Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Beetle-Hunter
Withallmyyouthandweightandstrength,itwasadesperatestrugglebeforewecouldmasterhisfrenziedstruggles;butatlastwesecuredhisarmswiththewaist-cordofthedressing-gownwhichhewaswearing.IwasholdinghislegswhileLordLinchmerewasendeavouringtorelightthelamp,whentherecamethepatteringofmanyfeetinthepassage,andthebutlerandtwofootmen,whohadbeenalarmedbythecries,rushedintotheroom.Withtheiraidwehadnofurtherdifficultyinsecuringourprisoner,wholayfoamingandglaringupontheground.Oneglanceathisfacewasenoughtoprovethathewasadangerousmaniac,whiletheshort,heavyhammerwhichlaybesidethebedshowedhowmurderoushadbeenhisintentions.
"Donotuseanyviolence!"saidLordLinchmere,asweraisedthestrugglingmantohisfeet."Hewillhaveaperiodofstuporafterthisexcitement.Ibelievethatitiscomingonalready."Ashespoketheconvulsionsbecamelessviolent,andthemadman’sheadfellforwarduponhisbreast,asifhewereovercomebysleep.Weledhimdownthepassageandstretchedhimuponhisownbed,wherehelayunconscious,breathingheavily.
"Twoofyouwillwatchhim,"saidLordLinchmere."Andnow,Dr.Hamilton,ifyouwillreturnwithmetomyroom,Iwillgiveyoutheexplanationwhichmyhorrorofscandalhasperhapscausedmetodelaytoolong.Comewhatmay,youwillneverhavecausetoregretyourshareinthisnight’swork.
"Thecasemaybemadeclearinaveryfewwords,"hecontinued,whenwewerealone.
