Викрадач трупів

           Beforeithadoccurredtooneofustomakeamovementtheflywasalreadyrattlingtowardthestation. Thescenewasoverlikeadream,butthedreamhadleftproofsandtracesofitspassage. Nextdaytheservantfoundthefinegoldspectaclesbrokenonthethreshold,andthatverynightwewereallstandingbreathlessbythebar—roomwindow, andFettesatourside,sober,pale,andresoluteinlook. 

           ‘Godprotectus,Mr.Fettes!’saidthelandlord,comingfirstintopossessionofhiscustomarysenses. ‘Whatintheuniverseisallthis? Thesearestrangethingsyouhavebeensaying.’ 

           Fettesturnedtowardus;helookeduseachinsuccessionintheface. ‘Seeifyoucanholdyourtongues,’saidhe. ‘ThatmanMacfarlaneisnotsafetocross; thosethathavedonesoalreadyhaverepentedittoolate.’ 

           Andthen,withoutsomuchasfinishinghisthirdglass,farlesswaitingfortheothertwo,hebadeusgood-byeandwentforth,underthelampofthehotel,intotheblacknight. 

           Wethreeturnedtoourplacesintheparlour,withthebigredfireandfourclearcandles; andaswerecapitulatedwhathadpassed,thefirstchillofoursurprisesoonchangedintoaglowofcuriosity. Wesatlate; itwasthelatestsessionIhaveknownintheoldGeorge.