Tales of Terror and Mystery
The New Catacomb
"
"WhatyouaredrivingatIcannotimagine,"saidtheEnglishman,"butifyoumeanthatyouwillanswermyquestionaboutthecatacombifIansweranyquestionwhichyoumayputtomeIcanassureyouthatIwillcertainlydoso."
"Well,then,"saidBurger,leaningluxuriouslybackinhissettee,andpuffingabluetreeofcigar-smokeintotheair,"tellmeallaboutyourrelationswithMissMarySaunderson."
Kennedysprangupinhischairandglaredangrilyathisimpassivecompanion.
"Whatthedevildoyoumean?"hecried."Whatsortofaquestionisthis?Youmaymeanitasajoke,butyounevermadeaworseone."
"No,Idon’tmeanitasajoke,"saidBurger,simply."Iamreallyratherinterestedinthedetailsofthematter.Idon’tknowmuchabouttheworldandwomenandsociallifeandthatsortofthing,andsuchanincidenthasthefascinationoftheunknownforme.Iknowyou,andIknewherbysight—Ihadevenspokentoheronceortwice.Ishouldverymuchliketohearfromyourownlipsexactlywhatitwaswhichoccurredbetweenyou."
"Iwon’ttellyouaword."
"That’sallright.Itwasonlymywhimtoseeifyouwouldgiveupasecretaseasilyasyouexpectedmetogiveupmysecretofthenewcatacomb.Youwouldn’t,andIdidn’texpectyouto.Butwhyshouldyouexpectotherwiseofme?There’sSaintJohn’sclockstrikingten.ItisquitetimethatIwasgoinghome."
"No;waitabit,Burger,"saidKennedy;"thisisreallyaridiculouscapriceofyourstowishtoknowaboutanoldlove-affairwhichhasburnedoutmonthsago.
