Этюд в багровых тонах
A Flight for Life.
Anyknowndangerhecouldfacewithafirmlip,butthissuspensewasunnerving. Heconcealedhisfearsfromhisdaughter,however,andaffectedtomakelightofthewholematter,thoughshe,withthekeeneyeoflove,sawplainlythathewasillatease.
HeexpectedthathewouldreceivesomemessageorremonstrancefromYoungastohisconduct,andhewasnotmistaken,thoughitcameinanunlooked-formanner. Uponrisingnextmorninghefound,tohissurprise,asmallsquareofpaperpinnedontothecoverletofhisbedjustoverhischest. Onitwasprinted,inboldstragglingletters:—
“Twenty-ninedaysaregivenyouforamendment,andthen——”
Thedashwasmorefear-inspiringthananythreatcouldhavebeen. HowthiswarningcameintohisroompuzzledJohnFerriersorely,forhisservantssleptinanouthouse,andthedoorsandwindowshadallbeensecured. Hecrumpledthepaperupandsaidnothingtohisdaughter,buttheincidentstruckachillintohisheart. Thetwenty-ninedayswereevidentlythebalanceofthemonthwhichYounghadpromised. Whatstrengthorcouragecouldavailagainstanenemyarmedwithsuchmysteriouspowers? Thehandwhichfastenedthatpinmighthavestruckhimtotheheart,andhecouldneverhaveknownwhohadslainhim.
Stillmoreshakenwashenextmorning. TheyhadsatdowntotheirbreakfastwhenLucywithacryofsurprisepointedupwards. Inthecentreoftheceilingwasscrawled,withaburnedstickapparently,thenumber28. Tohisdaughteritwasunintelligible,andhedidnotenlightenher.
