Tales of Terror and Mystery

           Well,well,Colmore,perhapsIhavetoldyourathermorethanIshould,butIshallexpectyoutoreciprocateifanythingofinterestshouldcometoyourknowledge."

           IcouldseethattheworthymanwasconsumedwithcuriosityandjustalittlepiquedthatI,thenewcomer,shouldhavebeenthefirsttopenetrateintotheuntroddenchamber.Butthefactraisedmeinhisesteem,andfromthattimeonwardsIfoundmyselfuponmoreconfidentialtermswithhim.

           Andnowthesilentandmajesticfigureofmyemployerbecameanobjectofgreaterinteresttome.Ibegantounderstandthatstrangelyhumanlookinhiseyes,thosedeeplinesuponhiscare-wornface.Hewasamanwhowasfightingaceaselessbattle,holdingatarm’slength,frommorningtillnight,ahorribleadversarywhowasforevertryingtoclosewithhim—anadversarywhichwoulddestroyhimbodyandsoulcoulditbutfixitsclawsoncemoreuponhim.AsIwatchedthegrim,round-backedfigurepacingthecorridororwalkinginthegarden,thisimminentdangerseemedtotakebodilyshape,andIcouldalmostfancythatIsawthismostloathsomeanddangerousofallthefiendscrouchingcloselyinhisveryshadow,likeahalf-cowedbeastwhichslinksbesideitskeeper,readyatanyunguardedmomenttospringathisthroat.Andthedeadwoman,thewomanwhohadspentherlifeinwardingoffthisdanger,tookshapealsotomyimagination,andIsawherasashadowybutbeautifulpresencewhichintervenedforeverwitharmsupliftedtoscreenthemanwhomsheloved.