Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Beetle-Hunter
ThemoreIponderedoveritthemoreunintelligiblediditbecome;butattheendofmymeditationsIalwayscamebacktothegroundfactthat,comewhatmight,Ihadnothingtolose,thatIwascompletelyattheendofmyresources,andthatIwasreadyforanyadventure,howeverdesperate,whichwouldputafewhonestsovereignsintomypocket.Themanfearstofailwhohastopayforhisfailure,buttherewasnopenaltywhichFortunecouldexactfromme.Iwaslikethegamblerwithemptypockets,whoisstillallowedtotryhisluckwiththeothers.
No.77B,BrookStreet,wasoneofthosedingyandyetimposinghouses,dun-colouredandflat-faced,withtheintenselyrespectableandsolidairwhichmarkstheGeorgianbuilder.AsIalightedfromthecab,ayoungmancameoutofthedoorandwalkedswiftlydownthestreet.Inpassingme,Inoticedthathecastaninquisitiveandsomewhatmalevolentglanceatme,andItooktheincidentasagoodomen,forhisappearancewasthatofarejectedcandidate,andifheresentedmyapplicationitmeantthatthevacancywasnotyetfilledup.Fullofhope,Iascendedthebroadstepsandrappedwiththeheavyknocker.
Afootmaninpowderandliveryopenedthedoor.ClearlyIwasintouchwiththepeopleofwealthandfashion.
"Yes,sir?"saidthefootman.
"Icameinanswerto——"
"Quiteso,sir,"saidthefootman."LordLinchmerewillseeyouatonceinthelibrary."
LordLinchmere!Ihadvaguelyheardthename,butcouldnotfortheinstantrecallanythingabouthim.
