Похититель трупов

           Therewasathin,brightmoonshine; itwasbittercold,windy,andfrosty; thetownhadnotyetawakened,butanindefinablestiralreadypreludedthenoiseandbusinessoftheday. Theghoulshadcomelaterthanusual,andtheyseemedmorethanusuallyeagertobegone. Fettes,sickwithsleep,lightedthemupstairs. HeheardtheirgrumblingIrishvoicesthroughadream; andastheystrippedthesackfromtheirsadmerchandiseheleaneddozing,withhisshoulderproppedagainstthewall; hehadtoshakehimselftofindthementheirmoney. Ashedidsohiseyeslightedonthedeadface. Hestarted;hetooktwostepsnearer,withthecandleraised. 

           ‘GodAlmighty!’hecried.‘ThatisJaneGalbraith!’ 

           Themenanswerednothing,buttheyshufflednearerthedoor. 

           ‘Iknowher,Itellyou,’hecontinued. ‘Shewasaliveandheartyyesterday. It’simpossibleshecanbedead; it’simpossibleyoushouldhavegotthisbodyfairly.’ 

           ‘Sure,sir,you’remistakenentirely,’saidoneofthemen. 

           ButtheotherlookedFettesdarklyintheeyes,anddemandedthemoneyonthespot. 

           Itwasimpossibletomisconceivethethreatortoexaggeratethedanger.Thelad’sheartfailedhim. Hestammeredsomeexcuses,countedoutthesum,andsawhishatefulvisitorsdepart. Nosoonerweretheygonethanhehastenedtoconfirmhisdoubts.Byadozenunquestionablemarksheidentifiedthegirlhehadjestedwiththedaybefore.