Tales of Terror and Mystery

           TheimmediatecauseofthiswasnolessthanthefallingofMasterPercy,theyoungestofmypupils,intothemill-race,withimminentdangerbothtohislifeandtomine,sinceIhadtoriskmyselfinordertosavehim.Drippingandexhausted—forIwasfarmorespentthanthechild—IwasmakingformyroomwhenSirJohn,whohadheardthehubbub,openedthedoorofhislittlestudyandaskedmewhatwasthematter.Itoldhimoftheaccident,butassuredhimthathischildwasinnodanger,whilehelistenedwitharugged,immobileface,whichexpressedinitsintenseeyesandtightenedlipsalltheemotionwhichhetriedtoconceal.

           "Onemoment!Stepinhere!Letmehavethedetails!"saidhe,turningbackthroughtheopendoor.

           AndsoIfoundmyselfwithinthatlittlesanctum,insidewhich,asIafterwardslearned,nootherfoothadforthreeyearsbeensetsavethatoftheoldservantwhocleaneditout.Itwasaroundroom,conformingtotheshapeofthetowerinwhichitwassituated,withalowceiling,asinglenarrow,ivy-wreathedwindow,andthesimplestoffurniture.Anoldcarpet,asinglechair,adealtable,andasmallshelfofbooksmadeupthewholecontents.Onthetablestoodafull-lengthphotographofawoman—Itooknoparticularnoticeofthefeatures,butIremember,thatacertaingraciousgentlenesswastheprevailingimpression.Besideitwerealargeblackjapannedboxandoneortwobundlesoflettersorpapersfastenedtogetherwithelasticbands.

           Ourinterviewwasashortone,forSirJohnBollamoreperceivedthatIwassoaked,andthatIshouldchangewithoutdelay.