Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Leather Funnel
"
"Theleatherfunnelhasacted,then?"
"Iwouldn’tsleepneartheinfernalthingagainforallthemoneyyoucouldofferme."
Dacrechuckled.
"Iexpectedthatyouwouldhavealivelynightofit,"saidhe."Youtookitoutofmeinreturn,forthatscreamofyourswasn’taverypleasantsoundattwointhemorning.Isupposefromwhatyousaythatyouhaveseenthewholedreadfulbusiness."
"Whatdreadfulbusiness?"
"Thetortureofthewater—the’ExtraordinaryQuestion,’asitwascalledinthegenialdaysof’LeRoiSoleil.’Didyoustanditouttotheend?"
"No,thankGod,Iawokebeforeitreallybegan."
"Ah!itisjustaswellforyou.Iheldouttillthethirdbucket.Well,itisanoldstory,andtheyareallintheirgravesnow,anyhow,sowhatdoesitmatterhowtheygotthere?Isupposethatyouhavenoideawhatitwasthatyouhaveseen?"
"Thetortureofsomecriminal.Shemusthavebeenaterriblemalefactorindeedifhercrimesareinproportiontoherpenalty."
"Well,wehavethatsmallconsolation,"saidDacre,wrappinghisdressing-gownroundhimandcrouchingclosertothefire."TheyWEREinproportiontoherpenalty.Thatistosay,ifIamcorrectinthelady’sidentity."
"Howcouldyoupossiblyknowheridentity?"
ForanswerDacretookdownanoldvellum-coveredvolumefromtheshelf.
"Justlistentothis,"saidhe;"itisintheFrenchoftheseventeenthcentury,butIwillgivearoughtranslationasIgo.YouwilljudgeforyourselfwhetherIhavesolvedtheriddleornot.
