Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Beetle-Hunter
Hespokeconstantlywithaffectionofhisabsentwife,andalsoofhislittleson,whohadrecentlybeensenttoschool.Thehouse,hesaid,wasnotthesamewithoutthem.Ifitwerenotforhisscientificstudies,hedidnotknowhowhecouldgetthroughthedays.Afterdinnerwesmokedforsometimeinthebilliard-room,andfinallywentearlytobed.
Andthenitwasthat,forthefirsttime,thesuspicionthatLordLinchmerewasalunaticcrossedmymind.Hefollowedmeintomybedroom,whenourhosthadretired.
"Doctor,"saidhe,speakinginalow,hurriedvoice,"youmustcomewithme.Youmustspendthenightinmybedroom."
"Whatdoyoumean?"
"Iprefernottoexplain.Butthisispartofyourduties.Myroomiscloseby,andyoucanreturntoyourownbeforetheservantcallsyouinthemorning."
"Butwhy?"Iasked.
"BecauseIamnervousofbeingalone,"saidhe."That’sthereason,sinceyoumusthaveareason."
Itseemedranklunacy,buttheargumentofthosetwentypoundswouldovercomemanyobjections.Ifollowedhimtohisroom.
"Well,"saidI,"there’sonlyroomforoneinthatbed."
"Onlyoneshalloccupyit,"saidhe.
"Andtheother?"
"Mustremainonwatch."
"Why?"saidI."Onewouldthinkyouexpectedtobeattacked."
"PerhapsIdo."
"Inthatcase,whynotlockyourdoor?"
"PerhapsIWANTtobeattacked."
Itlookedmoreandmorelikelunacy.However,therewasnothingforitbuttosubmit.Ishruggedmyshouldersandsatdowninthearm-chairbesidetheemptyfireplace.
"Iamtoremainonwatch,then?"saidI,ruefully.
"Wewilldividethenight.
