Tales of Terror and Mystery

           Itwaspartlyconcealedbyplaster,butnonethelessIcouldseethatithadbeenaseriouswoundandnotlonginflicted.

           "Dr.Hamiltonistheverymanforourpurpose,Evelyn,"saidLordLinchmere."Heisactuallyacollectorofbeetles,andhehaswrittenarticlesuponthesubject."

           "Really!"saidLadyRossiter."Thenyoumusthaveheardofmyhusband.EveryonewhoknowsanythingaboutbeetlesmusthaveheardofSirThomasRossiter."

           Forthefirsttimeathinlittlerayoflightbegantobreakintotheobscurebusiness.Here,atlast,wasaconnectionbetweenthesepeopleandbeetles.SirThomasRossiter—hewasthegreatestauthorityuponthesubjectintheworld.Hehadmadeithislifelongstudy,andhadwrittenamostexhaustiveworkuponit.IhastenedtoassureherthatIhadreadandappreciatedit.

           "Haveyoumetmyhusband?"sheasked.

           "No,Ihavenot."

           "Butyoushall,"saidLordLinchmere,withdecision.

           Theladywasstandingbesidethedesk,andsheputherhanduponhisshoulder.ItwasobvioustomeasIsawtheirfacestogetherthattheywerebrotherandsister.

           "Areyoureallypreparedforthis,Charles?Itisnobleofyou,butyoufillmewithfears."Hervoicequaveredwithapprehension,andheappearedtometobeequallymoved,thoughhewasmakingstrongeffortstoconcealhisagitation.

           "Yes,yes,dear;itisallsettled,itisalldecided;infact,thereisnootherpossibleway,thatIcansee."

           "Thereisoneobviousway."

           "No,no,Evelyn,Ishallneverabandonyou—never.