Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Beetle-Hunter
"Onthecontrary,sir,itistheonescientificsubjectaboutwhichIfeelthatIreallydoknowsomething."
"Iamoverjoyedtohearit.Pleasetalktomeaboutbeetles."
Italked.Idonotprofesstohavesaidanythingoriginaluponthesubject,butIgaveashortsketchofthecharacteristicsofthebeetle,andranoverthemorecommonspecies,withsomeallusionstothespecimensinmyownlittlecollectionandtothearticleupon"BuryingBeetles"whichIhadcontributedtotheJournalofEntomologicalScience.
"What!notacollector?"criedLordLinchmere."Youdon’tmeanthatyouareyourselfacollector?"Hiseyesdancedwithpleasureatthethought.
"YouarecertainlytheverymaninLondonformypurpose.Ithoughtthatamongfivemillionsofpeopletheremustbesuchaman,butthedifficultyistolayone’shandsuponhim.Ihavebeenextraordinarilyfortunateinfindingyou."
Herangagonguponthetable,andthefootmanentered.
"AskLadyRossitertohavethegoodnesstostepthisway,"saidhislordship,andafewmomentslatertheladywasusheredintotheroom.Shewasasmall,middle-agedwoman,verylikeLordLinchmereinappearance,withthesamequick,alertfeaturesandgrey-blackhair.Theexpressionofanxiety,however,whichIhadobserveduponhisfacewasverymuchmoremarkeduponhers.Somegreatgriefseemedtohavecastitsshadowoverherfeatures.AsLordLinchmerepresentedmesheturnedherfacefulluponme,andIwasshockedtoobserveahalf-healedscarextendingfortwoinchesoverherrighteyebrow.
