Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Beetle-Hunter
Hamilton,bytakingyouintomycompleteconfidence.Imaytellyouthatweareacting—Isay’we,’becausemysister,LadyRossiter,takesthesameviewasmyself—withtheoneobjectofpreventinganythinginthenatureofafamilyscandal.Thatbeingso,youcanunderstandthatIamloathtogiveanyexplanationswhicharenotabsolutelynecessary.Itwouldbeadifferentmatter,Dr.Hamilton,ifIwereaskingyouradvice.Asmattersstand,itisonlyyouractivehelpwhichIneed,andIwillindicatetoyoufromtimetotimehowyoucanbestgiveit."
Therewasnothingmoretobesaid,andapoormancanputupwithagooddealfortwentypoundsaday,butIfeltnonethelessthatLordLinchmerewasactingratherscurvilytowardsme.Hewishedtoconvertmeintoapassivetool,liketheblackthorninhishand.WithhissensitivedispositionIcouldimagine,however,thatscandalwouldbeabhorrenttohim,andIrealizedthathewouldnottakemeintohisconfidenceuntilnoothercoursewasopentohim.Imusttrusttomyowneyesandearstosolvethemystery,butIhadeveryconfidencethatIshouldnottrusttotheminvain.
DelamereCourtliesagoodfivemilesfromPangbourneStation,andwedroveforthatdistanceinanopenfly.LordLinchmeresatindeepthoughtduringthetime,andheneveropenedhismouthuntilwewereclosetoourdestination.Whenhedidspeakitwastogivemeapieceofinformationwhichsurprisedme.
"Perhapsyouarenotaware,"saidhe,"thatIamamedicalmanlikeyourself?"
"No,sir,Ididnotknowit.
