Tales of Terror and Mystery

The Beetle-Hunter

           Hespokeconstantlywithaffectionofhisabsentwife,andalsoofhislittleson,whohadrecentlybeensenttoschool.Thehouse,hesaid,wasnotthesamewithoutthem.Ifitwerenotforhisscientificstudies,hedidnotknowhowhecouldgetthroughthedays.Afterdinnerwesmokedforsometimeinthebilliard-room,andfinallywentearlytobed.

           Andthenitwasthat,forthefirsttime,thesuspicionthatLordLinchmerewasalunaticcrossedmymind.Hefollowedmeintomybedroom,whenourhosthadretired.

           "Doctor,"saidhe,speakinginalow,hurriedvoice,"youmustcomewithme.Youmustspendthenightinmybedroom."

           "Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Iprefernottoexplain.Butthisispartofyourduties.Myroomiscloseby,andyoucanreturntoyourownbeforetheservantcallsyouinthemorning."

           "Butwhy?"Iasked.

           "BecauseIamnervousofbeingalone,"saidhe."That’sthereason,sinceyoumusthaveareason."

           Itseemedranklunacy,buttheargumentofthosetwentypoundswouldovercomemanyobjections.Ifollowedhimtohisroom.

           "Well,"saidI,"there’sonlyroomforoneinthatbed."

           "Onlyoneshalloccupyit,"saidhe.

           "Andtheother?"

           "Mustremainonwatch."

           "Why?"saidI."Onewouldthinkyouexpectedtobeattacked."

           "PerhapsIdo."

           "Inthatcase,whynotlockyourdoor?"

           "PerhapsIWANTtobeattacked."

           Itlookedmoreandmorelikelunacy.However,therewasnothingforitbuttosubmit.Ishruggedmyshouldersandsatdowninthearm-chairbesidetheemptyfireplace.

           "Iamtoremainonwatch,then?"saidI,ruefully.

           "Wewilldividethenight.

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