Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Case of Lady Sannox
Hisnerve,hisjudgement,hisintuition,werethingsapart.Againandagainhisknifecutawaydeath,butgrazedtheveryspringsoflifeindoingit,untilhisassistantswereaswhiteasthepatient.Hisenergy,hisaudacity,hisfull-bloodedself-confidence—doesnotthememoryofthemstilllingertothesouthofMaryleboneRoadandthenorthofOxfordStreet?
Hisviceswereasmagnificentashisvirtues,andinfinitelymorepicturesque.Largeaswashisincome,anditwasthethirdlargestofallprofessionalmeninLondon,itwasfarbeneaththeluxuryofhisliving.Deepinhiscomplexnaturelayarichveinofsensualism,atthesportofwhichheplacedalltheprizesofhislife.Theeye,theear,thetouch,thepalate,allwerehismasters.Thebouquetofoldvintages,thescentofrareexotics,thecurvesandtintsofthedaintiestpotteriesofEurope,itwastothesethatthequick-runningstreamofgoldwastransformed.AndthentherecamehissuddenmadpassionforLadySannox,whenasingleinterviewwithtwochallengingglancesandawhisperedwordsethimablaze.ShewastheloveliestwomaninLondonandtheonlyonetohim.HewasoneofthehandsomestmeninLondon,butnottheonlyonetoher.Shehadalikingfornewexperiences,andwasgracioustomostmenwhowooedher.ItmayhavebeencauseoritmayhavebeeneffectthatLordSannoxlookedfifty,thoughhewasbutsix-and-thirty.
Hewasaquiet,silent,neutral-tintedman,thislord,withthinlipsandheavyeyelids,muchgiventogardening,andfullofhome-likehabits.
