Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Case of Lady Sannox
Hewasatherhouseeveryevening,andshedroveinhiscarriageintheafternoons.Therewasnotanattemptoneithersidetoconcealtheirrelations;buttherecameatlastalittleincidenttointerruptthem.
Itwasadismalwinter’snight,verycoldandgusty,withthewindwhoopinginthechimneysandblusteringagainstthewindow-panes.Athinspatterofraintinkledontheglasswitheachfreshsoughofthegale,drowningfortheinstantthedullgurgleanddripfromtheeaves.DouglasStonehadfinishedhisdinner,andsatbyhisfireinthestudy,aglassofrichportuponthemalachitetableathiselbow.Asheraisedittohislips,hehelditupagainstthelamplight,andwatchedwiththeeyeofaconnoisseurthetinyscalesofbeeswingwhichfloatedinitsrichrubydepths.Thefire,asitspurtedup,threwfitfullightsuponhisbald,clear-cutface,withitswidely-openedgreyeyes,itsthickandyetfirmlips,andthedeep,squarejaw,whichhadsomethingRomaninitsstrengthanditsanimalism.Hesmiledfromtimetotimeashenestledbackinhisluxuriouschair.Indeed,hehadarighttofeelwellpleased,for,againsttheadviceofsixcolleagues,hehadperformedanoperationthatdayofwhichonlytwocaseswereonrecord,andtheresulthadbeenbrilliantbeyondallexpectation.NoothermaninLondonwouldhavehadthedaringtoplan,ortheskilltoexecute,suchaheroicmeasure.
ButhehadpromisedLadySannoxtoseeherthateveninganditwasalreadyhalf-pasteight.Hishandwasoutstretchedtothebelltoorderthecarriagewhenheheardthedullthudoftheknocker.
