Tales of Terror and Mystery

           "

           Istaredathiminamazement.

           "What!"Icried,"thatquiet,studious,sad-facedman?"

           "ThegreatestripanddebaucheeinEngland!Allbetweenourselves,Colmore.ButyouunderstandnowwhatImeanwhenIsaythatawoman’svoiceinhisroommightevennowgiverisetosuspicions."

           "Butwhatcanhavechangedhimso?"

           "LittleBerylClare,whenshetooktheriskofbecominghiswife.Thatwastheturningpoint.Hehadgotsofarthathisownfastsethadthrownhimover.Thereisaworldofdifference,youknow,betweenamanwhodrinksandadrunkard.Theyalldrink,buttheytabooadrunkard.Hehadbecomeaslavetoit—hopelessandhelpless.Thenshesteppedin,sawthepossibilitiesofafinemaninthewreck,tookherchanceinmarryinghimthoughshemighthavehadthepickofadozen,and,bydevotingherlifetoit,broughthimbacktomanhoodanddecency.Youhaveobservedthatnoliquoriseverkeptinthehouse.Thereneverhasbeenanysinceherfootcrosseditsthreshold.Adropofitwouldbelikebloodtoatigerevennow."

           "Thenherinfluencestillholdshim?"

           "Thatisthewonderofit.Whenshediedthreeyearsago,weallexpectedandfearedthathewouldfallbackintohisoldways.Shefeareditherself,andthethoughtgaveaterrortodeath,forshewaslikeaguardianangeltothatman,andlivedonlyfortheonepurpose.Bytheway,didyouseeablackjapannedboxinhisroom?"

           "Yes."

           "Ifancyitcontainsherletters.Ifeverhehasoccasiontobeaway,ifonlyforasinglenight,heinvariablytakeshisblackjapannedboxwithhim.