Ужас в музее

           Hewasabouttogotothedoorleadingintotheworkroom,whenthedarkattendantstoppedhimwithawordandagesture. Mr.Rogers,themansaidinasoft,somewhataccentedvoiceatonceapologeticandvaguelysardonic,wasout,andtherewerestandingorderstoadmitnoonetotheworkroomduringhisabsence. Asforthatyelp,itwasundoubtedlysomethingoutinthecourtyardbehindthemuseum. Thisneighbourhoodwasfullofstraymongrels,andtheirfightsweresometimesshockinglynoisy. Therewerenodogsinanypartofthemuseum. ButifMr.JoneswishedtoseeMr.Rogershemightfindhimjustbeforeclosing-time. 

           AfterthisJonesclimbedtheoldstonestepstothestreetoutsideandexaminedthesqualidneighbourhoodcuriously. Theleaning,decrepitbuildings—oncedwellingsbutnowlargelyshopsandwarehouses—wereveryancientindeed. SomeofthemwereofagabledtypeseemingtogobacktoTudortimes,andafaintmiasmaticstenchhungsubtlyaboutthewholeregion. Besidethedingyhousewhosebasementheldthemuseumwasalowarchwaypiercedbyadarkcobbledalley,andthisJonesenteredinavaguewishtofindthecourtyardbehindtheworkroomandsettletheaffairofthedogmorecomfortablyinhismind. Thecourtyardwasdiminthelateafternoonlight,hemmedinbyrearwallsevenuglierandmoreintangiblymenacingthanthecrumblingstreetfacadesoftheeviloldhouses. Notadogwasinsight,andJoneswonderedhowtheaftermathofsuchafranticturmoilcouldhavecompletelyvanishedsosoon.