Этюд в багровых тонах
A Flight for Life.
Turnwhichwayhewould,thereappearedtobenoavoidingtheblowwhichhungoverhim. Yettheoldmanneverwaveredinhisresolutiontopartwithlifeitselfbeforeheconsentedtowhatheregardedashisdaughter’sdishonour.
Hewassittingaloneoneeveningponderingdeeplyoverhistroubles,andsearchingvainlyforsomewayoutofthem. Thatmorninghadshownthefigure2uponthewallofhishouse,andthenextdaywouldbethelastoftheallottedtime. Whatwastohappenthen? Allmannerofvagueandterriblefanciesfilledhisimagination. Andhisdaughter—whatwastobecomeofherafterhewasgone? Wastherenoescapefromtheinvisiblenetworkwhichwasdrawnallroundthem. Hesankhisheaduponthetableandsobbedatthethoughtofhisownimpotence.
Whatwasthat? Inthesilenceheheardagentlescratchingsound—low,butverydistinctinthequietofthenight. Itcamefromthedoorofthehouse. Ferriercreptintothehallandlistenedintently. Therewasapauseforafewmoments,andthenthelowinsidioussoundwasrepeated. Someonewasevidentlytappingverygentlyupononeofthepanelsofthedoor. Wasitsomemidnightassassinwhohadcometocarryoutthemurderousordersofthesecrettribunal? Orwasitsomeagentwhowasmarkingupthatthelastdayofgracehadarrived. JohnFerrierfeltthatinstantdeathwouldbebetterthanthesuspensewhichshookhisnervesandchilledhisheart. Springingforwardhedrewtheboltandthrewthedooropen.
