Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Beetle-Hunter
"Youhaveonlytotellmewhatmydutiesare."
"Yourfirstdutywillbetoreturntoyourhome.Youwillpackupwhateveryoumayneedforashortvisittothecountry.WestarttogetherfromPaddingtonStationat3:40thisafternoon."
"Dowegofar?"
"AsfarasPangbourne.Meetmeatthebookstallat3:30.Ishallhavethetickets.Goodbye,Dr.Hamilton!And,bytheway,therearetwothingswhichIshouldbeverygladifyouwouldbringwithyou,incaseyouhavethem.Oneisyourcaseforcollectingbeetles,andtheotherisastick,andthethickerandheavierthebetter."
YoumayimaginethatIhadplentytothinkoffromthetimethatIleftBrookStreetuntilIsetouttomeetLordLinchmereatPaddington.Thewholefantasticbusinesskeptarrangingandrearrangingitselfinkaleidoscopicformsinsidemybrain,untilIhadthoughtoutadozenexplanations,eachofthemmoregrotesquelyimprobablethanthelast.AndyetIfeltthatthetruthmustbesomethinggrotesquelyimprobablealso.AtlastIgaveupallattemptsatfindingasolution,andcontentedmyselfwithexactlycarryingouttheinstructionswhichIhadreceived.Withahandvalise,specimen-case,andaloadedcane,IwaswaitingatthePaddingtonbookstallwhenLordLinchmerearrived.HewasanevensmallermanthanIhadthought—frailandpeaky,withamannerwhichwasmorenervousthanithadbeeninthemorning.Heworealong,thicktravellingulster,andIobservedthathecarriedaheavyblackthorncudgelinhishand.
"Ihavethetickets,"saidhe,leadingthewayuptheplatform.
"Thisisourtrain.
