Chapter 5

           MarinusBicknellWilletthasnothopethatanypartofhistalewillbebelievedexceptbycertainsympatheticfriends,hencehehasmadenoattempttotellitbeyondhismostintimatecircle.Onlyafewoutsidershaveeverhearditrepeated,andofthesethemajoritylaughandremarkthatthedoctorsurelyisgettingold.Hehasbeenadvisedtotakealongvacationandtoshunfuturecasesdealingwithmentaldisturbance.ButMr.Wardknowsthattheveteranphysicianspeaksonlyahorribletruth.Didnothehimselfseethenoisomeapertureinthebungalowcellar?DidnotWillettsendhimhomeovercomeandillateleveno’clockthatportentousmorning?Didhenottelephonethedoctorinvainthatevening,andagainthenextday,andhadhenotdriventothebungalowitselfonthatfollowingnoon,findinghisfriendunconsciousbutunharmedononeofthebedsupstairs?Willetthadbeenbreathingstertorously,andopenedhiseyesslowlywhenMr.Wardgavehimsomebrandyfetchedfromthecar.Thenheshudderedandscreamed,cryingout,’Thatbeard...thoseeyes...God,whoareyou?’Averystrangethingtosaytoatrim,blue-eyed,clean-shavengentlemanwhomhehadknownfromthelatter’sboyhood.

           Inthebrightnoonsunlightthebungalowwasunchangedsincethepreviousmorning.Willett’sclothingborenodisarrangementbeyondcertainsmudgesandwornplacesattheknees,andonlyafaintacridodorremindedMr.Wardofwhathehadsmeltonhissonthatdayhewastakentothehospital.