Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Beetle-Hunter
Itwillcomeright—dependuponit;itwillcomeright,andsurelyitlooksliketheinterferenceofProvidencethatsoperfectaninstrumentshouldbeputintoourhands."
Mypositionwasembarrassing,forIfeltthatfortheinstanttheyhadforgottenmypresence.ButLordLinchmerecamebacksuddenlytomeandtomyengagement.
"ThebusinessforwhichIwantyou,Dr.Hamilton,isthatyoushouldputyourselfabsolutelyatmydisposal.Iwishyoutocomeforashortjourneywithme,toremainalwaysatmyside,andtopromisetodowithoutquestionwhateverImayaskyou,howeverunreasonableitmayappeartoyoutobe."
"Thatisagooddealtoask,"saidI.
"UnfortunatelyIcannotputitmoreplainly,forIdonotmyselfknowwhatturnmattersmaytake.Youmaybesure,however,thatyouwillnotbeaskedtodoanythingwhichyourconsciencedoesnotapprove;andIpromiseyouthat,whenallisover,youwillbeproudtohavebeenconcernedinsogoodawork."
"Ifitendshappily,"saidthelady.
"Exactly;ifitendshappily,"hislordshiprepeated.
"Andterms?"Iasked.
"Twentypoundsaday."
Iwasamazedatthesum,andmusthaveshowedmysurpriseuponmyfeatures.
"Itisararecombinationofqualities,asmusthavestruckyouwhenyoufirstreadtheadvertisement,"saidLordLinchmere;"suchvariedgiftsmaywellcommandahighreturn,andIdonotconcealfromyouthatyourdutiesmightbearduousorevendangerous.Besides,itispossiblethatoneortwodaysmaybringthemattertoanend."
"PleaseGod!"sighedhissister.
"Sonow,Dr.Hamilton,mayIrelyuponyouraid?"
"Mostundoubtedly,"saidI.
