Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Beetle-Hunter
Butabrothercoleopteristlikeyourselfisalwaysawelcomeguest,andIshallbedelightedifyouwilllookovermycollection,whichIthinkthatImaywithoutexaggerationdescribeasthebestinEurope."
Andsonodoubtitwas.Hehadahuge,oakencabinetarrangedinshallowdrawers,andhere,neatlyticketedandclassified,werebeetlesfromeverycorneroftheearth,black,brown,blue,green,andmottled.Everynowandthenasheswepthishandoverthelinesandlinesofimpaledinsectshewouldcatchupsomerarespecimen,and,handlingitwithasmuchdelicacyandreverenceasifitwereapreciousrelic,hewouldholdforthuponitspeculiaritiesandthecircumstancesunderwhichitcameintohispossession.Itwasevidentlyanunusualthingforhimtomeetwithasympatheticlistener,andhetalkedandtalkeduntilthespringeveninghaddeepenedintonight,andthegongannouncedthatitwastimetodressfordinner.AllthetimeLordLinchmeresaidnothing,buthestoodathisbrother-in-law’selbow,andIcaughthimcontinuallyshootingcuriouslittle,questioningglancesintohisface.Andhisownfeaturesexpressedsomestrongemotion,apprehension,sympathy,expectation:Iseemedtoreadthemall.IwassurethatLordLinchmerewasfearingsomethingandawaitingsomething,butwhatthatsomethingmightbeIcouldnotimagine.
Theeveningpassedquietlybutpleasantly,andIshouldhavebeenentirelyatmyeaseifithadnotbeenforthatcontinualsenseoftensionuponthepartofLordLinchmere.Astoourhost,Ifoundthatheimproveduponacquaintance.
