves Lamb's Terrace, and goes to South Lambeth to see Dr. +Cooper, of whose movements during the years that have passed he has +had full knowledge. Mr. Nisbet is not only a dangerous man and a +criminal, he is a man of resource and powerful intellect, and such a +man leaves little to chance. Closeted with Dr. Cooper and his wife, he +hears of your visit to him the previous evening; he worms out of his +accomplice all that the man can recollect of your conversation with +him; and he scents danger. Now, as I have said, whether he went to Dr. +Cooper in the first instance to obtain his assistance in a fresh crime +on foreign soil is hidden from us, but I am convinced that what he +learns during this interview induces him to expedite his movements. He +bids Dr. Cooper hold himself in readiness, and wins the wife's +confidence by giving her money; thus they are both on his side. Were +we and Dr. Cooper now in London you would worm nothing more out of +him. Forewarned is to be forearmed, and his wife would see that he was +not tampered with. When Mr. Nisbet leaves Dr. Cooper last night, he +has not quite settled the order or time of his future movements, but +considering the matter afterward he sees the advisability of getting +out of England without delay. Hence his resolution to leave for the +Continent this morning; hence his telegram to Dr. Cooper to meet him +immediately for the purpose of catching the early train; hence the +hurried and sudden departure, with the particulars of which we are +acquainted. Have I made myself clear?" + +"Quite clear." + +"He does not suspect that he is being followed; he does not suspect +that his departure is known; least of all does he suspect that I am +taking part in the hunt. But at the same time he recognizes the +necessity of caution, and that is why Dr. Cooper is traveling under an +assumed name." + +A question was trembling on my tongue; it was whether, in the light of +all that had been disclosed to him, the delusion he labored under with +respect to Beatrice was now dispelled; but I feared to pain him, and I +did not give utterance to the question. + +"Do you not think," he said, "that Mr. Dickson has been rather remiss +in not giving you the name and address of the agent who traveled, +unknown to Mr. Nisbet, from London with him?" + +"I wish he had done so," I replied, "for then we could have some +conversation with him to-night, which might have been of service to +us. The telegram he sent me is a long one, and perhaps I shall have a +letter from him in the morning." + +This proved to be the case. In it Mr. Dickson acknowledged that it +would have been as well if he had given me the name and address of his +agent in his telegram; the name was Rivers, his address Hôtel +Richmond. He had not heard from Mr. Rivers, he said, but when he did +he would communicate to me everything the letter contained of any +importance. I went at once to the Hôtel Richmond, which was not more +than five minutes' walk from the Hôtel de Bade, and inquired for Mr. +Rivers, and I took Ronald with me as interpreter, leaving Bob to look +after Barbara. + +"M. Rivers?" said the waiter, "but he has departed." + +"When?" + +"This morning early. He slept but one night." + +"Do you know where he has gone?" + +"No, I do not know; I will ask the manager." + +The manager did not know. After his coffee and roll M. Rivers had paid +his bill and given up his room. Did he leave in a cab? No, he left on +foot, carrying his bag with him. Perhaps he went to a railway station? +Ah, it was possible. Perhaps he was still in Paris. Ah, it was +possible. If M. Rivers returned to the hotel, would the manager give +him my card with a few words in pencil on it, asking him to come +immediately to the Hôtel de Bade? M. Rivers should have the card, yes, +with much pleasure. And so, good-morning. + +I half expected to receive a letter from my wife, demanding an +explanation of my running away, but there was none for me. + +And now, nothing would satisfy Ronald but that Bob should go to the +Hôtel Chatham, to ascertain if Mr. Nisbet was still there. He went and +returned, we waiting for him as before at the corner of the Rue +Daonou. Mr. Nisbet had left the hotel. + +"I spoke to a fool of a waiter," said Bob, "who thought he could speak +English, and that is all I could get out of him." + +Ronald walked off at once to the hotel, and, knowing it would be +useless to remonstrate, we followed him through the courtyard and into +the office. There he entered into a conversation in French with a +clerk. Yes, M. Nisbet and his friend had partaken of the usual first +meal of the Frenchman, and had paid his bill and given up his room. +Did they expect him to return? No, they did not. Had he and his friend +occupied one room? Yes, a room with two beds. Did they leave on foot +or in a cab? In a cab. For a railway station? Possibly. Did the clerk +know for which railway station? He did not; he would inquire, if it +was of importance. It was of great importance--would he kindly +inquire. The _concierge_ was questioned. He did not know for which +railway station. The waiters were questioned. They did not know for +which railway station. And so, good-morning again. Thus were we left +aground, as it were, with nothing but broken threads in our hands. Mr. +Nisbet and Dr. Cooper had escaped us. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + WE COME TO A HALT. + + +The indefinite replies to our questions at the two hotels rendered us +helpless. It was not even certain whether the men we were pursuing had +left Paris, and Bob privately threw out to me an uncomfortable +suggestion that Mr. Nisbet might have discovered we were watching him, +and was turning the tables by watching us. Ronald was not in hearing +when this was said; he was in a state of extreme agitation; and we +were careful to do or say nothing to excite him. Despite his +perturbation, however, he was the only one of our party whose +reasoning on the position of affairs was fairly logical, and who made +a sensible attempt to arrive at a probable sequence of events. Sitting +down in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Bade for the purpose of +discussing matters, Bob and I proceeded to plunge them into further +confusion by our wild conjectures, and Ronald, after listening to us +in silence for a few minutes, brought us to order. + +"All this talk is useless," he said; "let us argue like reasonable +beings. The first thing we have to decide is whether Mr. Nisbet and +his confederate have left Paris. What is your opinion?" + +"I have none," I said. + +"I am in the same predicament," said Bob. + +"But we can be logical, at all events," said Ronald. "Compelled for a +time to remain idle and in the dark, we can put flint and steel +together in the endeavor to produce a light. I am inclined to the +belief that they are no longer in the city. For what reason should +they change hotels? Whatever may be the cause of their sudden +association they would certainly wish to keep their movements quiet, +and they would frustrate their wish by flitting from one hotel to +another. From what I learned, Mr. Nisbet has paid frequent visits to +Paris, and as his name appears frequently on the books of the Hôtel +Chatham it is natural to suppose he has been in the habit of putting +up there. If he had any fear that he was being followed, he would not +yesterday have gone to an hotel where he was well known, but would +have chosen another which was not in the center of the city, and where +he would be less open to observation. The time they left the hotel +favors the conclusion that they were bound for a railway station, and +this conclusion is strengthened by the early departure of Mr. Rivers, +whose occupations have made him more methodical than ourselves. We are +apprentices in the craft; he is an expert. The inquiry agent in London +has doubtless telegraphed him of our arrival here, and where we are +staying--in which case he would have called upon us long before now. +Yes, the tracked and the tracker are no longer in the city." + +"You have convinced me," said Bob, and I also recorded my conviction. + +"The point to determine is," continued Ronald, "for what place they +are bound. No person in Paris can assist us. Our only hope is in Mr. +Dickson. Let us wire to him at once." + +He and I went off straightway to the telegraph office, where we +dispatched a message to Mr. Dickson. Bob remained in the hotel with +Barbara, in order to receive a possible caller, who, it is needless to +say, did not make his appearance. The answer to our telegram was that +Mr. Dickson had received no information from his agent Rivers, that he +had every confidence in his man, and that the moment he heard from him +he would send us another wire. Meanwhile, we were to remain where we +were, at the Hôtel de Bade. Nothing further reached us until nine +o'clock at night, and then a welcome telegram, to the effect that the +party were on their way to Lucerne, whither we had better follow them +by the earliest train. "Put up at Hôtel National," were the concluding +words of the message. Upon studying the railway trains we found that +nothing was to be gained by starting in the night, and early the +following morning we were on the road to Lucerne. At the Hôtel +National a telegram from Mr. Dickson awaited us, instructing us to +remain at the hotel until we heard from Mr. Rivers, whom we might now +consider in direct communication with us, and before many hours had +passed we received a note from that gentleman. "Take the boat" (wrote +Mr. Rivers) "to Tell's Platte. I am stopping at the Hôtel-Pension zur +Tellsplatte, and shall be happy to see you there. From, indications we +have reached the terminus." This was agreeable news, and seemed to +hold out the promise that we had at length tracked Mr. Nisbet down. We +wasted no time, but took the first boat, and were presently steaming +down the enchanting lake, the beauties of which perhaps only one of us +thoroughly enjoyed, the little girl Barbara. "Oh," she sighed, "if +Molly's 'ere, I don't wonder she never came back to London." It was +three in the afternoon when we landed at Tell's Platte. We were in no +mood for sightseeing, and did not therefore visit the chapel, but +ascended the hill that led to the hotel, where we found Mr. Rivers +waiting for us. + +He came forward to greet us, a short, wiry man, with clean-shaved +face, browned with exposure to the sun, and a bright eye. He addressed +me by name. + +"Mr. Emery?" + +"Yes." + +"May I ask the name of the gentleman who is doing business for you in +London?" + +"Mr. Dickson." + +"Have you anything you can show me from him?" + +I produced telegrams and letters, and he looked over them and returned +them to me. + +"Quite right, sir. My employer told me there were four in your party. +It is always necessary to make sure in such an affair as ours. We have +a sharp gentleman to deal with, and there's no saying what tricks he +might be up to, and what he knows or doesn't know. I am Mr. Rivers." + +As I shook hands with him, I started, and he looked at me +suspiciously. + +"Anything the matter?" he inquired suspiciously. + +"No," I replied, "nothing, nothing." + +I introduced Ronald and Bob to him, and then Barbara. + +"I've a little girl at home," he said in a kind tone, laying his hand +on Barbara's head, "just your age and build." Then addressing me, "I +have arranged rooms for you here. Very moderate--six francs a day; +they must make a reduction for the girl." + +"You anticipate that we shall remain here some time," I said. + +"Until the business is finished, I expect. I should have liked a more +retired spot, and perhaps it would have been as well if there were not +so many of you; but that can't be helped, I suppose. There is no other +place we could all have stopped at, and as we are to work together we +must keep together. I will show you your rooms, and after you have had +a wash we gentleman will have a chat, while Barbara can run about and +amuse herself. By the way, you will be asked for your names. Don't +give your own; I haven't given mine; never throw away a chance." + +I must explain what caused me to start as I shook hands with Mr. +Rivers. From the time we left London I had not seen the spectral cat, +and I had an idea that it had taken its leave for good. But at that +moment, casting my eyes to the ground, there was the apparition in +full view. Much as it had troubled me during the first days of our +acquaintanceship I had by this time grown accustomed to it, and no +longer regarded it with fear and aversion. In stating that I was glad +to see it now, I am stating the truth, for it was to me an assurance +that we had "reached the terminus," as Mr. Rivers expressed it in his +note, and that we had been led in the right direction. + +"Now we can have our chat," said Mr. Rivers, as we left the hotel +together. "According to present appearances we have plenty of time +before us, and nothing certainly can be done to-day. Whether anything +at all can be done remains to be seen. Sometimes in an inquiry of a +delicate nature we come to a block, and the next step depends entirely +upon chance; it may be so in this case. I had best commence by telling +you my position in the affair, and it will do no harm if I am quite +frank with you. First and foremost, then, I am totally ignorant of +what it is you wish to discover. My employer calls me into his private +room, and gives me certain instructions. 'A gentleman has just arrived +from the Continent,' he says, 'and is stopping at the Métropole. You +will take him in hand, and keep close watch upon his movements. You +are not to leave him a moment, and you are not for one moment to lose +sight of him.' We generally hunt in couples when instructions like +those are given, because it isn't possible for one man to keep watch +day and night, so while I was in London on the job I had a comrade, +and we divided the watch so that we could get some sleep. I asked my +employer if the instructions were to be carried out to the strict +letter. 'To the strict letter,' he answered. 'Suppose the gentleman +suddenly goes abroad?' I asked. 'You are to follow him,' he answered. +That was the reason of my sudden disappearance from London, without +having had time to consult my employer. I went alone, without my +comrade; I did not feel warranted in incurring double expenses, and I +thought I could manage the affair by myself when we were out of +England. I was right, as it has turned out. Mr. Nisbet is here with +another gentleman, and has taken up his quarters in a house about two +miles away, which he has inhabited on and off for several years." + +"Is that your idea of shadowing a man," asked Ronald, "when you are +instructed not to lose sight of him for a moment and to keep close +watch upon all his movements?" + +"Begging your pardon, sir," replied Mr. Rivers, not the least ruffled +by the rather sharp manner in which the question was asked, "a man can +do no more than his best, and I have done that. Then he must be guided +by circumstances. Keeping a watch upon a man in London is one thing; +keeping watch upon him in a village like this is another. There is no +place in the world in which a man can lose himself so easily, if he is +inclined that way, as London. I tell you, it's a difficult job to +carry out properly, to keep your eye on a man in a large city, with +its windings and turnings and crowds of people pushing this way and +that. He gives you the slip when you least expect it, and there's the +labor of days and weeks thrown away. It is quite a different matter +here. A man comes and a man goes, and he can't keep his coming and +going from the few people there are about. There are no cabs and +omnibuses, no crowds to worry you and put you off the scent. When he +moves from one spot to another he has to make preparations; he has to +walk along unfrequented roads where he is in full sight of anyone +interested in him. There are other drawbacks which one who knows the +ropes has to reckon with. He can't keep watch here as he does in a +large city; if he prowls and sneaks about, if he's seen haunting a +particular spot for days, if he shadows a particular house and keeps +his eye on it continually, he draws notice to himself. People ask what +for? It comes to the ears of the man he's observing who, in turn, +shadows him, and there's his apple cart upset. Another consideration. +Strike a man in a street in London, and a crowd collects. Strike a man +on the head here when he's prowling up and down a lonely road, and no +one sees it. Down he goes like a stone, and he can be done to death, +and his body hidden in a hundred holes--and who's the wiser? That +couldn't well be done, I grant you, to man, woman, or child who lives +here; the absence is remarked, and the relations don't rest till +they've found out what has become of the missing one. It's different +with a stranger, who stops a day or so, or a week or so, and then, +without a word, disappears. So long as he's here the hotel keeper +takes an interest in him, because of the bill; the moment he's gone +he's forgotten, and it's make way for the next. I've been employed on +some difficult jobs in my time, and I'm not sure that this is not +going to beat the record." + +"What makes you think so?" inquired Ronald. + +"I don't like the looks of the gentleman for one thing," replied Mr. +Rivers, "and for the second thing I don't like the little I've found +out about him since I've been here. But that's running ahead of my +story. I'll get back to the London part of it, and make a finish of +that. I suppose that is necessary, for my employer has written to me +to put myself into your hands entirely, and to tell you everything I +know. Well, in London a remarkable thing happened. There's a house in +Lamb's Terrace--79's the number--that is almost as lonely as any house +round about us now. On the first day I shadowed Mr. Nisbet he paid +three visits to Lamb's Terrace, and it was as much as I could do to +keep myself out of his sight. I succeeded, though, because I was on my +guard, and he never set eyes on me. The first visit he paid he did +nothing more than reconnoiter; I put a reason to that. There happened +to be an old man poking about the ground there for bits of rags and +bones, and Mr. Nisbet didn't seem to relish his company. So, after +reconnoitering ten or fifteen minutes, and as the old ragpicker didn't +seem as if he was going to leave in a hurry, Mr. Nisbet cut his lucky, +and walked out of the neighborhood. On his second visit there was no +one in sight, and Mr. Nisbet, looking carefully around, took a key +from his pocket, and let himself in. He remained in the house half an +hour by my watch, and he came out with a bundle. There was something +suspicious in that, I thought, but it was not my business to inquire +into it. My instructions were clear, and I couldn't go beyond them. +Besides, what call had I to tap the gentleman on the shoulder and say, +'I'll trouble you to tell me what you have under your arm?' I should +only have got myself in trouble, because our concern is a private one, +and we haven't got the law to back us up. He took the bundle with him +to the Métropole and left it there. He paid his third visit to Lamb's +Terrace in the night, and this time he didn't go into the house. He +didn't go to the front at all, but made his way to the back, and +scrambled over the wall. He kept in the garden there, which is just +choked up with weeds, for a precious long time, and all he did was to +look up at the windows. I thought his going into an empty house in +daylight and bringing out a bundle was queer, but I thought this last +move a good deal queerer, for he kept quite still, and never took his +eyes off the windows. When he'd had his fill he scrambled back over +the wall and came away. From there he went straight to Theobald Row, +South Lambeth, and knocked at the door of a chemist's shop kept by a +doctor. The name over the shop window was Cooper. He stayed there an +hour, and then returned to the Métropole. On the morning we left +London I hadn't the ghost of an idea that he intended to start for +Paris, and I followed him out of the Métropole to St. George's +Hospital, outside of which he met the gentleman who has traveled with +him to this place. I watched them pretty narrowly when we were on the +steamer, but I didn't venture into the same carriage with them when we +traveled by rail. On the steamer and in Paris, and wherever I could +keep my eyes on them, they seemed pretty thick, and I fancied once or +twice that they didn't quite agree with each other. Whenever they +talked it was away from people, and I knew that it was not accidental +that they should always choose spots where they couldn't be overheard. +On those occasions I wouldn't risk discovery by going near them, but +watched them from a distance, and once or twice I saw Mr. Nisbet look +at his companion in a way that made me think, 'I shouldn't like to +meet you on a dark road, my friend, and for you to know that I was +shadowing you.' There was a cold glitter in his eyes which might +easily mean murder, and that is what makes me say again to you, +gentlemen, that we shall have to be very careful in what we do in this +part of the world." + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK. + + +"Is that all you have to tell us," inquired Ronald, "of what came to +your knowledge in London and on your journey here?" + +"That is all," replied Mr. Rivers. + +"Since you took up your quarters in this hotel what have you +discovered?" + +"Nothing more than I have already told you--that Mr. Nisbet lives in +a house about two miles away. I have been expecting your arrival, and +my orders are that I place myself at your service. The command is in +your hands now." + +"Have you seen the house?" + +"No." + +"From whom did you obtain your information?" + +"From one of the waiters here, who is ready enough to talk about +everything and everybody in the place. I pumped him cautiously, and +learned a lot that I didn't care to hear and a little that I did." + +"Do you speak French and German?" + +"I can just make myself understood, and the waiter can just make +himself understood in English. He is anxious to know more of our +language, as he intends to go to London and make his fortune, so I +have been teaching him a bit. We are very good friends already, +François and I." + +"Is that his name?" + +"I don't know; I call all foreign waiters François." + +"I suppose you have not discovered whether Mr. Nisbet lives alone?" + +"I haven't got as far as that; I thought it advisable to leave it to +you gentlemen. It stands to reason that there must be someone in the +house to do the domestic work. I have an idea, if you care to listen +to it." + +"We will listen to everything that is likely to assist us." + +"This is likely to do so. François will wait upon us at dinner. One of +you, Mr. Emery for choice--you have a solid look about you, sir, if +you don't mind my saying so--is an hotel keeper in London, and when +François gets to London, if you haven't a vacancy in your own +establishment, you will be able to assist him to obtain a situation in +another. That will be a sufficient bribe, and it will insure our being +waited upon properly as long as we remain here." + +"I will play the part with pleasure," I said. "It is a good idea." + +So it was arranged, and at dinner François waited upon us with +neatness and dispatch, having received a hint from Mr. Rivers as to my +supposed vocation in London. In his hearing I dropped a hint or two +which I perceived he caught up in praise of his politeness and +dexterity, and I saw that, thus encouraged, he would be of service to +us. He was also led to understand from our conversation that it was +our intention to make a stay here of several days, and in this and +other ways we endeavored to lead up to the success of our scheme. It +would have been unwise, however, in my opinion, to make any sudden and +specific inquiries respecting Mr. Nisbet; I felt that we could not +proceed too carefully, and I determined to leave these inquiries till +the following day. + +Meanwhile we had a difficulty with Ronald. Dinner over, he announced +his intention of walking to Mr. Nisbet's house in our company, and it +was long before we could dissuade him. + +"Why should I not go?" he asked. + +"Why should you go?" I asked in return. "You can do nothing until we +have laid our plans. If it should happen that Mr. Nisbet sees you, all +our labor is thrown away. It is right that the house should be +reconnoitered without delay, but for us to do that in a body would be +inviting defeat. Mr. Rivers and I will undertake this alone, and you +must remain here with your uncle and Barbara." + +He consented unwillingly, and we were about to set forth when Barbara +plucked my sleeve. + +"Well, my child?" I said. + +"If yer going to see Molly, sir," she said, with tears in her eyes, +"won't yer take me with yer?" + +The fears that oppressed me with respect to her sister rendered this +imploring appeal of solemn import. + +"We don't know that we shall see Molly, my dear," I said gravely. "We +must look about us first before we can decide what to do. I am afraid +Mr. Nisbet is not a good man, and we must be very careful. You must +leave everything to us, Barbara." + +"Yes, sir, in course I must do that. But if yer _do_ see Molly, yer'll +give 'er my love, won't yer, and arks 'er if I can come to 'er?" + +"If we see her, my dear, we will be sure to tell her all about you." + +"She _will_ be surprised, won't she, sir?" + +"Yes, Barbara, yes," I said, and I left her with a heavy heart. + +On the road it occurred to me that, in keeping Mr. Rivers in complete +ignorance of the nature of our suspicions respecting Mr. Nisbet, I +might be placing difficulties in our way, and weakening the assistance +he was ready to give us. Therefore I enlightened him to some extent, +being careful to make no mention of the supernatural visitants which +had made me take up the matter. + +"What I have related," I said in conclusion, "is under the seal of +confidence, and is not to be mentioned unless the mystery is brought +to light. Just at this moment I confess to feeling dispirited; the web +of conjecture is so slight that I am oppressed by the feeling that we +may, after all, be following a will-o'-the-wisp, and that there is no +ground for the suspicions that have led me on." + +"That is one way of putting it," observed Mr. Rivers, "but as you +suspect that a crime has been committed, would it not be a relief to +you to find that there is no ground for the suspicion?" I was at a +loss to reply to this question, and he proceeded. "It may be due to +the occupation I follow, but I generally place the worst construction +upon these matters. If I were otherwise inclined, I should place the +worst construction upon this, and my belief is that Mr. Nisbet has +been guilty of nothing less than murder. Every circumstance in the +case points to the conclusion, which is strengthened by the impression +he has produced upon me. He is a man capable of any desperate deed, or +I am no judge of character. I am obliged to you for the confidence you +have placed in me; it certainly renders me less powerless in the +assistance I may be able to render. I have a starting point, you see. +Just at present there are two questions in my mind to which we must +endeavor to find an answer. First, what has become of the girl Molly? +I should know how to work her if I could lay hands on her. Second, +what is the meaning of the association of Mr. Nisbet and Dr. Cooper? +To their former association, when Mr. Nisbet and his stepdaughter were +living in Lamb's Terrace, where the poor lady met her death, there is +an absolutely plain answer. Mr. Nisbet wanted a death certificate from +a doctor who was imperfectly acquainted with the facts, and he paid +Dr. Cooper to supply it. This certificate being accepted at the +inquest, and the body cremated, Mr. Nisbet was safe. In the absence of +proof, of what practical value would mere suspicion be? He could snap +his fingers at it. But the circumstance of his taking Dr. Cooper +suddenly and unexpectedly from London, and of the doctor being in his +house at this moment, puzzles me." + +"Mr. Nisbet requires his assistance again," I suggested. + +"That is the natural inference, and we have to discover the exact +nature of this required assistance. If bold measures are necessary we +must adopt them." + +"I am ready. Have you any theory as to Molly?" + +"I can think of more than one. The girl was young at the time of the +lady's death; Barbara is by no means bad looking; Molly was pretty, I +dare say; she was poor, she was ignorant; Mr. Nisbet may have taken a +fancy to her----" + +I interrupted him. "No, Mr. Rivers, I cannot entertain the theory that +Molly consented to become Mr. Nisbet's mistress." + +"I will not force it upon you," said he dryly, "but perhaps I am a +better judge of human nature than yourself. However, we shall soon +discover something; we shall not be kept long in the dark." + +We had little difficulty in finding the house inhabited by Mr. Nisbet, +and its appearance deepened my apprehensions. In saying that we found +the house I am not quite exact, for a high wall surrounded it, and +only the gables could be seen. This wall was of surprising extent, and +could have occupied not less than an acre of ground. It was of stone, +and might have been built round a prison. We walked cautiously around +it, keeping close in its shadow and prepared at any moment to stroll +carelessly away in the event of an inmate issuing from either of the +gates--one in the front, the other in the rear--which afforded ingress +to it. + +Night had fallen, and there was no moon, so that we were comparatively +safe from observation, but this did not make us less cautious in our +movements. We were waging our silent battle with a wary foe, and to be +taken unaware would be fatal to us. + +There was no other house near the building. At no great distance were +towering ranges of rock and tree which intensified the gloom of the +habitation. Retreating to a hillock we ascended it, and from that +height perceived lights in some of the upper windows. + +"A pleasant residence," said Mr. Rivers, with a slight shiver. "One +can imagine any deed of darkness being perpetrated within those walls. +Hush! Don't move!" + +I saw the reason for the caution. The hill on which we stood faced the +gate in the rear of the house, and as Mr. Rivers laid hold of me and +whispered in my ear, this gate was slowly opened and a form issued +from it. I could not at that distance distinguish whether it was the +form of a man or a woman; what I could distinguish was that the figure +paused a moment or two and seemed to peer within the grounds. Then, +closing the gate with an appearance of caution, the figure came into +the open, and limped away. + +"Step softly," whispered Mr. Rivers, and taking me by the hand we +followed the figure, which we presently discerned to be that of an old +woman, who walked as if she were lame. I stepped almost as softly as +my companion, and we succeeded in approaching close to her without +being observed. She was carrying something in her hands, covered with +a white cloth. Night's shadows befriended us, and it was evident that +the woman had no notion that she was being followed. Mr. Rivers did +not speak, nor did I. We must have walked half a mile when the woman +stopped before a wretched hut, which she entered without knocking. + +"We must see what she's up to," whispered Mr. Rivers. "She belongs to +Mr. Nisbet's house, and has crept away in secret. It is my opinion +we're in luck." + +Stealing round the hut we came to a window at the back over which +there was no curtain, so that, although the glass was to some extent +obscured by dust and mud, we could see what was passing within. On the +ground lay a gaunt man, and by his side on a low stool sat a girl +about twelve years of age, as nearly as I could judge. The girl had +jumped up at the entrance of the old woman, but the man appeared to be +too weak to raise himself. This was proved by the woman kneeling by +him on one side and the girl kneeling by him on the other; by their +united efforts they lifted him into a sitting posture, and then the +woman removed the white cloth from the article she had carried from +Mr. Nisbet's house; it was a large dish filled with food, and though +she had come some distance the ascending steam proclaimed that it was +still warm. The woman fed him with a spoon, and presently drew from a +capacious pocket a bottle of red wine; he ate sparely, but he drank +with avidity. When he had finished the girl partook of the food, and +the eager way in which she ate reminded me of the night we found +little Barbara in Lamb's Terrace. There was a pathos in the scene that +touched me to the heart, but of course I could not hear what was said +by the poor actors therein. + +We waited till the old woman left the hut; she took the empty dish and +the white cloth with her. When she came out we followed her back to +Mr. Nisbet's house, which she entered by the back gate, adopting +similar precautions to those which had marked her departure from it. + +"A winning move," said Mr. Rivers in a tone of satisfaction as we +retraced our steps to the Hôtel-Pension zur Tellsplatte. + +"In what way?" I asked, for though I was impressed by what I had +witnessed, I did not at the moment see in what way it could be turned +to our advantage. + +"The food and wine were stolen from Mr. Nisbet," replied Mr. Rivers, +"and in that wretched hut we shall obtain the key to his house. We +have done a good night's work." + +During our absence Ronald and Bob had not been idle. By promising +François pecuniary assistance to enable him to reach the paradise of +waiters, they had won him completely over, and he had disclosed +everything he knew relating to Mr. Nisbet's domestic affairs, and to +the estimation in which he was held. He was not in favor, it appeared; +he kept himself aloof from everybody in the place, and lived the life +of an eccentric and a recluse. Reputed to be rich, he had not been +known to do a single act of kindness to the poor peasantry in the +district. There had been an explosion in a mine, there had been a +conflagration, a neighboring village had been inundated, and he did +not contribute a franc to the relief of the sufferers. Some people +declared that he possessed "the evil eye," and that he could "will" +misfortune upon those who offended him. As for his establishment, it +consisted of himself, a young female, who was said to be daft, and an +old woman who acted as cook and general housekeeper. The old woman's +name was Bernstein, the young woman's was not known. She had not been +seen for years outside the walls of the house. When Mr. Nisbet went +away Mme. Bernstein was left in charge of the establishment, and +neither then nor at any other time was any person admitted inside the +grounds. Food and wine were taken in at the gates, by the master +himself when he was at home, by Mme. Bernstein when he was absent. +This was the sum total of the information which had been elicited from +François. + +After hearing this we related to Bob and Ronald our own adventure, and +then we fell to discussing the next step to be taken, and Ronald urged +that an endeavor should be made to obtain admission to the house. + +"It will be dangerous to attempt such a thing," said Bob, "while Mr. +Nisbet and Dr. Cooper are there. François tells us that the master is +sometimes seen out searching for herbs or specimens. If he continues +the practice it is likely that Dr. Cooper will accompany him on these +expeditions. Then will be the time." + +"My opinion is," I said, "that, before we attempt so bold a move, we +shall win Mme. Bernstein over to our side." + +"I undertake to accomplish that," said Mr. Rivers, "and not later than +to-morrow night. But first let us have François in. I should like to +get something more out of him." + +François was summoned, and wine was ordered. When he brought the +bottle in, Mr. Rivers held a conversation with him. Was he acquainted +with Mme. Bernstein? No, he was not, but he had heard something of her +brother. Ah, she had a brother? Yes, a poor fellow very near death's +door, and without a sou in the world. She had a little niece also, the +brother's child. Where did they live? He described the hut to which +Mme. Bernstein had taken the food and wine. Was Mme. Bernstein kind to +them? He did not know--he had not heard; nobody took any trouble about +them; the child begged of passing tourists, but she got very little, +not enough to keep body and soul together. François could tell us +nothing more. + +Before we went to bed we decided to keep watch on Mme. Bernstein the +next night, and to be guided by what occurred. Needless to say that +Barbara was not present at this discussion. She was too young to be +admitted fully into our confidence. We kept ourselves very quiet +during the following day, and when night set in the four of us set out +for Mr. Nisbet's house. Ronald insisted upon accompanying us, and we +could not but submit. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + A WORD WITH MME. BERNSTEIN. + + +Nothing of importance happened on the way. We passed one or two +stragglers who did not speak to us, and who, in the darkness of the +night, could have seen very little of us; we, on our part, were more +watchful, and though we exchanged but few words nothing escaped our +attention. It behooved us to be thus careful, because there was the +risk of our coming into contact with our common foes, Mr. Nisbet and +Dr. Cooper. In silence we reached the gloomy wall which surrounded the +building, and, marshaled by Mr. Rivers, took up our posts of +observation. Rivers and I were together on the hill in the rear of the +house, Ronald and his uncle were some dozen yards off. They were to +keep their eyes on us, and to observe certain signals which had been +arranged upon. Very nearly at the same moment as on the previous +night, the gate was slowly opened, and Mme. Bernstein appeared, +carrying a dish covered with a white cloth. She paused at the open +gate, and peered this way and that, to make sure that she was not +seen, and then she closed the gate softly, and proceeded in the +direction of the hut. We followed her warily at a safe distance; she +reached the hut and entered it, and gave the man and the child food +and wine, Rivers and I watching them through the uncurtained window at +the back of the hut. + +The meal finished, the old woman kissed the child, and issued from the +hut. All her movements were in accordance with our anticipation, and +this being so, a certain plan we had agreed upon was immediately acted +upon. Ronald and his uncle remained behind, the intention being that +they should make an endeavor to get into conversation with either the +sick man or the child, or with both, and to extract from them some +information of Mr. Nisbet's establishment which might assist our +operations. Rivers and I played our part in the plan by following Mme. +Bernstein. Midway between the hut and Mr. Nisbet's house Rivers nudged +me, and we quickened our steps. Hearing the sound the old woman +stopped, and we also stopped. After listening a moment or two she +fancied she was deceived, and she hobbled on again, we following with +rapid steps. Again she paused, and gave a scream as we came close to +her. Putting his hand on her shoulder, Rivers said: + +"Do you speak English, Mme. Bernstein?" + +"Yes, a little," she replied, trembling in every limb. "Do not hurt +me--I am an old woman; I have no money." + +"You speak English very well," said Rivers. "We will not harm you. It +is only that we wish to have a word with you. We do not want money; we +have money to give, if you would like to earn it. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, sir, I understand that you will not hurt an old woman, and that +you have money to give." + +I ought here to explain that the English Mme. Bernstein spoke was by +no means so clear and grammatical as I set it down, but I find myself +unable to reproduce her peculiar method and idioms, and consider it +best, therefore, to put what she said plainly before the reader. We +understood each other, and that was the main point. + +"But it must be earned. Do not tremble so; we are not robbers; we are +officers of the law. What have you under that cloth? A basin, empty. +You took it from the house full. You can be punished for that, Mme. +Bernstein. The master did not give you the food, he did not give you +the wine. You stole them, Mme. Bernstein." + +Overcome with terror she fell upon her knees, and implored us to spare +her; she had taken the food to save a little child from starvation; +she had never done it before---- + +Rivers interrupted her. "You do it every night, madame." Which plunged +her into deeper despair. + +Still keeping her sensible that she was in our power, and that we +would have her punished if she did not do as we bade her, Rivers +succeeded in pacifying her to some extent. + +"There are four of us," he said, when she rose from the ground; "two +are here, two are with your brother and his child, who without our aid +will starve if you are put in prison or can no longer rob your master +of food. It is with you, madame; you can save or ruin them, you can +save or ruin yourself." + +"What is it that I shall do?" she quavered. "Tell me, and I will do +it." + +"That is as it should be," said Rivers, "and you shall be rewarded. We +must know everything about the master you serve. We are here from +England for that purpose, and he must not be told that you have spoken +with us. You will swear it by the cross which is hanging from your +neck." + +She lifted the black wooden cross to her lips, and kissed it. "I swear +it, sir," she said. "He shall not be told; he shall not know. But if +you keep me here now he will discover it without being told. He will +be waiting for supper, and I shall not be there to serve it. He will +come and look for me, and then it will be ruin for me and you. He is a +hard man, a bad man, a wicked man, and I hate him." + +"That pleases me," said Rivers blithely. "Why do you remain in his +service?" + +"Should I not starve if I went away? I get my food, and I save it and +give it to my dying brother and the little child. That is something. +Do not keep me here too long. Englishmen are rich; you have a watch. +What hour is it?" + +"Half past ten," said Rivers. + +"At eleven they have supper. If I am not in the house----" + +"You shall be there. Let us walk on, Mme. Bernstein. In ten minutes we +shall reach the gate, and he will not know. Does he go to bed late?" + +"Sometimes at twelve, sometimes at one; it is not certain." + +"At what hour last night?" + +"At twelve." + +"Keep watch, madame, to-night, and when he goes to his room and the +house is quiet, you will come out to us, and we will talk." + +"Yes, I will come." + +"By the back gate, madame; we shall be on the hill. Do not forget--you +shall be rewarded, And do not forget that you have sworn upon the +cross. Here, to commence with, are two francs, to prove that we are in +earnest, and are men of our word." + +She clutched the coins eagerly, and said in a whisper: "We are near +the house--do not speak loud, or he will hear us. There is something +strange and terrible. You shall be told of it. I will come when they +sleep." + +We did not accompany her to the gate. She glided forward, opened it +quietly, and disappeared. + +"Now, Mr. Emery," said Rivers, "can you find your way alone to the +hut?" + +"Yes, it is a straight road." + +"Go, and bring your friends here. There is strength in numbers. +Something strange and terrible, she said. We have not come a moment +too soon. Hurry back quickly." + +I wasted no time, and soon reached the hut. Ronald and Bob were +within; I heard them talking to the little girl. When I tapped at the +door and called to them, they joined me immediately, and hearing that +they were to return with me they spoke a few parting words to the +child, and promised to call and see her again. I briefly related what +had passed between ourselves and Mme. Bernstein, and asked if they had +obtained any information. + +"None," replied Bob, "that is likely to assist us. Some general +expressions of dislike toward Mme. Bernstein's employer, of whom they +seem to stand in some sort of fear--that is all. Neither the man nor +the child has ever been inside the house. But we made friends with +them, and that might have served us with Mme. Bernstein if you had not +already enlisted her. Everything seems to depend upon what will occur +during the next twenty-four hours." + +We found Rivers lying on his back on the hill, with his hands clasped +behind his head. + +"I have been watching the windows," he said, "and making a mental map +of the house. All the bedrooms seem to be situated at the back; the +ordinary living rooms are in front. See--there is a light in only one +of the rooms; there was a light in that room last night. It burns +steadily, and without flickering; the room is occupied, but no shadow +has appeared on the blind, nor has the light been shifted. Someone is +sleeping there, and sleeping undisturbed. If we stopped here till +daylight we should probably find that light still burning. Afraid to +sleep in the dark, denoting a nervous organization. Ah, observe. Two +rooms have just been entered; each person, entering, carried in a +candle with him; the lights shift and waver; there are shadows on the +blinds. One is the shadow of Mr. Nisbet, the other the shadow of Dr. +Cooper; their bedrooms adjoin. Rather restless those shadows. We have +the advantage of them; we can see them, they cannot see us lying here +in black darkness. I am in my element, and can work out theories. I +have done the same in country places in England, and the theories I +have worked out there have led to very useful conclusions. Isn't there +a German or French story of a man who sold his shadow to the devil? I +can imagine occasions when our friend Mr. Nisbet would gladly sell +his, for shadows are sometimes criminating witnesses. Those men do not +seem in a hurry to get to bed. One has gone into the other's room; the +flaring of the candle shows that he has left his door open. The +shadows of the two men are now in one room. They walk up and down in +their slippers--of that you may be sure. There is something so secret +and mysterious going on in the house--which might be a prison or a +private lunatic asylum--that the principal conspirators are careful to +make no noise. They have no wish to disturb the sleeper in the third +room, which, by a stretch of the fancy, we might suppose to be +occupied by a dead person. By the way, did Dr. Cooper have time to +bring his slippers with him from London? I should say not; therefore +he is wearing a pair of Mr. Nisbet's or is walking in his stocking +feet. Now they stop, now they walk about again, and now--yes, now they +go into the room which the first man left. Science has been busily at +work of late years, but it has not yet discovered a means of bringing +sound to our ears as this glass which I am holding brings the figures +of those men near to my eyes. There is the telephone, but you cannot +carry a telephone about with you in a little pocket case. I dare say +the discovery will be made one of these days. Mr. Nisbet is a couple +of inches taller than Dr. Cooper, and as they are now standing quite +still I know which is one, and which the other; therefore I shall +presently know which is Mr. Nisbet's bedroom, and which Dr. Cooper's. +If we could only hear what they are saying to each other! Speaking in +whispers, of course--again for the reason that they do not wish to +disturb the sleeper in the third room. Mme. Bernstein will inform us +who it is who sleeps there. What do you say--a man or a woman?" + +The question was addressed to us, and we expressed our inability to +answer it. + +"I say a woman," continued Rivers, who was certainly in his element, +as he had declared, "and until Mme. Bernstein favors us with her +company we remain in ignorance as to who the woman is. Our little +Barbara's sister? Perhaps. But Barbara describes her sister as being a +lively young person, and no lively young person lies sleeping there. +How do I arrive at that conclusion? Impossible to say. Mental +cerebration, if you like. We work out plots as novelists do, or +rather, they work out themselves. Concentration is the agent. The same +process leads me to the conclusion that the conspirators yonder are +walking and talking noiselessly because of their fear of being +overheard. The same process leads me to the conclusion that they are +quietly discussing an important and dangerous matter. How did Mr. +Nisbet's stepdaughter meet her death? Asphyxiation caused by an escape +of gas while sleeping in a bedroom almost hermetically sealed. But +there is no gas in these parts, and their light is supplied by oil and +candle. Therefore they are deprived of that means of causing death. +What are they doing now? The shorter of the two, Dr. Cooper, holds +something up to the light. The object is too small to be discerned at +this distance, but I take it to be a vial. Not a wine bottle, nor a +bottle containing brandy or whisky. A small vial. And now Mr. Nisbet +hands his co-conspirator a wineglass; he holds that up also; the +shadow is reflected on the blind, and you can see by the shape that it +is not a tumbler. The vial in one hand, the wineglass--it may be a +medicine glass--in the other, Dr. Cooper is pouring a few drops from +the vial into the glass. He counts the drops; I can't see his lips +move, but unless I am dreaming he is counting the drops. He puts down +the vial, and Mr. Nisbet takes the glass from him. To drink? No. He +dips his finger into the liquid, and puts that finger to his lips. He +stands still a while; he is deliberating. Is it satisfactory, Mr. +Nisbet? If it is, and you need a sleeping draught, drink it off, and +wish your companion good-night. You do nothing of the kind. You come +to the window; you draw aside the blind; you open the window." + +"We shall be seen," whispered Bob, in great alarm. + +"We are as safe," said Rivers calmly, "as if we wore caps that +rendered us invisible, as in the fairy tale. As they stand side by +side at the window, the position of the light enables me to see them +clearly. They _are_ Mr. Nisbet and Dr. Cooper. Provoking! What is it +that Mr. Nisbet has just done? Why did you move, you fool of a doctor? +But I guess what he did. He emptied the glass out of the window. Of +course, of course; that was it. They have been making a chemical +experiment, testing a liquid--to what end? Mr. Nisbet peers into the +dark grounds, he stares straight at the hill upon which we are lying. +Don't stir a finger. It is curious that criminals almost invariably +overlook some slight circumstance which supplies the clew to their +conviction. It has been so in thousands of cases. The window is +closed, the blind is pulled down. See the shadows of the men as they +approach and retreat, growing to monstrous proportions, dwindling to +nearly natural size. The shadows of Fate. I suppose by this time the +conference is at an end. It is. They separate. Each is in his own +room. Ah, I see which room is occupied by Mr. Nisbet, and which by Dr. +Cooper. The doctor gets into bed first. Out goes his light. Sleep the +sleep of the just, doctor, if you can. Mr. Nisbet lingers; his is the +greater stake. He is the principal, his companion is the tool. Take +care, the pair of you; the dogs are on your track. Mr. Nisbet puts out +his light; all the windows are masked except the window of the third +room. Good-night, good-night." + +These ingenious theories filled me with wonder, and I accepted them as +if they were proved testimony; and I am positive, from the remarks +made by Bob and Ronald, that they also accepted them as I did. Rivers +chuckled, and said: + +"It is a fine art, and we become masters only by long study. Now for +Mme. Bernstein. She will not keep us waiting long." + +She did not. In a few minutes the gate was opened, and the old woman +appeared. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII. + + MME. BERNSTEIN REVEALS. + + +Rivers went forward to meet her, and taking her hand, led her to where +we were standing. Dark as it was I saw that she was greatly agitated, +and the increase of our party did not lessen her agitation. + +"You perceive," Rivers commenced, "that it is as I said. There are +four of us, and we are determined to know the truth about your master +and what is going on in that gloomy house, which, as I just remarked +to my friends, resembles a prison." + +"I will tell you everything," said Mme. Bernstein, her voice shaking +with fear. "Why should I not, when you have promised to reward me? I +have done nothing wrong." + +"Do not speak so sharply to her," said Ronald to Rivers; "you frighten +her." Then he turned to the old woman, and spoke to her in French, and +his manner was so kind and his voice so gentle that she soon forgot +her fears. "You shall be well rewarded," he said to her; "I promise +you on the honor of a gentleman. We have left a little money with your +brother and his pretty little girl, and to-morrow we will send a +doctor to see him. If it were day instead of night you would know that +I am blind, and you would trust me." + +"I trust you now, sir," said Mme. Bernstein. "But this +gentleman"--indicating Rivers--"speaks to me as if I had committed a +crime. I will answer you anything. It is because I am poor that I have +served M. Nisbet, and if I have taken a little bit of food for my +dying brother and the child I hope you will protect me from the anger +of M. Nisbet. He is a hard man; he would have no mercy." + +"We will protect and befriend you," said Ronald. "Have no fear. My +friends here do not understand French very well, so we will converse +now in English. Express yourself as well as you can; we all wish to +hear what you have to say, and we all are kindly disposed toward you. +Mr. Rivers, you are so much more experienced than ourselves that the +command must be left in your hands, but I beg you to moderate your +tone when you address madame." + +"With all the pleasure in life," said Rivers cheerfully. "Bless your +heart, madame, you need not be frightened of me; if I speak sharp it's +only a way I've got. Don't you take any notice of it, but begin at the +beginning, and go straight on. How long have you been in service +here?" + +"Ever since M. Nisbet first came," replied Mme. Bernstein. "It is +years ago--I don't know how many--and he bought the house, and wanted +a woman to look after it. When he goes away to England or France I +attend to everything." She stopped here, as if at a loss how to +proceed. + +"We shall get to the bottom of things all the quicker," said Rivers, +"if I ask you questions. Has there been any other person besides +yourself in Mr. Nisbet's service?" + +"No one else--it is I alone who have served him." + +"Does he live here alone?" + +"Oh, no. When he first came he brought a lady with him." + +"And she is still in the house?" + +"Oh, yes; she is still in the house, poor lady!" + +Instinctively we all turned our eyes to the window which Rivers had +declared to be the window of the room occupied by a lady--even +Ronald's sightless eyes were turned in that direction. + +"That is her bedroom?" Rivers asked. + +"Yes, it is there she sleeps." + +"Hold hard a bit," he cried. "She is awake." + +The occupant of the room had moved the light, and we saw her shadow on +the blind. We looked up in silence, expecting that something strange +would occur. I cannot explain the cause of this impression, but in +subsequent conversation with my companions they confessed that they +had experienced the same feeling of expectation as myself. What did +occur was this: The blind was pulled up, and the window opened, and by +the window stood a female figure in a white nightdress, stretching out +her arms toward us. It was not possible that she could see us, but her +imploring attitude seemed like an appeal to us to save her from some +terrible danger, and it powerfully affected me. + +I put my finger to my lips, to warn Bob and Rivers against uttering +any exclamation of surprise, and I placed myself in such a position +that Mme. Bernstein could not see what we saw. Presently the female's +arms dropped to her side, and she sank upon a chair by the window, and +sat there while Rivers continued his examination. + +"Why do you say 'poor lady'?" asked Rivers. "Is she suffering in any +way?" + +"She is much to be pitied," replied Mme. Bernstein. "So young and +beautiful as she is!" + +"But explain, madame. You speak in enigmas. Does your master oppress +her? Is he cruel to her?" + +"I do not know. She does not complain, but I would not trust him with +a child of mine." + +"Is she his child, then?" + +"Oh, no; but he has authority over her. He has never struck her, he +has never spoken a harsh word to her; still I would not trust him." + +"We shall get at it presently, I suppose," said Rivers impatiently. +"What is the lady's name?" + +"Mlle. Mersac." + +"Her Christian name?" + +"I have not heard it, all the years I have been in the house. There +was no reason why I should hear it. Mlle. Mersac--is not that a +sufficient name?" + +"It must content us for the present. If she is not his daughter she is +doubtless some relation?" + +"It cannot be--he has himself declared that she is not. I ventured one +day--it is now a long time ago--to ask him, and he answered me +angrily, and bade me attend to my duties, and nothing more. He +repented a little while afterward; and came to me and inquired why I +had put the question to him. 'It was a thought, sir,' I said. 'Can you +see any likeness between us?' he asked. I answered no, and there is no +likeness. She is fair, he is dark; there is not the least resemblance +between them." + +"May we say that she is afflicted?" + +"Sorely afflicted. She has no memory, she seems to have no mind. From +one day to another she cannot recollect. Each day is new to her; she +has no memory. Even her own name is strange to her. When my master is +here I see her only in his presence, and am not allowed to speak to +her. When he is absent I see more of her; it is necessary; she has no +one else to attend to her. But even then she utters but a very few +words. Once only did we have a conversation while the master was away. +It was against his commands, but I could not help it. He gives his +orders what I shall do during his absence, and I am to do those +things, and nothing more. To give her her meals, to give her her +medicine, not to allow her to pass the gates. For years she has not +been outside those walls." + +"You are wandering, madame. Once you had a conversation with her. +Inform us what was said." + +"I pitied her, and asked her whether she had no friends she wished to +see. 'Friends!' she said, and looked at me wonderingly. 'The world is +dead!' I could have shed tears, there was such misery in her voice. I +addressed her by her name. 'Mersac!' she exclaimed. 'Who is Mlle. +Mersac?' 'But, mademoiselle,' I said, 'it is yourself.' 'Are you sure +of that?' she asked. 'Why, yes,' I answered, 'it is certain.' She +shuddered and said, 'I had dreams, I think, when I was a child, but I +am an old woman now.' 'Mademoiselle,' I cried, 'you are young, you are +beautiful!' 'It is you who are dreaming,' she said, 'I am an old +woman. The world is dead. This house is my tomb!' That is all that +passed; she would not speak another word. If I had dared, if I had not +been poor and had known what to do and how it was to be done, I would +have tried to find her friends, for what hope of recovery is there for +her in such a place as this? For me who have not long to live---I am +seventy-five--it does not matter. I have lived here all my life, and I +shall die here; there is no other place for me to die in, and I am +content that it should be so. But even I had my bright years when I +was a young woman. I had a lover, I had a husband, I had children; +they are all dead now, and but for my dying brother and his little +girl I am alone. I was not so beautiful as mademoiselle; I was not a +lady as she is. That is plainly to be seen. At her time of life she +should be bright and happy; she should have a lover; she should have +friends, companions. They might wake her up, for though she is not +dead she might as well be." + +The old woman spoke very feelingly, and I patted her on the shoulder. + +"Thank you," she said, as though I had bestowed a gift upon her. + +"She is a French lady?" questioned Rivers. + +"Oh, no; she is English." + +"English! But her name is French." + +"It may not be hers. She is perhaps sent here to be forgotten. It is +sad, very sad!" + +"Apart from this loss of memory, from this forgetfulness of herself, +is she in health?" + +"She is strong, she is well otherwise. It is only her mind that is +gone. She gripped my hand once; it was the grip of a strong young +girl. She is lithe, she is well formed. If I had been like her when I +was her age I should have been proud. I brought some flowers to the +house one day. 'Who are these for?' my master asked. 'I thought +mademoiselle would like them,' I answered. He frowned, and taking them +in his hands crushed them and threw them to the ground. 'That is not +part of your duties,' he said. I brought no more flowers. There are +some strange things, some things I cannot understand. Do you come to +help the poor lady? Are you related to her?" + +"We are not related to her, but we will help her if it is in our +power." + +"Heaven will reward you for it." + +"What do you mean by saying there are strange things, things you +cannot understand?" + +"For one--why does the master say she will not live, when, but for her +loss of memory, she is strong and well?" + +"Oh, he says that, does he?" + +"Yes, and he has brought a friend with him now, a celebrated doctor, +because, as I heard him say, she is sinking. What does that mean?" + +"Ah," said Rivers, in a significant tone which we understood, "what +does that mean, indeed? It means mischief, Mme. Bernstein." + +"It is what I think. Now I have opened my heart I do not care what +happens to me. This celebrated doctor that he has brought from England +with him is no better than my master is. They are a pair. But what can +she do against them alone?" + +"She is no longer alone, madame," said Ronald, with a strange +earnestness in his voice. "The lady is beautiful, you say. Very fair?" + +"As fair as a lily, sir." + +"You can tell me the color of her eyes." + +"They are blue as a summer sky, and there is sometimes a light as +sweet in them." + +"What would be her age, in your opinion, madame?" + +"Not more than twenty-four, and though she suffers so, she sometimes +looks like a maid of eighteen." + +"When your master is absent he leaves medicine for her to take? He +places this medicine in your charge? Is it a liquid?" + +"It is a liquid." + +"And its color, madame?" + +"White." + +"Is it clear? Has it a sediment?" + +"It is perfectly clear, like water?" + +"How often does she take it?" + +"Once every day, in the evening." + +"Does she take it willingly?" + +"Quite willingly." + +There was a brief silence here, and I observed Ronald pass his hands +across his eyes. It was he who was asking these questions, and Rivers +did not interpose. + +"Mme. Bernstein, did you ever taste this medicine?" + +"Ah, sir, you make me remember what I had forgotten. I am old; forgive +me. It was this, also, that was in my mind when I said there were +strange things I could not understand. It happened two years ago. +Mademoiselle had left nearly half the dose in the glass, and had gone +to bed. I took it up and tasted it; it was as water in my mouth, +and--I do not know why--I drank what remained. 'It is not likely to +harm me,' I thought, 'for it does not harm mademoiselle.' I went to +bed and slept soundly. In the morning when I awoke it was with a +strange feeling. I had some things to do; I could not remember what +they were. I dressed myself and sat in my chair as helpless as a babe. +The clock struck more than once, and still I sat there, trying to +think what it was I had to do. At last the clock struck twelve, and I +started to my feet, as though I had just woke out of a waking sleep, +and went about my work as usual." + +Ronald did not continue his questions; his attention seemed to be +drawn to another matter; his head was bent forward, in the attitude of +listening. + +I do not recollect what it was that Rivers said at this point, but he +had spoken a few words when Ronald cried: + +"Be silent!" + +His voice was agitated, and the same feeling of expectation stole upon +me as I had experienced before the female in her white nightdress +opened her bedroom window and stretched out her arms toward us. + +"Mme. Bernstein," said Ronald then, "the young lady we have been +speaking of is a musician." + +"Yes, sir." + +"She plays in the night sometimes." + +"I have heard her, sir, on two or three occasions." + +"The instrument she plays on is the zither." + +"Yes, sir." + +"She is playing at the present moment." + +"If you say so, sir. My hearing is not so good as yours." + +"It is Beatrice who is playing," said Ronald, and his tone now was +very quiet. "I knew she was not dead, and that we should meet again." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX. + + DR. COOPER IS IMPRESSED. + + +These startling words caused us to throw aside the restraint we had +placed upon our movements. We darted forward to the gate, from which +spot we could just catch the faint sounds of music. The truth burst +upon me like a flash of light. The mystery of Beatrice's supposed +death was made clear to me, and the unspeakable villainy of which Mr. +Nisbet was guilty was revealed. But alas for poor Barbara, who was +eagerly waiting to embrace her sister Molly! + +Mme. Bernstein joined us at the gate, and cautioned us to be careful +not to speak aloud. We removed to a safe distance, and were about to +discuss our plans and decide upon our course of action when Ronald +settled the matter for us. + +"Mme. Bernstein," he said, addressing her, "the lady is a dear friend +of mine; she was to have been my wife. A foul wrong has been done to +her, and Providence has directed our steps here to save her. We must +enter that ill-fated house to-night." + +"To-night!" she exclaimed. + +"Now--this moment," said Ronald, with decision. + +"But the danger----" + +"We are four men to two," said Ronald. "If I place my hands on one of +the monsters I will account for him, blind as I am. We are armed, and +no danger threatens us. An innocent lady's life is in peril; she lies +at the mercy of wretches who have no heart or conscience, and a +moment's delay may be fatal. You shall be well paid for the service, +madame----" + +"It is not that I shall be well paid," she interrupted. "I have a +heart, I have a conscience. It is because the master is a dangerous +man. But you shall have your way; the Just God will help you. Tread +softly; make no noise." + +"Mr. Elsdale is right," whispered Rivers to me as we followed Mme. +Bernstein. "Strike the iron while it's hot. There's a surprise in +store for two scoundrels to-night." + +We succeeded in making our entrance without awaking the enemy. + +"What now shall be done?" asked Mme. Bernstein. + +Ronald answered her. "Mlle. Mersac--it is not her name, but that +matters little--has no aversion to you, madame?" + +"None, none," she replied eagerly. + +"You will go to her room, and remain with her till you hear from us. +If she is awake, encourage her to sleep. She must know nothing till +daylight. Should it be needed call to us for assistance." + +"Yes, yes." + +"You will show us the rooms in which your master and his friend from +London sleep, and you will then leave us." Ronald turned to us. "I and +my uncle will keep watch outside Mr. Nisbet's door; if he comes out to +us I shall know how to deal with him. You, Mr. Rivers and Mr. Emery, +will introduce yourselves to Dr. Cooper, and endeavor to force a +confession from him. If he will not speak--well, you are a match for +him. Bind him, so that he shall be unable to move; then join us, and +we will make Mr. Nisbet secure. He must administer no more stupefying +drugs to his stepdaughter; his power over her is at an end. Have you +any objection to my plan, Mr. Rivers?" + +"None. It is the best that can be adopted. Let us set about it." + +With noiseless footsteps we ascended the stairs to the sleeping +apartments, Mme. Bernstein leading the way. She pointed out the rooms +to us. "That is the master's; that is his friend's." Then she left us, +and went to Beatrice's room. Bob and Ronald took their station outside +Mr. Nisbet's door and I observed that Bob held his revolver in his +hand. No indication reached us that we had disturbed the inmates. + +"It is our turn, now," Rivers whispered to me. "I think I know how to +manage our customer." + +He tried the door, and finding it locked, smiled as he said, "Locks +himself in. Doesn't trust his host. A good sign." He did not knock, +but kept fumbling at the handle, in order to attract Dr. Cooper's +attention. Presently succeeding, we heard the doctor get out of bed. + +"Who is there?" he asked softly, his ear at the door. + +"Let me in," Rivers replied, in a whisper. "I have something to say to +you. Why do you lock your door?" + +Had Rivers spoken above a whisper Dr. Cooper would have detected him, +but whispers are very much alike, and it is not easy to distinguish a +man's voice by them. + +"Wait a moment," said Dr. Cooper from within. "I will strike a light." + +This accomplished, he opened the door, which, as we glided in, Rivers +quickly closed and locked. Dr. Cooper had retreated from the door, and +stood, holding the candle above his head. With an exclamation of alarm +he let the candle slip from his hand, and we were in darkness. + +"What a clumsy fellow you are!" exclaimed Rivers in a jocose tone. +"Light it again, Mr. Emery. I have got Dr. Cooper quite safe." + +And I saw, when I had picked up the candle and lighted it, Dr. Cooper +standing quite still, with his arms pinned to his sides from behind by +Rivers. I placed the candle out of the doctor's reach, and Rivers +released him. + +Dr. Cooper was in his nightshirt, and presented anything but a +pleasant picture. Rivers, on the contrary, had an airy lightness about +him which was new to me. His eyes shone, and he rubbed his hands +together, as if he were taking part in a peculiarly agreeable +function. On a table by the bedside were a glass and a bottle of +whisky, half empty. Rivers put the bottle to his nose. + +"Scotch," he said. "I always drink Scotch myself." + +"Who are you?" Dr. Cooper managed to say. "What do you want?" + +"All in good time, doctor," replied Rivers. "It's no good commencing +in the middle of the game. You haven't the pleasure of my acquaintance +yet, but you know this gentleman." + +"I have seen him once before," said Dr. Cooper, with a troubled glance +at me. + +"And I am positive you must have enjoyed his society. He proves that +he enjoyed yours by his anxiety to renew the intimacy. He is a private +gentleman, I am a private detective, and we have come a long way to +see you. But you will catch cold standing there with only your shirt +on. Will you get into your clothes or into bed before we have our +chat. You would like to dress? You shall. Softly, softly. I will hand +you your clothes, taking the precaution to empty your pockets first." + +"By what right----" + +"Steady does it, doctor. If you talk of rights we shall talk of +wrongs. That's a sensible man. On go the trousers, on goes the +waistcoat, on goes the coat, and we're ready for business. Now, how +shall it be? Friends or foes? You don't answer. Very good. We'll give +you time. Take a chair, and make yourself comfortable. No, doctor, no; +don't take your whisky neat; as an experienced toper myself I insist +upon putting a little water into it. And we'll pour half the spirit +back into the bottle. Moderation and economy--that's the order of the +day. You can't make up your mind to speak. Very well; we'll see if we +can loosen your tongue. _I_ intend to make a clean breast of it, and +you may feel disposed presently to follow a good example. Give me your +best attention, I am going to open the case, and if I make mistakes +I'm open to correction. Some few years ago there lived in the north of +London a gentleman--we'll be polite, if nothing else--a gentleman and +his stepdaughter, name of the gentleman Nisbet, name of the +stepdaughter Beatrice. The house they inhabited was in Lamb's Terrace, +and a gentleman of means could not have selected a more desolate +locality to reside in. Miss Beatrice's mother was dead, and in her +will she appointed her second husband--she couldn't very well appoint +her first, doctor--guardian to her child, with a handsome provision +for the maintenance and education of the young lady. The bulk of her +fortune she left to her daughter, who was to come into possession of +it when she was of age. It was a large fortune, some fifty or sixty +thousand pounds, I believe, and I wish such a bit of luck had fallen +to my share, but we can't all be born with silver spoons in our +mouths, can we, doctor? That this fortune should have been left to the +lady instead of the gentleman annoyed and angered him, and he +determined to have the fingering of it. Now, how could that be +managed? There was only one way, according to his thinking, and that +was, to get rid of the lady, because it was set down in the will that, +in the event of the young lady's death before she came of age, the +money should revert to him. He laid his plans artfully, but there was +a flaw in them, as you will presently confess. I don't pretend to +understand how it was that he set about compassing his desire in the +crooked way he did. Perhaps he found the young lady hard to manage; +because he had some sort of sneaking feeling for her, perhaps he +thought it would not be half so bad if he got rid of someone else in +her place; and so contrived that it should be believed it was his own +stepdaughter who was dead, instead of a poor, friendless young girl of +her own age and build." + +Dr. Cooper shifted uneasily in his chair, and an expression of +amazement stole into his face. + +"I see that I am interesting you. This poor friendless girl was in his +service in Lamb's Terrace at the time, her name, Molly. So what did +this Nisbet do but send his stepdaughter from the house, and take a +ticket for her to some part of the Continent, precise place unknown, +but doubtless where she was pretty well out of the world. He was to +follow her, and they were to live in foreign parts. Meanwhile the poor +girl Molly was left in the London house, and on the morning of his +intended departure was found dead, not in her own bed, but in the +young lady's, with the young lady's clothes on and about her. The +cause of death was said to be asphyxiation by an escape of gas in the +young lady's bedroom. The Nisbets kept no society in London, and had +no friends or acquaintances, so there was no one to dispute his +statement that it was his stepdaughter who was dead. Now, he knew, +that an inquest would have to be held, and that a certificate of the +cause of death would have to be produced, so what does he do but go to +a miserable wretch of a doctor or apothecary living or starving--the +latter, I suspect--in the neighborhood of Lamb's Terrace, and by +plausible words and bribe induce him to give this necessary death +certificate. Name of doctor, Cooper. Fire away, doctor, if you've +anything to say." + +"It has been done again and again," said Dr. Cooper, sucking his +parched lips. "But I can't speak till I've had a drink." + +"Here it is," said Rivers, mixing a glass, sparing with the whisky and +liberal with the water, and handing it to the wretched man. "Don't +swallow it all at once; moisten your lips with it now and then." + +"It has been done again and again," repeated Dr. Cooper. "A doctor is +called in who has not attended the patient; he sees that the cause of +death is unmistakable, and he gives the certificate. It is not a +crime." + +"I am not so sure of that," said Rivers, in a dry tone. "Anyway it is +too late now to prove the true cause of poor Molly's, death, for the +body has been cremated." + +"It was not a case of illness," continued Dr. Cooper; "no doctor had +been in the house to see the girl before that morning, and I only did +what any other doctor would have done." + +"You did," corrected Rivers, "what no respectable doctor would dream +of doing." + +"I was in debt," pursued Dr. Cooper, "I was in trouble on all sides, I +had a large family to support, and no food to give them. He came to +me, and I was glad to earn a pound or two. I had never seen him before +that morning, I had never even heard of him. What is this story you +are telling me of another girl being put into his daughter's bed? It +is false; I do not believe it." + +"It is true," I said, "and it can be proved, for the young lady +lives." + +"May I drop dead off this chair if I knew it!" cried Dr. Cooper, with +trembling outstretched hands. "How was I to know it when I had never +seen the lady, when I had never seen the girl, when I had never seen +him before that morning?" + +Notwithstanding the feeling of loathing with which he inspired me, I +had no doubt that he was speaking the truth, and that he was not +implicated in the conspiracy. He presented a pitiable and degrading +spectacle as he sat trembling and writhing in his chair. + +"I will go on to the end," said Rivers, "and you will find that you +have something else to explain. The inquest was held, and you gave +false evidence at it." + +"You can't prove that it was false," said Dr. Cooper. "There is no +body to exhume, and there is no one to give evidence against me. You +may be right in the other parts of the story, but you will never be +able to prove yourself right in this. I know sufficient of the law to +know that no crime can be brought home to me for which I can be made +to suffer." + +"Perhaps you do know the law," said Rivers dryly, and I fancied that +he felt himself at a disadvantage here, "and perhaps you don't. One +thing is certain. You may escape, but there is no possibility of +escape for the infernal scoundrel you have served, and who has brought +you over from London to assist him in some other diabolical scheme." + +"Stop a minute," exclaimed Dr. Cooper, bending forward and fixing his +bloodshot eyes on Rivers' face. "Didn't I see you on the boat?" + +"It is more than probable," answered Rivers, with a sly chuckle, "for +I was there." + +"You followed us?" + +"Every step of the way. If you had looked for me you would have seen +me on the train. What do you say now? Are we friends or foes?" + +"Friends," cried Dr. Cooper eagerly. "Friends. I am on your side. I +will conceal nothing." + +Was it my fancy that there was a movement in the wall between the room +we were in and that occupied by Mr. Nisbet? It must have been, I +thought, for upon looking more closely I saw nothing to confirm the +fancy, and I ascribed it to the fever and excitement of the scene of +which I was a witness. + +"You are wise," said Rivers, "though I take it upon myself to declare +that, with or without your assistance, we can bring his guilt home to +him. There are others in the house as well as ourselves. Two of our +friends are at this moment stationed outside Mr. Nisbet's door. He is +doomed, if ever man was. If he knows a prayer it is time for him to +say it." + + + + + CHAPTER XXX. + + MR. NISBET TAKES A DECIDED STEP. + + +"The evidence, then, you gave at the inquest," continued Rivers, +"whether false or true (you see I am not disposed to be hard on you), +was conclusive, and doubtless you were well paid for it. In the eyes +of the law Mr. Nisbet's stepdaughter was dead, and he came into her +fortune. The simplicity of the whole thing would be amusing if it were +not tragic. But his task was not yet finished. He had committed an +error of judgment in killing the wrong woman; the lady whom he had +robbed of her fortune still lived, and it was imperative that he +should get rid of her. He must have been in fear of detection, or he +would have adopted some violent and summary measures to compass his +objects. Being fearful of consequences he determined to kill her +slowly, and it was also necessary that he should destroy her memory, +that he should make her mind a blank, for if by any chance the news of +the tragedy which had taken place in Lamb's Terrace reached her +knowledge the game would be lost. According to the way I reason it out +he hoped that the drugs he administered to her would cause her to die +a presumably natural death, but the lady was obstinate, and refused to +die as he wished. At length, weary of waiting, he calls you in to +assist him." + +"You are on the wrong track," said Dr. Cooper. "I have never seen the +lady." + +"You are in your right senses, I presume," said Rivers. "The lady +happens to be in this house." + +"In this house?" + +"Do you wish us to believe you have not seen her?" + +"On my honor, I have not seen her." At this reference to his honor a +queer smile crossed Rivers' lips. "There is a female here, as I was +given to understand by Mr. Nisbet, one of his domestics, who was +indisposed. But I have seen no one except Mr. Nisbet and an old woman +who cooks for him, and with whom I have not exchanged a single word. +Mr. Nisbet informed me that he wanted my assistance in certain +chemical experiments he intended to make in Switzerland, and I +consented to accompany him. It was a sudden proposition, and I had to +make up my mind on the spur of the moment. When I first made his +acquaintance he promised to assist me and set me up in a good way of +business, but after the inquest I lost sight of him, and his promises +were not fulfilled. Coming upon me suddenly a week ago in London, he +said if I would assist him that he would fulfill his old promises. I +would have come with him without this assurance. I was doing no +business in London, and I was in debt; I have always been in debt +everywhere; I am the most unfortunate wretch in existence. Now you +have the truth of it." + +"What were you and Mr. Nisbet doing to-night before you went to bed?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"It is a plain question. You and he were together in this room. You +poured some drops from a vial into a glass. Mr. Nisbet took the glass +from you, dipped his finger into it, and tasted the stuff; then he +threw the contents of the glass out of the window." + +"You know everything," gasped Dr. Cooper, falling back in his chair in +consternation. + +"You are not far out. What were you doing? What was in the vial?" + +"A deadly poison. The drops I poured into the glass would put an end +to a man's life in a few seconds, and it would be next to impossible +to discover the cause of death." + +"An interesting experiment. If it would put an end to a man's life it +would put an end to a woman's. Are you a double-dyed knave, or an +egregious fool? Do you not see the crime your accomplice was +meditating?" + +"I am not his accomplice," cried Dr. Cooper in a violent tone. "He +told me he wanted to try it upon some animals." + +"A likely story. This deadly poison was to be administered to his +stepdaughter. He paved the way by informing the old woman in this +house that the young lady is sinking fast. He is caught in his own +trap. Where is the vial?" + +"Mr. Nisbet has it." + +At this moment I saw confirmed the fancy I had entertained of a +movement in the wall between the bedrooms. A panel was softly and +noiselessly pushed, and Mr. Nisbet's face appeared. It was of an ashen +whiteness; he must have overheard every word of the conversation. As +his eyes met mine he swiftly retreated; the panel closed, and then +came the sound of the snap of a lock. + +"What was that?" cried Rivers, starting up. + +I told him hurriedly what I had seen, and he went to the wall and +examined it. + +"It is a cunning contrivance," he said, "and is hidden somewhere in +these wide headings." He pushed against the wall without effect. "You, +too," he added grimly to Dr. Cooper, "might never have left the house +alive. Let us finish the night's work. You will come out with us. +Leave the door open, and set that chair against it, in case he slips +in here, and tries to make his escape. We will take the law into our +own hands. I never travel without the darbies." + +He took a pair of handcuffs from his pocket, and put them back with a +satisfied smile. + +We joined Ronald and Bob in the passage, and questioned them. Mr. +Nisbet had made no attempt to open his door, but Bob had peeped +through the keyhole a few minutes after he had taken up his station, +being attracted by the glimmering of a light in the room, which he +accepted as a proof that Mr. Nisbet was awake. By means of this light +he had obtained a partial view of the room, but before he could catch +sight of Mr. Nisbet the keyhole was masked from within, and he could +see nothing more. + +"Mr. Nisbet!" Rivers called out as he rapped smartly at the door. + +We listened for an answer, but received none, and Rivers repeated his +summons several times in vain. No movement within the room reached our +ears. We did not make more noise than was absolutely necessary, but it +brought Mme. Bernstein out, to whom Ronald explained what we were +doing, and hoped we were not alarming Beatrice. + +"Oh, no," said Mme. Bernstein, "she is sleeping like an angel." + +Did she know her lover was near her, I thought, and that she was saved +from the dread peril with which she had been threatened? The +mysterious adventure which had led up to the present strange scene in +a foreign land warranted such a thought. Little, indeed, do we know of +the unseen world by which we are surrounded, little do we understand +of the occult influences which direct the most pregnant actions of our +lives. Often during the past twenty-four hours had I looked toward the +ground in the anticipation of seeing the spectral figure which had +prompted every step I had taken in this mystery, but I had seen +nothing of it, and I was tempted to believe, its mission being +accomplished, that it had left me forever. Though a more fitting place +might be found to mention it, I may state here that my impression was +correct. From that day to this, when in my London home I am engaged in +writing the particulars of the mysterious crime which, through the +agency of the supernatural visitation, I was the means of bringing to +light, I have never set eyes on the supernatural apparition. + +I return now to my companions, who, in the silence of Mr. Nisbet, were +debating what it was best to do. If we burst open the door of his +bedroom we should awake Beatrice, and the shock might produce serious +consequences. + +"He may have escaped by the window," suggested Bob. + +Rivers shook his head. "He could not do so without breaking his limbs. +This floor is some distance from the ground, and a dead straight wall +stretches down the back of the house." + +"There may be other panels in the walls of his room opening in other +directions." + +"That is more likely. It is stupid to wait here and do nothing. I have +picked a lock before to-night. Here goes." + +Down he plumped on his knees, and set to work with his own knife and +ours which we handed him. One or another of us held a candle to the +keyhole while he worked. It was a long job and a tough job, and he was +at it for thirty or forty minutes, but he managed it at last. + +"Be prepared for a rush," he said, in a tone of warning, as he slowly +pushed the door open. + +No such experience awaited us. The door was wide open, and we stood +together on the threshold. + +"He has left the candle alight, at all events," said Rivers. "Follow +me, and look out." + +We entered the room close upon each other's heels. + +Leaning back in an armchair by the table was Mr. Nisbet. His eyes were +closed, and we were face to face with the murderer. His features were +perfectly calm and composed. + +"How can he sleep so peacefully at such a moment as this?" whispered +Bob. + +"Yes," said Rivers, stepping forward, "he sleeps peacefully." + +Dr. Cooper also stepped forward, and put his ear to Mr. Nisbet's +mouth, and his hand to his heart. + +"Dead?" asked Rivers. + +"Dead," replied Dr. Cooper. + +Rivers lifted from the carpet an empty vial which had fallen from the +dead man's hand, and held it up to the doctor with a questioning look. +Dr. Cooper nodded. + + + * * * * * * * + + +But little more remains to be told. + +Beatrice was taken back to England, and under medical care recovered +her memory. But she recollects very little of the years she passed in +peril of her life. The chief part of her fortune was saved, and she +and Ronald are married. Barbara is in their service. The poor child +suffered much when the truth was revealed to her, but time healed her +sorrow, and she has a happy home. + +Dr. Cooper disappeared from London, and none of us knew, or cared to +know, what became of him. Ronald provided for Mme. Bernstein. + +My good wife and I live in our old home. We never intend to move. +Nothing in the world could tempt Maria to enter an empty house. +Between ourselves and Mr. and Mrs. Elsdale exists a firm friendship, +and we, seldom without Bob, are frequently together; but we never +refer to the strange incidents which have ended so happily. + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Last Tenant, by +B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43199 *** |