Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Case of Lady Sannox
Itisaspirit,andwemakenouseofsuchthings."
"What!Youwouldallowyourwifetogothroughanoperationwithoutananaesthetic?"
"Ah!shewillfeelnothing,poorsoul.Thedeepsleephasalreadycomeon,whichisthefirstworkingofthepoison.AndthenIhavegivenherofourSmyrnaopium.Come,sir,foralreadyanhourhaspassed."
Astheysteppedoutintothedarkness,asheetofrainwasdriveninupontheirfaces,andthehalllamp,whichdangledfromthearmofamarbleCaryatid,wentoutwithafluff.Pim,thebutler,pushedtheheavydoorto,straininghardwithhisshoulderagainstthewind,whilethetwomengropedtheirwaytowardstheyellowglarewhichshowedwherethecabwaswaiting.Aninstantlatertheywererattlingupontheirjourney.
"Isitfar?"askedDouglasStone.
"Oh,no.WehaveaverylittlequietplaceofftheEustonRoad."
Thesurgeonpressedthespringofhisrepeaterandlistenedtothelittletingswhichtoldhimthehour.Itwasaquarterpastnine.Hecalculatedthedistances,andtheshorttimewhichitwouldtakehimtoperformsotrivialanoperation.HeoughttoreachLadySannoxbyteno’clock.Throughthefoggedwindowshesawtheblurredgaslampsdancingpast,withoccasionallythebroaderglareofashopfront.Therainwaspeltingandrattlingupontheleatherntopofthecarriage,andthewheelsswashedastheyrolledthroughpuddleandmud.Oppositetohimthewhiteheadgearofhiscompaniongleamedfaintlythroughtheobscurity.
