CONAN DOYLE Tales of Terror and Mistery

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Tales of Terror and Mystery

Arthur Conan Doyle

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Tales of Terror and Mystery

by Arthur Conan Doyle

May$ 13 4Etext #5674Date last u!dated8 May 19$ :0057

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The Qa!anned -oxThe -lac% DoctorThe Qe"s -reast!late

Tales of Terror

The .orror of the .eghts

The dea that the extraordnary narrate "hch has been called theQoyceAr'strong rag'ent s an elaborate !ractcal jo%e eoled byso'e un%no"n !erson$ cursed by a !ererted and snster sense ofhu'our$ has no" been abandoned by all "ho hae exa'ned the 'atter(The 'ost 'acabre and 'agnate of !lotters "ould hestate

before ln%ng hs 'orbd fances "th the unuestoned and tragcfacts "hch renforce the state'ent( Though the assertonscontaned n t are a'a;ng and een 'onstrous$ t s none the lessforcng tself u!on the general ntellgence that they are true$and that "e 'ust readjust our deas to the ne" stuaton( Ths"orld of ours a!!ears to be se!arated by a slght and !recarous'argn of safety fro' a 'ost sngular and unex!ected danger( 2"ll endeaour n ths narrate$ "hch re!roduces the orgnaldocu'ent n ts necessarly so'e"hat frag'entary for'$ to laybefore the reader the "hole of the facts u! to date$ !refacng 'ystate'ent by sayng that$ f there be any "ho doubt the narrateof QoyceAr'strong$ there can be no ueston at all as to the facts

concernng ?eutenant Myrtle$ ,( =($ and Mr( .ay Connor$ "houndoubtedly 'et ther end n the 'anner descrbed(

The QoyceAr'strong rag'ent "as found n the feld "hch scalled ?o"er .aycoc%$ lyng one 'le to the "est"ard of the llageof )thyha'$ u!on the ent and /ussex border( 2t "as on the 15th/e!te'ber last that an agrcultural labourer$ Qa'es lynn$ n thee'!loy'ent of Mathe" Dodd$ far'er$ of the Chauntry ar'$ )thyha'$!erceed a brar !!e lyng near the foot!ath "hch s%rts thehedge n ?o"er .aycoc%( A fe" !aces farther on he !c%ed u! a !arof bro%en bnocular glasses( nally$ a'ong so'e nettles n thedtch$ he caught sght of a flat$ canasbac%ed boo%$ "hch !roed

to be a noteboo% "th detachable leaes$ so'e of "hch hadco'e loose and "ere flutterng along the base of the hedge( Thesehe collected$ but so'e$ ncludng the frst$ "ere neer recoered$and leae a de!lorable hatus n ths all'!ortant state'ent( Thenoteboo% "as ta%en by the labourer to hs 'aster$ "ho n turnsho"ed t to Dr( Q( .( Atherton$ of .artfeld( Ths gentle'an atonce recogn;ed the need for an ex!ert exa'naton$ and the'anuscr!t "as for"arded to the Aero Club n ?ondon$ "here t no"les(

The frst t"o !ages of the 'anuscr!t are 'ssng( There salso one torn a"ay at the end of the narrate$ though none of

these affect the general coherence of the story( 2t s conjecturedthat the 'ssng o!enng s concerned "th the record of Mr( QoyceAr'strongs ualfcatons as an aeronaut$ "hch can be gathered


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fro' other sources and are ad'tted to be unsur!assed a'ong thear!lots of England( or 'any years he has been loo%ed u!on asa'ong the 'ost darng and the 'ost ntellectual of flyng 'en$ aco'bnaton "hch has enabled h' to both nent and test seeralne" deces$ ncludng the co''on gyrosco!c attach'ent "hch s%no"n by hs na'e( The 'an body of the 'anuscr!t s "rttenneatly n n%$ but the last fe" lnes are n !encl and are so

ragged as to be hardly legbleexactly$ n fact$ as they 'ght beex!ected to a!!ear f they "ere scrbbled off hurredly fro' theseat of a 'ong aero!lane( There are$ t 'ay be added$ seeralstans$ both on the last !age and on the outsde coer "hch haebeen !ronounced by the .o'e


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,ay'ond 2 found that nether of the' "as a"are of any !artculardanger n the hgher layers of the at'os!here( 2 dd not actuallysay "hat "as n 'y thoughts$ but 2 got so near to t that f theyhad any corres!ondng dea they could not hae faled to ex!resst( -ut then they are t"o e'!ty$ anglorous fello"s "th nothought beyond seeng ther slly na'es n the ne"s!a!er( 2t snterestng to note that nether of the' had eer been 'uch beyond

the t"entythousandfoot leel(


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only 'an "ho "as at hs sde "hen he ded( .e sad that he "assherng and loo%ed l%e a 'an "ho had been badly scared( WDedof frght$ sad +enables$ but could not 'agne "hat he "asfrghtened about(


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the lo"est s!eed( 2 crcled 'y ho'e feld once or t"ce just to"ar' her u!$ and then "th a "ae to Per%ns and the others$ 2flattened out 'y !lanes and !ut her on her hghest( /he s%''edl%e a s"allo" do"n "nd for eght or ten 'les untl 2 turned hernose u! a lttle and she began to cl'b n a great s!ral for thecloudban% aboe 'e( 2ts all'!ortant to rse slo"ly and ada!tyourself to the !ressure as you go(

H2t "as a close$ "ar' day for an Englsh /e!te'ber$ and there"as the hush and heaness of '!endng ran( =o" and then thereca'e sudden !uffs of "nd fro' the south"estone of the' so gustyand unex!ected that t caught 'e na!!ng and turned 'e halfroundfor an nstant( 2 re'e'ber the t'e "hen gusts and "hrls and ar!oc%ets used to be thngs of dangerbefore "e learned to !utan oer'asterng !o"er nto our engnes( Qust as 2 reached thecloudban%s$ "th the alt'eter 'ar%ng three thousand$ do"n ca'ethe ran( My "ord$ ho" t !oured& 2t dru''ed u!on 'y "ngs andlashed aganst 'y face$ blurrng 'y glasses so that 2 could hardlysee( 2 got do"n on to a lo" s!eed$ for t "as !anful to trael

aganst t( As 2 got hgher t beca'e hal$ and 2 had to turn talto t(


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face and so'et'es "hstlng behnd 'y ears$ "hle the cloudlandbeneath 'e fell a"ay to such a dstance that the folds and hu''oc%sof sler had all s'oothed out nto one flat$ shnng !lan( -utsuddenly 2 had a horrble and un!recedented ex!erence( 2 hae%no"n before "hat t s to be n "hat our neghbours hae called atourbllon$ but neer on such a scale as ths( That huge$s"ee!ng rer of "nd of "hch 2 hae s!o%en had$ as t a!!ears$

"hrl!ools "thn t "hch "ere as 'onstrous as tself( )thout a'o'ents "arnng 2 "as dragged suddenly nto the heart of one( 2s!un round for a 'nute or t"o "th such elocty that 2 al'ostlost 'y senses$ and then fell suddenly$ left "ng fore'ost$ do"nthe acuu' funnel n the centre( 2 dro!!ed l%e a stone$ and lostnearly a thousand feet( 2t "as only 'y belt that %e!t 'e n 'yseat$ and the shoc% and breathlessness left 'e hangng halfnsensble oer the sde of the fuselage( -ut 2 a' al"ays ca!ableof a su!re'e effortt s 'y one great 'ert as an aator( 2 "asconscous that the descent "as slo"er( The "hrl!ool "as a conerather than a funnel$ and 2 had co'e to the a!ex( )th aterrfc "rench$ thro"ng 'y "eght all to one sde$ 2 leelled 'y

!lanes and brought her head a"ay fro' the "nd( 2n an nstant 2had shot out of the eddes and "as s%''ng do"n the s%y( Then$sha%en but ctorous$ 2 turned her nose u! and began once 'ore 'ysteady grnd on the u!"ard s!ral( 2 too% a large s"ee! to aodthe dangers!ot of the "hrl!ool$ and soon 2 "as safely aboe t(Qust after one ocloc% 2 "as t"entyone thousand feet aboe thesealeel( To 'y great joy 2 had to!!ed the gale$ and "th eeryhundred feet of ascent the ar gre" stller(


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stea'( or the nstant 2 could not 'agne "hat had ha!!ened(Then 2 re'e'bered that the earth s for eer beng bo'barded by'eteor stones$ and "ould be hardly nhabtable "ere they not nnearly eery case turned to a!our n the outer layers of theat'os!here( .ere s a ne" danger for the hghalttude 'an$ fort"o others !assed 'e "hen 2 "as nearng the fortythousandfoot'ar%( 2 cannot doubt that at the edge of the earths enelo!e the

rs% "ould be a ery real one(

HMy barogra!h needle 'ar%ed fortyone thousand three hundred"hen 2 beca'e a"are that 2 could go no farther( Physcally$ thestran "as not as yet greater than 2 could bear but 'y 'achne hadreached ts l't( The attenuated ar gae no fr' su!!ort to the"ngs$ and the least tlt deelo!ed nto sdesl!$ "hle shesee'ed sluggsh on her controls( Possbly$ had the engne been atts best$ another thousand feet 'ght hae been "thn ourca!acty$ but t "as stll 'sfrng$ and t"o out of the tencylnders a!!eared to be out of acton( 2f 2 had not alreadyreached the ;one for "hch 2 "as searchng then 2 should neer see

t u!on ths journey( -ut "as t not !ossble that 2 had attanedtN /oarng n crcles l%e a 'onstrous ha"% u!on the fortythousandfoot leel 2 let the 'ono!lane gude herself$ and "th 'yMannhe' glass 2 'ade a careful obseraton of 'y surroundngs(The heaens "ere !erfectly clearR there "as no ndcaton of thosedangers "hch 2 had 'agned(

H2 hae sad that 2 "as soarng n crcles( 2t struc% 'esuddenly that 2 "ould do "ell to ta%e a "der s"ee! and o!en u! ane" artract( 2f the hunter entered an earthjungle he "ould drethrough t f he "shed to fnd hs ga'e( My reasonng had led 'eto belee that the arjungle "hch 2 had 'agned lay so'e"here

oer )ltshre( Ths should be to the south and "est of 'e( 2too% 'y bearngs fro' the sun$ for the co'!ass "as ho!eless and notrace of earth "as to be seennothng but the dstant$ slercloud!lan( .o"eer$ 2 got 'y drecton as best 2 'ght and %e!ther head straght to the 'ar%( 2 rec%oned that 'y !etrol su!!ly"ould not last for 'ore than another hour or so$ but 2 could affordto use t to the last dro!$ snce a sngle 'agnfcent ol!lanecould at any t'e ta%e 'e to the earth(

H/uddenly 2 "as a"are of so'ethng ne"( The ar n front of 'ehad lost ts crystal clearness( 2t "as full of long$ ragged "s!sof so'ethng "hch 2 can only co'!are to ery fne cgarette

s'o%e( 2t hung about n "reaths and cols$ turnng andt"stng slo"ly n the sunlght( As the 'ono!lane shot through t$2 "as a"are of a fant taste of ol u!on 'y l!s$ and there "as agreasy scu' u!on the "ood"or% of the 'achne( /o'e nfntely fneorganc 'atter a!!eared to be sus!ended n the at'os!here( There"as no lfe there( 2t "as nchoate and dffuse$ extendng for 'anysuare acres and then frngng off nto the od( =o$ t "as notlfe( -ut 'ght t not be the re'ans of lfeN Aboe all$ 'ghtt not be the food of lfe$ of 'onstrous lfe$ een as the hu'blegrease of the ocean s the food for the 'ghty "haleN The thought"as n 'y 'nd "hen 'y eyes loo%ed u!"ards and 2 sa" the 'ost"onderful son that eer 'an has seen( Can 2 ho!e to coney t

to you een as 2 sa" t 'yself last ThursdayN

HConcee a jellyfsh such as sals n our su''er seas$ bell


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sha!ed and of enor'ous s;efar larger$ 2 should judge$ than thedo'e of /t( Pauls( 2t "as of a lght !n% colour ened "th adelcate green$ but the "hole huge fabrc so tenuous that t "asbut a fary outlne aganst the dar% blue s%y( 2t !ulsated "th adelcate and regular rhyth'( ro' t there de!ended t"o long$droo!ng$ green tentacles$ "hch s"ayed slo"ly bac%"ards andfor"ards( Ths gorgeous son !assed gently "th noseless

dgnty oer 'y head$ as lght and fragle as a soa!bubble$ anddrfted u!on ts stately "ay(

H2 had halfturned 'y 'ono!lane$ that 2 'ght loo% after thsbeautful creature$ "hen$ n a 'o'ent$ 2 found 'yself a'dst a!erfect fleet of the'$ of all s;es$ but none so large as thefrst( /o'e "ere ute s'all$ but the 'ajorty about as bg as anaerage balloon$ and "th 'uch the sa'e curature at the to!(There "as n the' a delcacy of texture and colourng "hchre'nded 'e of the fnest +enetan glass( Pale shades of !n% andgreen "ere the !realng tnts$ but all had a loely rdescence"here the sun sh''ered through ther danty for's( /o'e hundreds

of the' drfted !ast 'e$ a "onderful fary suadron of strangeun%no"n argoses of the s%ycreatures "hose for's and substance"ere so attuned to these !ure heghts that one could not conceeanythng so delcate "thn actual sght or sound of earth(

H-ut soon 'y attenton "as dra"n to a ne" !heno'enontheser!ents of the outer ar( These "ere long$ thn$ fantastc colsof a!ourl%e 'ateral$ "hch turned and t"sted "th great s!eed$flyng round and round at such a !ace that the eyes couldhardly follo" the'( /o'e of these ghostl%e creatures "ere t"entyor thrty feet long$ but t "as dffcult to tell ther grth$ forther outlne "as so ha;y that t see'ed to fade a"ay nto the ar

around the'( These arsna%es "ere of a ery lght grey or s'o%ecolour$ "th so'e dar%er lnes "thn$ "hch gae the '!resson ofa defnte organs'(


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the' that they "ere charged "th so'e extre'ely lght gas "hchsered to buoy u! the 'ssha!en and se'sold 'ass n the rarefedar( The creature 'oed s"ftly along$ %ee!ng !ace easly "ththe 'ono!lane$ and for t"enty 'les or 'ore t for'ed 'y horrbleescort$ hoerng oer 'e l%e a brd of !rey "hch s "atng to!ounce( 2ts 'ethod of !rogressondone so s"ftly that t "as noteasy to follo""as to thro" out a long$ glutnous strea'er n

front of t$ "hch n turn see'ed to dra" for"ard the rest of the"rthng body( /o elastc and gelatnous "as t that neer fort"o successe 'nutes "as t the sa'e sha!e$ and yet each change'ade t 'ore threatenng and loathso'e than the last(

H2 %ne" that t 'eant 'schef( Eery !ur!le flush of tshdeous body told 'e so( The ague$ gogglng eyes "hch "ereturned al"ays u!on 'e "ere cold and 'ercless n ther scdhatred( 2 d!!ed the nose of 'y 'ono!lane do"n"ards to esca!e t(As 2 dd so$ as uc% as a flash there shot out a long tentaclefro' ths 'ass of floatng blubber$ and t fell as lght andsnuous as a "h!lash across the front of 'y 'achne( There "as

a loud hss as t lay for a 'o'ent across the hot engne$ and t"hs%ed tself nto the ar agan$ "hle the huge$ flat body dre"tself together as f n sudden !an( 2 d!!ed to a ol!ue$ butagan a tentacle fell oer the 'ono!lane and "as shorn off by the!ro!eller as easly as t 'ght hae cut through a s'o%e "reath(A long$ gldng$ stc%y$ ser!entl%e col ca'e fro' behnd andcaught 'e round the "ast$ draggng 'e out of the fuselage( 2 toreat t$ 'y fngers sn%ng nto the s'ooth$ gluel%e surface$ andfor an nstant 2 dsengaged 'yself$ but only to be caught round theboot by another col$ "hch gae 'e a jer% that tlted 'e al'ost onto 'y bac%(

HAs 2 fell oer 2 bla;ed off both barrels of 'y gun$ though$ndeed$ t "as l%e attac%ng an ele!hant "th a !eashooter to'agne that any hu'an "ea!on could cr!!le that 'ghty bul%( Andyet 2 a'ed better than 2 %ne"$ for$ "th a loud re!ort$ one of thegreat blsters u!on the creatures bac% ex!loded "th the !unctureof the buc%shot( 2t "as ery clear that 'y conjecture "as rght$and that these ast$ clear bladders "ere dstended "th so'elftng gas$ for n an nstant the huge$ cloudl%e body turnedsde"ays$ "rthng des!erately to fnd ts balance$ "hle the "htebea% sna!!ed and ga!ed n horrble fury( -ut already 2 had shota"ay on the stee!est glde that 2 dared to atte'!t$ 'y engne stllfull on$ the flyng !ro!eller and the force of graty shootng 'e

do"n"ards l%e an aerolte( ar behnd 'e 2 sa" a dull$ !ur!lshs'udge gro"ng s"ftly s'aller and 'ergng nto the blue s%y behndt( 2 "as safe out of the deadly jungle of the outer ar(

H


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De;es$ after such a journey as no 'ortal u!on earth has eer yetta%en and led to tell the tale( 2 hae seen the beauty and 2hae seen the horror of the heghtsand greater beauty or greaterhorror than that s not "thn the %en of 'an(

HAnd no" t s 'y !lan to go once agan before 2 ge 'yresults to the "orld( My reason for ths s that 2 'ust surely

hae so'ethng to sho" by "ay of !roof before 2 lay such a talebefore 'y fello"'en( 2t s true that others "ll soon follo" and"ll confr' "hat 2 hae sad$ and yet 2 should "sh to carryconcton fro' the frst( Those loely rdescent bubbles of thear should not be hard to ca!ture( They drft slo"ly u!on ther"ay$ and the s"ft 'ono!lane could nterce!t ther lesurelycourse( 2t s l%ely enough that they "ould dssole n theheaer layers of the at'os!here$ and that so'e s'all hea! ofa'or!hous jelly 'ght be all that 2 should brng to earth "th 'e(And yet so'ethng there "ould surely be by "hch 2 couldsubstantate 'y story( Oes$ 2 "ll go$ een f 2 run a rs% bydong so( These !ur!le horrors "ould not see' to be nu'erous( 2t

s !robable that 2 shall not see one( 2f 2 do 2 shall de atonce( At the "orst there s al"ays the shotgun and 'y %no"ledgeof ( ( (H

.ere a !age of the 'anuscr!t s unfortunately 'ssng(


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My frend$ ?onel Dacre$ led n the Aenue de )agra'$ Pars(.s house "as that s'all one$ "th the ron ralngs and grass!lot n front of t$ on the lefthand sde as you !ass do"n fro'the Arc de Tro'!he( 2 fancy that t had been there long beforethe aenue "as constructed$ for the grey tles "ere staned "thlchens$ and the "alls "ere 'lde"ed and dscoloured "th age( 2tloo%ed a s'all house fro' the street$ fe "ndo"s n front$ f

2 re'e'ber rght$ but t dee!ened nto a sngle long cha'ber atthe bac%( 2t "as here that Dacre had that sngular lbrary ofoccult lterature$ and the fantastc curostes "hch sered as ahobby for h'self$ and an a'use'ent for hs frends( A "ealthy 'anof refned and eccentrc tastes$ he had s!ent 'uch of hs lfe andfortune n gatherng together "hat "as sad to be a unue !ratecollecton of Tal'udc$ cabalstc$ and 'agcal "or%s$ 'any of the'of great rarty and alue( .s tastes leaned to"ard the 'arellousand the 'onstrous$ and 2 hae heard that hs ex!er'ents n thedrecton of the un%no"n hae !assed all the bounds of cl;atonand of decoru'( To hs Englsh frends he neer alluded to such'atters$ and too% the tone of the student and rtuosoR but a

rench'an "hose tastes "ere of the sa'e nature has assured 'e thatthe "orst excesses of the blac% 'ass hae been !er!etrated n thatlarge and lofty hall$ "hch s lned "th the sheles of hs boo%s$and the cases of hs 'useu'(

Dacres a!!earance "as enough to sho" that hs dee! nterest nthese !sychc 'atters "as ntellectual rather than s!rtual(There "as no trace of ascetcs' u!on hs heay face$ but there "as'uch 'ental force n hs huge$ do'el%e s%ull$ "hch cured u!"ardfro' a'ongst hs thnnng loc%s$ l%e a sno"!ea% aboe ts frngeof fr trees( .s %no"ledge "as greater than hs "sdo'$ and hs!o"ers "ere far su!eror to hs character( The s'all brght eyes$

bured dee!ly n hs fleshy face$ t"n%led "th ntellgence and anunabated curosty of lfe$ but they "ere the eyes of a sensualstand an egotst( Enough of the 'an$ for he s dead no"$ !oor del$dead at the ery t'e that he had 'ade sure that he had at lastdscoered the elxr of lfe( 2t s not "th hs co'!lexcharacter that 2 hae to deal$ but "th the ery strange andnex!lcable ncdent "hch had ts rse n 'y st to h' n theearly s!rng of the year :(

2 had %no"n Dacre n England$ for 'y researches n the Assyran,oo' of the -rtsh Museu' had been conducted at the t'e "hen he"as endeaourng to establsh a 'ystc and esoterc 'eanng n the

-abylonan tablets$ and ths co''unty of nterests had brought ustogether( Chance re'ar%s had led to daly conersaton$ and thatto so'ethng ergng u!on frendsh!( 2 had !ro'sed h' that on'y next st to Pars 2 "ould call u!on h'( At the t'e "hen 2"as able to fulfl 'y co'!act 2 "as lng n a cottage atontanebleau$ and as the eenng trans "ere nconenent$ heas%ed 'e to s!end the nght n hs house(

H2 hae only that one s!are couch$H sad he$ !ontng to abroad sofa n hs large salonR H2 ho!e that you "ll 'anage to beco'fortable there(H

2t "as a sngular bedroo'$ "th ts hgh "alls of bro"nolu'es$ but there could be no 'ore agreeable furnture to aboo%"or' l%e 'yself$ and there s no scent so !leasant to 'y


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nostrls as that fant$ subtle ree% "hch co'es fro' an ancentboo%( 2 assured h' that 2 could desre no 'ore char'ng cha'ber$and no 'ore congenal surroundngs(

H2f the fttngs are nether conenent nor conentonal$ theyare at least costly$H sad he$ loo%ng round at hs sheles( H2hae ex!ended nearly a uarter of a 'llon of 'oney u!on these

objects "hch surround you( -oo%s$ "ea!ons$ ge's$ carngs$ta!estres$ 'agesthere s hardly a thng here "hch has not tshstory$ and t s generally one "orth tellng(H

.e "as seated as he s!o%e at one sde of the o!en fre!lace$and 2 at the other( .s readngtable "as on hs rght$ and thestrong la'! aboe t rnged t "th a ery d crcle of goldenlght( A halfrolled !al'!sest lay n the centre$ and around t"ere 'any uant artcles of brcabrac(


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'ay hae been( -ut "hat do you thn% of tN 2 can tell that you%no" 'ore than you say(H

Dacre s'led$ and hs lttle eyes t"n%led "th %no"ledge(

H.ae you ncluded the !sychology of drea's a'ong your learnedstudesNH he as%ed(

H2 dd not een %no" that there "as such a !sychology(H

HMy dear sr$ that shelf aboe the ge' case s flled "tholu'es$ fro' Albertus Magnus on"ard$ "hch deal "th no othersubject( 2t s a scence n tself(H

HA scence of charlatans&H

HThe charlatan s al"ays the !oneer( ro' the astrologer ca'ethe astrono'er$ fro' the alche'st the che'st$ fro' the 'es'erstthe ex!er'ental !sychologst( The uac% of yesterday s the

!rofessor of to'orro"( Een such subtle and eluse thngs asdrea's "ll n t'e be reduced to syste' and order( )hen that t'eco'es the researches of our frends on the boo%shelf yonder "ll nolonger be the a'use'ent of the 'ystc$ but the foundatons of ascence(H

H/u!!osng that s so$ "hat has the scence of drea's to do"th a large$ blac%$ brassr''ed funnelNH

H2 "ll tell you( Oou %no" that 2 hae an agent "ho s al"ayson the loo%out for rartes and curostes for 'y collecton(/o'e days ago he heard of a dealer u!on one of the Suas "ho

had acured so'e old rubbsh found n a cu!board n an ancenthouse at the bac% of the ,ue Mathurn$ n the Suarter ?atn( Thednngroo' of ths old house s decorated "th a coat of ar's$cherons$ and bars rouge u!on a feld argent$ "hch !roe$ u!onnury$ to be the sheld of =cholas de la ,eyne$ a hgh offcalof ng ?ous 2+( There can be no doubt that the other artclesn the cu!board date bac% to the early days of that %ng( Thenference s$ therefore$ that they "ere all the !ro!erty of ths=cholas de la ,eyne$ "ho "as$ as 2 understand$ the gentle'ans!ecally concerned "th the 'antenance and executon of theDraconc la"s of that e!och(H

H)hat thenNH

H2 "ould as% you no" to ta%e the funnel nto your hands once'ore and to exa'ne the u!!er brass r'( Can you 'a%e out anyletterng u!on tNH

There "ere certanly so'e scratches u!on t$ al'ost oblteratedby t'e( The general effect "as of seeral letters$ the last of"hch bore so'e rese'blance to a -(

HOou 'a%e t a -NH

HOes$ 2 do(H

H/o do 2( 2n fact$ 2 hae no doubt "hateer that t s a -(H


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H-ut the noble'an you 'entoned "ould hae had , for hsntal(H

HExactly& Thats the beauty of t( .e o"ned ths curousobject$ and yet he had so'eone elses ntals u!on t( )hy dd hedo thsNH

H2 cant 'agneR can youNH

H)ell$ 2 'ght$ !erha!s$ guess( Do you obsere so'ethng dra"na lttle farther along the r'NH

H2 should say t "as a cro"n(H

H2t s undoubtedly a cro"nR but f you exa'ne t n a goodlght$ you "ll connce yourself that t s not an ordnary cro"n(2t s a heraldc cro"na badge of ran%$ and t conssts of analternaton of four !earls and stra"berry leaes$ the !ro!er badge

of a 'arus( )e 'ay nfer$ therefore$ that the !erson "hosentals end n - "as enttled to "ear that coronet(H

HThen ths co''on leather fller belonged to a 'arusNH

Dacre gae a !ecular s'le(

H


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although "e$ n our "sdo'$ hae classed t a'ong su!ersttons(H

Hor exa'!leNH

H)ell$ the !lacng of the brdes ca%e beneath the !llo" norder that the slee!er 'ay hae !leasant drea's( That s one ofseeral nstances "hch you "ll fnd set forth n a s'all

brochure "hch 2 a' 'yself "rtng u!on the subject( -ut toco'e bac% to the !ont$ 2 sle!t one nght "th ths funnel besde'e$ and 2 had a drea' "hch certanly thro"s a curous lght u!onts use and orgn(H

H)hat dd you drea'NH

H2 drea'edH .e !aused$ and an ntent loo% of nterest ca'eoer hs 'asse face( H-y Qoe$ thats "ell thought of$H sad he(HThs really "ll be an exceedngly nterestng ex!er'ent( Oouare yourself a !sychc subject"th neres "hch res!ond readlyto any '!resson(H

H2 hae neer tested 'yself n that drecton(H

HThen "e shall test you tonght( Mght 2 as% you as a erygreat faour$ "hen you occu!y that couch tonght$ to slee! "thths old funnel !laced by the sde of your !llo"NH

The reuest see'ed to 'e a grotesue oneR but 2 hae 'yself$ n'y co'!lex nature$ a hunger after all "hch s b;arre andfantastc( 2 had not the fantest belef n Dacres theory$ norany ho!es for success n such an ex!er'entR yet t a'used 'e thatthe ex!er'ent should be 'ade( Dacre$ "th great graty$ dre" a

s'all stand to the head of 'y settee$ and !laced the funnel u!ont( Then$ after a short conersaton$ he "shed 'e good nght andleft 'e(

2 sat for so'e lttle t'e s'o%ng by the s'oulderng fre$and turnng oer n 'y 'nd the curous ncdent "hch hadoccurred$ and the strange ex!erence "hch 'ght le before 'e(/ce!tcal as 2 "as$ there "as so'ethng '!resse n the assuranceof Dacres 'anner$ and 'y extraordnary surroundngs$ the huge roo'"th the strange and often snster objects "hch "ere hung roundt$ struc% sole'nty nto 'y soul( nally 2 undressed$ and

turnng out the la'!$ 2 lay do"n( After long tossng 2 fellaslee!( ?et 'e try to descrbe as accurately as 2 can the scene"hch ca'e to 'e n 'y drea's( 2t stands out no" n 'y 'e'ory 'oreclearly than anythng "hch 2 hae seen "th 'y "a%ng eyes( There"as a roo' "hch bore the a!!earance of a ault( our s!andrelsfro' the corners ran u! to jon a shar!$ cu!sha!ed roof( Thearchtecture "as rough$ but ery strong( 2t "as edently !art ofa great buldng(

Three 'en n blac%$ "th curous$ to!heay$ blac% elethats$ sat n a lne u!on a redcar!eted das( Ther faces "ereery sole'n and sad(


22/146

/he "as !ast her frst youth$ but could not yet be called 'ddleaged( .er fgure "as nclned to stoutness and her bearng "as!roud and confdent( .er face "as !ale$ but serene( 2t "as acurous face$ co'ely and yet felne$ "th a subtle suggeston ofcruelty about the straght$ strong lttle 'outh and chubby ja"(/he "as dra!ed n so'e sort of loose$ "hte go"n( -esde her stooda thn$ eager !rest$ "ho "hs!ered n her ear$ and contnually

rased a crucfx before her eyes( /he turned her head and loo%edfxedly !ast the crucfx at the three 'en n blac%$ "ho "ere$ 2felt$ her judges(

As 2 ga;ed the three 'en stood u! and sad so'ethng$ but 2could dstngush no "ords$ though 2 "as a"are that t "as thecentral one "ho "as s!ea%ng( They then s"e!t out of the roo'$follo"ed by the t"o 'en "th the !a!ers( At the sa'e nstantseeral roughloo%ng fello"s n stout jer%ns ca'e bustlng n andre'oed frst the red car!et$ and then the boards "hch for'ed thedas$ so as to entrely clear the roo'( )hen ths screen "asre'oed 2 sa" so'e sngular artcles of furnture behnd t(


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'o'ent one of the arlets a!!roached "th a dar% object n hshand$ "hch een n 'y drea' flled 'e "th a ague feelng offa'larty( 2t "as a leathern fller( )th horrble energy hethrust tbut 2 could stand no 'ore( My har stood on end "thhorror( 2 "rthed$ 2 struggled$ 2 bro%e through the bonds ofslee!$ and 2 burst "th a shre% nto 'y o"n lfe$ and found 'yselflyng sherng "th terror n the huge lbrary$ "th the 'oonlght

floodng through the "ndo" and thro"ng strange sler and blac%traceres u!on the o!!oste "all(


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HW/he ga;ed "thout "ncng u!on the "ooden horse and rngs"hch had t"sted so 'any l'bs and caused so 'any shre%s ofagony( )hen her eyes fell u!on the three !als of "ater$ "hch"ere all ready for her$ she sad "th a s'le$ HAll that "ater'ust hae been brought here for the !ur!ose of dro"nng 'e$Monseur( Oou hae no dea$ 2 trust$ of 'a%ng a !erson of 'ys'all stature s"allo" t all(H /hall 2 read the detals of the

tortureNH

H=o$ for .eaens sa%e$ dont(H

H.ere s a sentence "hch 'ust surely sho" you that "hat shere recorded s the ery scene "hch you hae ga;ed u!on tonght8WThe good Abbe Prot$ unable to conte'!late the agones "hch "eresuffered by hs !entent$ had hurred fro' the roo'( Does thatconnce youNH

H2t does entrely( There can be no ueston that t s ndeedthe sa'e eent( -ut "ho$ then$ s ths lady "hose a!!earance "as

so attracte and "hose end "as so horrbleNH

or ans"er Dacre ca'e across to 'e$ and !laced the s'all la'!u!on the table "hch stood by 'y bed( ?ftng u! the llo'enedfller$ he turned the brass r' so that the lght fell full u!ont( /een n ths "ay the engrang see'ed clearer than on thenght before(

H)e hae already agreed that ths s the badge of a 'arus orof a 'aruse$H sad he( H)e hae also settled that the lastletter s -(H

H2t s undoubtedly so(H

H2 no" suggest to you that the other letters fro' left to rghtare$ M$ M$ a s'all d$ A$ a s'all d$ and then the fnal -(H

HOes$ 2 a' sure that you are rght( 2 can 'a%e out the t"os'all ds ute !lanly(H

H)hat 2 hae read to you tonght$H sad Dacre$ Hs the offcalrecord of the tral of Mare Madelene dAubray$ Maruse de-rnllers$ one of the 'ost fa'ous !osoners and 'urderers of allt'e(H

2 sat n slence$ oer"hel'ed at the extraordnary nature ofthe ncdent$ and at the co'!leteness of the !roof "th "hch Dacrehad ex!osed ts real 'eanng( 2n a ague "ay 2 re'e'bered so'edetals of the "o'ans career$ her unbrdled debauchery$ the coldblooded and !rotracted torture of her sc% father$ the 'urder ofher brothers for 'otes of !etty gan( 2 recollected also thatthe braery of her end had done so'ethng to atone for the horrorof her lfe$ and that all Pars had sy'!ath;ed "th her last'o'ents$ and blessed her as a 'artyr "thn a fe" days of thet'e "hen they had cursed her as a 'urderess(


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the !ont of decoratng nstru'ents of torture "th ther ttlesNH

H2 "as !u;;led "th the sa'e !ont$H sad Dacre$ Hbut t ad'tsof a s'!le ex!lanaton( The case excted extraordnary nterestat the t'e$ and nothng could be 'ore natural than that ?a ,eyne$the head of the !olce$ should retan ths fller as a gr'souenr( 2t "as not often that a 'archoness of rance under"ent

the extraordnary ueston( That he should engrae her ntalsu!on t for the nfor'aton of others "as surely a ery ordnary!roceedng u!on hs !art(H

HAnd thsNH 2 as%ed$ !ontng to the 'ar%s u!on the leathernnec%(

H/he "as a cruel tgress$H sad Dacre$ as he turned a"ay( H2thn% t s edent that l%e other tgresses her teeth "ere bothstrong and shar!(H

The =e" Cataco'b

H?oo% here$ -urger$H sad ennedy$ H2 do "sh that you "ouldconfde n 'e(H

The t"o fa'ous students of ,o'an re'ans sat together nennedys co'fortable roo' oerloo%ng the Corso( The nght"as cold$ and they had both !ulled u! ther chars to theunsatsfactory 2talan stoe "hch thre" out a ;one of stuffness

rather than of "ar'th(


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nder ts bluff Ger'anstrength there lay al"ays a suggeston of 2talan subtlety$ butthe s'le "as so honest$ and the eyes so fran%$ that one understoodthat ths "as only an ndcaton of hs ancestry$ "th no actualbearng u!on hs character( 2n age and n re!utaton$ he "as onthe sa'e leel as hs Englsh co'!anon$ but hs lfe and hs "or%had both been far 'ore arduous( T"ele years before$ he had co'eas a !oor student to ,o'e$ and had led eer snce u!on so'e s'allendo"'ent for research "hch had been a"arded to h' by the>nersty of -onn( Panfully$ slo"ly$ and doggedly$ "thextraordnary tenacty and sngle'ndedness$ he had cl'bed fro'

rung to rung of the ladder of fa'e$ untl no" he "as a 'e'ber ofthe -erln Acade'y$ and there "as eery reason to belee that he"ould shortly be !ro'oted to the Char of the greatest of Ger'an>nerstes( -ut the sngleness of !ur!ose "hch had brought h'to the sa'e hgh leel as the rch and brllant Englsh'an$ hadcaused h' n eerythng outsde ther "or% to stand nfntelybelo" h'( .e had neer found a !ause n hs studes n "hch tocultate the socal graces( 2t "as only "hen he s!o%e of hs o"nsubject that hs face "as flled "th lfe and soul( At othert'es he "as slent and e'barrassed$ too conscous of hs o"nl'tatons n larger subjects$ and '!atent of that s'all tal%"hch s the conentonal refuge of those "ho hae no thoughts to

ex!ress(

And yet for so'e years there had been an acuantancesh! "hcha!!eared to be slo"ly r!enng nto a frendsh! bet"een these t"oery dfferent rals( The base and orgn of ths lay n the factthat n ther o"n studes each "as the only one of the younger 'en"ho had %no"ledge and enthusas' enough to !ro!erly a!!recate theother( Ther co''on nterests and !ursuts had brought the'together$ and each had been attracted by the others %no"ledge(And then gradually so'ethng had been added to ths( ennedy hadbeen a'used by the fran%ness and s'!lcty of hs ral$ "hle-urger n turn had been fascnated by the brllancy and acty

"hch had 'ade ennedy such a faourte n ,o'an socety( 2 sayHhad$H because just at the 'o'ent the young Englsh'an "as so'e"hatunder a cloud( A loeaffar$ the detals of "hch had neer uteco'e out$ had ndcated a heartlessness and callousness u!on hs!art "hch shoc%ed 'any of hs frends( -ut n the bachelorcrcles of students and artsts n "hch he !referred to 'oethere s no ery rgd code of honour n such 'atters$ and thougha head 'ght be sha%en or a !ar of shoulders shrugged oer theflght of t"o and the return of one$ the general sent'ent "as!robably one of curosty and !erha!s of eny rather than ofre!robaton(

H?oo% here$ -urger$H sad ennedy$ loo%ng hard at the !lacdface of hs co'!anon$ H2 do "sh that you "ould confde n 'e(H


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As he s!o%e he "aed hs hand n the drecton of a rug "hchlay u!on the floor(


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of the ne" cataco'b( Oou "ouldnt$ and 2 ddnt ex!ect you to(-ut "hy should you ex!ect other"se of 'eN Theres /ant Qohnscloc% str%ng ten( 2t s ute t'e that 2 "as gong ho'e(H

H=oR "at a bt$ -urger$H sad ennedyR Hths s really ardculous ca!rce of yours to "sh to %no" about an old loeaffar "hch has burned out 'onths ago( Oou %no" "e loo% u!on a

'an "ho %sses and tells as the greatest co"ard and llan!ossble(H

HCertanly$H sad the Ger'an$ gatherng u! hs bas%et ofcurostes$ H"hen he tells anythng about a grl "hch s!reously un%no"n he 'ust be so( -ut n ths case$ as you 'ust bea"are$ t "as a !ublc 'atter "hch "as the co''on tal% of ,o'e$ sothat you are not really dong Mss Mary /aunderson any njuryby dscussng her case "th 'e( -ut stll$ 2 res!ect yourscru!lesR and so good nght&H

H)at a bt$ -urger$H sad ennedy$ layng hs hand u!on the

others ar'R H2 a' ery %een u!on ths cataco'b busness$ and 2cant let t dro! ute so easly( )ould you 'nd as%ng 'eso'ethng else n returnso'ethng not ute so eccentrc thst'eNH

H=o$ noR you hae refused$ and there s an end of t$H sad-urger$ "th hs bas%et on hs ar'( H=o doubt you are ute rghtnot to ans"er$ and no doubt 2 a' ute rght alsoand so agan$ 'ydear ennedy$ good nght&H

The Englsh'an "atched -urger cross the roo'$ and he had hshand on the handle of the door before hs host s!rang u! "th the

ar of a 'an "ho s 'a%ng the best of that "hch cannot be hel!ed(

H.old on$ old fello"$H sad heR H2 thn% you are behang n a'ost rdculous fashonR but stllR f ths s your condton$ 2su!!ose that 2 'ust sub't to t( 2 hate sayng anythng about agrl$ but$ as you say$ t s all oer ,o'e$ and 2 dont su!!ose 2can tell you anythng "hch you do not %no" already( )hat "as tyou "anted to %no"NH

The Ger'an ca'e bac% to the stoe$ and$ layng do"n hs bas%et$he san% nto hs char once 'ore(

HMay 2 hae another cgarNH sad he( HThan% you ery 'uch& 2neer s'o%e "hen 2 "or%$ but 2 enjoy a chat 'uch 'ore "hen 2 a'under the nfluence of tobacco( =o"$ as regards ths young lady$"th "ho' you had ths lttle adenture( )hat n the "orld hasbeco'e of herNH

H/he s at ho'e "th her o"n !eo!le(H

H


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of the A!!an )ay at 'dnght( 2 'ust go bac% to 'y lodgngs forthe 'atches and candles and thngs(H

HAll rght$ -urger& 2 thn% t s ery %nd of you to let 'ento ths secret$ and 2 !ro'se you that 2 "ll "rte nothng aboutt untl you hae !ublshed your re!ort( Goodbye for the !resent&Oou "ll fnd 'e at the Gate at t"ele(H

The cold$ clear ar "as flled "th the 'uscal ch'es fro'that cty of cloc%s as -urger$ "ra!!ed n an 2talan oercoat$ "tha lantern hangng fro' hs hand$ "al%ed u! to the rende;ous(ennedy ste!!ed out of the shado" to 'eet h'(

HOou are ardent n "or% as "ell as n loe&H sad the Ger'an$laughng(

HOesR 2 hae been "atng here for nearly half an hour(H

H2 ho!e you left no clue as to "here "e "ere gong(H

H=ot such a fool& -y Qoe$ 2 a' chlled to the bone& Co'e on$-urger$ let us "ar' ourseles by a s!urt of hard "al%ng(H

Ther footste!s sounded loud and crs! u!on the rough stone!ang of the dsa!!ontng road "hch s all that s left of the'ost fa'ous hgh"ay of the "orld( A !easant or t"o gong ho'e fro'the "nesho!$ and a fe" carts of country !roduce co'ng u! to,o'e$ "ere the only thngs "hch they 'et( They s"ung along$ "ththe huge to'bs loo'ng u! through the dar%ness u!on each sde ofthe'$ untl they had co'e as far as the Cataco'bs of /t( Calstus$and sa" aganst a rsng 'oon the great crcular baston of Cecla

Metella n front of the'( Then -urger sto!!ed "th hs hand to hssde(

HOour legs are longer than 'ne$ and you are 'ore accusto'ed to"al%ng$H sad he$ laughng( H2 thn% that the !lace "here "e turnoff s so'e"here here( Oes$ ths s t$ round the corner of thetrattora( =o"$ t s a ery narro" !ath$ so !erha!s 2 had bettergo n front and you can follo"(H

.e had lt hs lantern$ and by ts lght they "ere enabled tofollo" a narro" and deous trac% "hch "ound across the 'arshes ofthe Ca'!agna( The great Aueduct of old ,o'e lay l%e a 'onstrous

cater!llar across the 'oonlt landsca!e$ and ther road ledthe' under one of ts huge arches$ and !ast the crcle of cru'blngbrc%s "hch 'ar%s the old arena( At last -urger sto!!ed at asoltary "ooden co"house$ and he dre" a %ey fro' hs !oc%et(H/urely your cataco'b s not nsde a house&H cred ennedy

HThe entrance to t s( That s just the safeguard "hch "ehae aganst anyone else dscoerng t(H

HDoes the !ro!retor %no" of tNH

H=ot he( .e had found one or t"o objects "hch 'ade 'e al'ost

certan that hs house "as bult on the entrance to such a !lace(/o 2 rented t fro' h'$ and dd 'y excaatons for 'yself( Co'en$ and shut the door behnd you(H


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2t "as a long$ e'!ty buldng$ "th the 'angers of the co"salong one "all( -urger !ut hs lantern do"n on the ground$ andshaded ts lght n all drectons sae one by dra!ng hs oercoatround t(

H2t 'ght excte re'ar% f anyone sa" a lght n ths lonely

!lace$H sad he( HQust hel! 'e to 'oe ths boardng(H

The floorng "as loose n the corner$ and !lan% by !lan% thet"o saants rased t and leaned t aganst the "all( -elo" there"as a suare a!erture and a star of old stone ste!s "hch led a"aydo"n nto the bo"els of the earth(

H-e careful&H cred -urger$ as ennedy$ n hs '!atence$hurred do"n the'( H2t s a !erfect rabbts"arren belo"$ and fyou "ere once to lose your "ay there the chances "ould be a hundredto one aganst your eer co'ng out agan( )at untl 2 brng thelght(H

H.o" do you fnd your o"n "ay f t s so co'!lcatedNH

H2 had so'e ery narro" esca!es at frst$ but 2 hae graduallylearned to go about( There s a certan syste' to t$ but t sone "hch a lost 'an$ f he "ere n the dar%$ could not !ossblyfnd out( Een no" 2 al"ays s!n out a ball of strng behnd 'e"hen 2 a' gong far nto the cataco'b( Oou can see for yourselfthat t s dffcult$ but eery one of these !assages ddes andsubddes a do;en t'es before you go a hundred yards(H

They had descended so'e t"enty feet fro' the leel of the byre$

and they "ere standng no" n a suare cha'ber cut out of the softtufa( The lantern cast a flc%erng lght$ brght belo" andd' aboe$ oer the crac%ed bro"n "alls( 2n eery drecton"ere the blac% o!enngs of !assages "hch radated fro' ths co''oncentre(

H2 "ant you to follo" 'e closely$ 'y frend$H sad -urger( HDonot loter to loo% at anythng u!on the "ay$ for the !lace to "hch2 "ll ta%e you contans all that you can see$ and 'ore( 2t "llsae t'e for us to go there drect(H

.e led the "ay do"n one of the corrdors$ and the Englsh'an

follo"ed closely at hs heels( Eery no" and then the !assagebfurcated$ but -urger "as edently follo"ng so'e secret 'ar%s ofhs o"n$ for he nether sto!!ed nor hestated( Eery"here alongthe "alls$ !ac%ed l%e the berths u!on an e'grant sh!$ lay theChrstans of old ,o'e( The yello" lght flc%ered oer theshrelled features of the 'u''es$ and glea'ed u!on rounded s%ullsand long$ "hte ar'bones crossed oer fleshless chests( Andeery"here as he !assed ennedy loo%ed "th "stful eyes u!onnscr!tons$ funeral essels$ !ctures$ est'ents$ utensls$ alllyng as !ous hands had !laced the' so 'any centures ago( 2t "asa!!arent to h'$ een n those hurred$ !assng glances$ that ths"as the earlest and fnest of the cataco'bs$ contanng such a

storehouse of ,o'an re'ans as had neer before co'e at one t'eunder the obseraton of the student(


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H)hat "ould ha!!en f the lght "ent outNH he as%ed$ as theyhurred on"ards(

H2 hae a s!are candle and a box of 'atches n 'y !oc%et( -ythe "ay$ ennedy$ hae you any 'atchesNH

H=oR you had better ge 'e so'e(H

H


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HAnd the dar%ness s so'ethng dreadful( 2 tred t once foran ex!er'ent( ?et us try t agan&H .e stoo!ed to the lantern$and n an nstant t "as as f an nsble hand "as suee;edtghtly oer each of ennedys eyes( =eer had he %no"n "hat suchdar%ness "as( 2t see'ed to !ress u!on h' and to s'other h'( 2t"as a sold obstacle aganst "hch the body shran% fro' adancng(.e !ut hs hands out to !ush t bac% fro' h'(

HThat "ll do$ -urger$H sad he$ Hlets hae the lght agan(H

-ut hs co'!anon began to laugh$ and n that crcular roo' thesound see'ed to co'e fro' eery sde at once(

HOou see' uneasy$ frend ennedy$H sad he(

HGo on$ 'an$ lght the candle&H sad ennedy '!atently(

H2ts ery strange$ ennedy$ but 2 could not n the least tellby the sound n "hch drecton you stand( Could you tell "here 2

a'NH

H=oR you see' to be on eery sde of 'e(H

H2f t "ere not for ths strng "hch 2 hold n 'y hand 2should not hae a noton "hch "ay to go(H

H2 dare say not( /tr%e a lght$ 'an$ and hae an end of thsnonsense(H

H)ell$ ennedy$ there are t"o thngs "hch 2 understand thatyou are ery fond of( The one s an adenture$ and the other s an

obstacle to sur'ount( The adenture 'ust be the fndng of your"ay out of ths cataco'b( The obstacle "ll be the dar%ness andthe t"o thousand "rong turns "hch 'a%e the "ay a lttle dffcultto fnd( -ut you need not hurry$ for you hae !lenty of t'e$ and"hen you halt for a rest no" and then$ 2 should l%e you just tothn% of Mss Mary /aunderson$ and "hether you treated her utefarly(H

HOou del$ "hat do you 'eanNH roared ennedy( .e "as runnngabout n lttle crcles and clas!ng at the sold blac%ness "thboth hands(

HGoodbye$H sad the 'oc%ng oce$ and t "as already at so'edstance( H2 really do not thn%$ ennedy$ een by your o"nsho"ng that you dd the rght thng by that grl( There "as onlyone lttle thng "hch you a!!eared not to %no"$ and 2 can su!!lyt( Mss /aunderson "as engaged to a !oor unganly del of astudent$ and hs na'e "as Qulus -urger(H

There "as a rustle so'e"here$ the ague sound of a footstr%ng a stone$ and then there fell slence u!on that oldChrstan churcha stagnant$ heay slence "hch closed roundennedy and shut h' n l%e "ater round a dro"nng 'an(

/o'e t"o 'onths after"ards the follo"ng !aragra!h 'ade theround of the Euro!ean Press8


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H


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'an dare not do$ and he could do "hat another 'an dare not !lan(2n surgery none could follo" h'( .s nere$ hs judge'ent$ hsntuton$ "ere thngs a!art( Agan and agan hs %nfe cut a"aydeath$ but gra;ed the ery s!rngs of lfe n dong t$ untl hsassstants "ere as "hte as the !atent( .s energy$ hsaudacty$ hs fullblooded selfconfdencedoes not the 'e'oryof the' stll lnger to the south of Marylebone ,oad and the north

of


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HGood eenng$H sad Douglas /tone$ "hen the butler had closedthe door( HOou s!ea% Englsh$ 2 !resu'eNH

HOes$ sr( 2 a' fro' Asa Mnor$ but 2 s!ea% Englsh "hen 2s!ea% slo"(H

HOou "anted 'e to go out$ 2 understandNH

HOes$ sr( 2 "anted ery 'uch that you should see 'y "fe(H

H2 could co'e n the 'ornng$ but 2 hae an engage'ent "hch!reents 'e fro' seeng your "fe tonght(H

The Tur%s ans"er "as a sngular one( .e !ulled the strng"hch closed the 'outh of the cha'osleather bag$ and !oured aflood of gold on to the table(

HThere are one hundred !ounds there$H sad he$ Hand 2 !ro'se

you that t "ll not ta%e you an hour( 2 hae a cab ready at thedoor(H

Douglas /tone glanced at hs "atch( An hour "ould not 'a%e ttoo late to st ?ady /annox( .e had been there later( And thefee "as an extraordnarly hgh one( .e had been !ressed by hscredtors lately$ and he could not afford to let such a chance!ass( .e "ould go(

H)hat s the caseNH he as%ed(

H


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H2t s chlorofor'(H

HAh$ that also s forbdden to us( 2t s a s!rt$ and "e 'a%eno use of such thngs(H

H)hat& Oou "ould allo" your "fe to go through an o!eraton"thout an anaesthetcNH

HAh& she "ll feel nothng$ !oor soul( The dee! slee! hasalready co'e on$ "hch s the frst "or%ng of the !oson( Andthen 2 hae gen her of our /'yrna o!u'( Co'e$ sr$ for alreadyan hour has !assed(H

As they ste!!ed out nto the dar%ness$ a sheet of ran "asdren n u!on ther faces$ and the hall la'!$ "hch dangled fro'the ar' of a 'arble Caryatd$ "ent out "th a fluff( P'$ thebutler$ !ushed the heay door to$ stranng hard "th hs shoulderaganst the "nd$ "hle the t"o 'en gro!ed ther "ay to"ards theyello" glare "hch sho"ed "here the cab "as "atng( An nstant

later they "ere rattlng u!on ther journey(

H2s t farNH as%ed Douglas /tone(

H

to sho" the dust and the gr'e "hch coered t( Aboe n one ofthe bedroo' "ndo"s$ there "as a dull yello" gl''er( The 'erchant%noc%ed loudly$ and$ as he turned hs dar% face to"ards the lght$


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Douglas /tone could see that t "as contracted "th anxety( Abolt "as dra"n$ and an elderly "o'an "th a ta!er stood n thedoor"ay$ sheldng the thn fla'e "th her gnarled hand(

H2s all "ellNH gas!ed the 'erchant(

H/he s as you left her$ sr(H

H/he has not s!o%enNH

H=o$ she s n a dee! slee!(H

The 'erchant closed the door$ and Douglas /tone "al%ed do"n thenarro" !assage$ glancng about h' n so'e sur!rse as he dd so(There "as no olcloth$ no 'at$ no hatrac%( Dee! grey dust andheay festoons of cob"ebs 'et hs eyes eery"here( ollo"ngthe old "o'an u! the "ndng star$ hs fr' footfall echoedharshly through the slent house( There "as no car!et(

The bedroo' "as on the second landng( Douglas /tone follo"edthe old nurse nto t$ "th the 'erchant at hs heels( .ere$ atleast$ there "as furnture and to s!are( The floor "as ltteredand the corners !led "th Tur%sh cabnets$ nlad tables$ coatsof chan 'al$ strange !!es$ and grotesue "ea!ons( A sngles'all la'! stood u!on a brac%et on the "all( Douglas /tone too% tdo"n$ and !c%ng hs "ay a'ong the lu'ber$ "al%ed oer to a couchn the corner$ on "hch lay a "o'an dressed n the Tur%sh fashon$"th yash'a% and el( The lo"er !art of the face "as ex!osed$ andthe surgeon sa" a jagged cut "hch ;g;agged along the border ofthe under l!(

HOou "ll forge the yash'a%$H sad the Tur%( HOou %no" oure"s about "o'en n the East(H

-ut the surgeon "as not thn%ng about the yash'a%( Ths "asno longer a "o'an to h'( 2t "as a case( .e stoo!ed and exa'nedthe "ound carefully(

HThere are no sgns of rrtaton$H sad he( H)e 'ght delaythe o!eraton untl local sy'!to's deelo!(H

The husband "rung hs hands n uncontrollable agtaton(

H


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HOou hae had !ersonal ex!erence of ths !osonNH he as%ed(

H2 hae(H

HAnd you assure 'e that an o!eraton s needful(H

H2 s"ear t by all that 2 hold sacred(H

HThe dsfgure'ent "ll be frghtful(H

H2 can understand that the 'outh "ll not be a !retty one to%ss(H

Douglas /tone turned fercely u!on the 'an( The s!eech "as abrutal one( -ut the Tur% has hs o"n fashon of tal% and ofthought$ and there "as no t'e for "ranglng( Douglas /tone dre"a bstoury fro' hs case$ o!ened t and felt the %een straght edge"th hs forefnger( Then he held the la'! closer to the bed( T"o

dar% eyes "ere ga;ng u! at h' through the slt n the yash'a%(They "ere all rs$ and the !u!l "as hardly to be seen(

HOou hae gen her a ery heay dose of o!u'(H

HOes$ she has had a good dose(H

.e glanced agan at the dar% eyes "hch loo%ed straght at hso"n( They "ere dull and lustreless$ but$ een as he ga;ed$ alttle shftng s!ar%le ca'e nto the'$ and the l!s uered(

H/he s not absolutely unconscous$H sad he(

H)ould t not be "ell to use the %nfe "hle t "ll be!anlessNH

The sa'e thought had crossed the surgeons 'nd( .e gras!edthe "ounded l! "th hs force!s$ and "th t"o s"ft cuts he too%out a broad +sha!ed !ece( The "o'an s!rang u! on the couch "tha dreadful gurglng screa'( .er coerng "as torn fro' her face(2t "as a face that he %ne"( 2n s!te of that !rotrudng u!!er l!and that slobber of blood$ t "as a face that he %ne"$ /he %e!t on!uttng her hand u! to the ga! and screa'ng( Douglas /tone satdo"n at the foot of the couch "th hs %nfe and hs force!s( The

roo' "as "hrlng round$ and he had felt so'ethng go l%e ar!!ng sea' behnd hs ear( A bystander "ould hae sad that hsface "as the 'ore ghastly of the t"o( As n a drea'$ or as f hehad been loo%ng at so'ethng at the !lay$ he "as conscous thatthe Tur%s har and beard lay u!on the table$ and that ?ord /annox"as leanng aganst the "all "th hs hand to hs sde$ laughngslently( The screa's had ded a"ay no"$ and the dreadful head haddro!!ed bac% agan u!on the !llo"$ but Douglas /tone stll sat'otonless$ and ?ord /annox stll chuc%led uetly to h'self(

H2t "as really ery necessary for Maron$ ths o!eraton$H sadhe$ Hnot !hyscally$ but 'orally$ you %no"$ 'orally(H

Douglas /tone stoo!ed for yards and began to !lay "th thefrnge of the coerlet( .s %nfe tn%led do"n u!on the ground$


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but he stll held the force!s and so'ethng 'ore(

H2 had long ntended to 'a%e a lttle exa'!le$H sad ?ord/annox$ suaely( HOour note of )ednesday 'scarred$ and 2 hae there n 'y !oc%etboo%( 2 too% so'e !ans n carryng out 'y dea(The "ound$ by the "ay$ "as fro' nothng 'ore dangerous than 'ysgnet rng(H

.e glanced %eenly at hs slent co'!anon$ and coc%ed the s'allreoler "hch he held n hs coat !oc%et( -ut Douglas /tone "asstll !c%ng at the coerlet(

HOou see you hae %e!t your a!!ont'ent after all$H sad ?ord/annox(

And at that Douglas /tone began to laugh( .e laughed long andloudly( -ut ?ord /annox dd not laugh no"( /o'ethng l%e fearshar!ened and hardened hs features( .e "al%ed fro' the roo'$ andhe "al%ed on t!toe( The old "o'an "as "atng outsde(

HAttend to your 'stress "hen she a"a%es$H sad ?ord /annox(

Then he "ent do"n to the street( The cab "as at the door$ andthe drer rased hs hand to hs hat(

HQohn$H sad ?ord /annox$ Hyou "ll ta%e the doctor ho'e frst(.e "ll "ant leadng do"nstars$ 2 thn%( Tell hs butler that hehas been ta%en ll at a case(H

H+ery good$ sr(H

HThen you can ta%e ?ady /annox ho'e(H

HAnd ho" about yourself$ srNH

H


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2t "ent do"n at an acute angle for so'e ffty feet$ the floorbeng coered "th bro%en stone( Thence there extended a long$straght !assage cut n the sold roc%( 2 a' no geologst$ but thelnng of ths corrdor "as certanly of so'e harder 'ateral thanl'estone$ for there "ere !onts "here 2 could actually see thetool'ar%s "hch the old 'ners had left n ther excaaton$ as

fresh as f they had been done yesterday( Do"n ths strange$ old"orld corrdor 2 stu'bled$ 'y feeble fla'e thro"ng a d' crcle oflght around 'e$ "hch 'ade the shado"s beyond the 'ore threatenngand obscure( nally$ 2 ca'e to a s!ot "here the ,o'an tunnelo!ened nto a "ater"orn caerna huge hall$ hung "th long "hteccles of l'e de!ost( ro' ths central cha'ber 2 could d'ly!ercee that a nu'ber of !assages "orn by the subterranean strea's"ound a"ay nto the de!ths of the earth( 2 "as standng there"onderng "hether 2 had better return$ or "hether 2 dare enturefarther nto ths dangerous labyrnth$ "hen 'y eyes fell u!onso'ethng at 'y feet "hch strongly arrested 'y attenton(

The greater !art of the floor of the caern "as coered "thboulders of roc% or "th hard ncrustatons of l'e$ but at ths!artcular !ont there had been a dr! fro' the dstant roof$ "hchhad left a !atch of soft 'ud( 2n the ery centre of ths there "asa huge 'ar%an lldefned blotch$ dee!$ broad and rregular$ asf a great boulder had fallen u!on t( =o loose stone lay near$ho"eer$ nor "as there anythng to account for the '!resson( 2t"as far too large to be caused by any !ossble an'al$ and besdes$there "as only the one$ and the !atch of 'ud "as of such a s;ethat no reasonable strde could hae coered t( As 2 rose fro'the exa'naton of that sngular 'ar% and then loo%ed round ntothe blac% shado"s "hch he''ed 'e n$ 2 'ust confess that 2 felt

for a 'o'ent a 'ost un!leasant sn%ng of 'y heart$ and that$ do"hat 2 could$ the candle tre'bled n 'y outstretched hand(

2 soon recoered 'y nere$ ho"eer$ "hen 2 reflected ho" absurdt "as to assocate so huge and sha!eless a 'ar% "th the trac% ofany %no"n an'al( Een an ele!hant could not hae !roduced t( 2deter'ned$ therefore$ that 2 "ould not be scared by ague andsenseless fears fro' carryng out 'y ex!loraton( -efore!roceedng$ 2 too% good note of a curous roc% for'aton n the"all by "hch 2 could recogn;e the entrance of the ,o'an tunnel(The !recauton "as ery necessary$ for the great cae$ so far as 2could see t$ "as ntersected by !assages( .ang 'ade sure of 'y

!oston$ and reassured 'yself by exa'nng 'y s!are candles and 'y'atches$ 2 adanced slo"ly oer the roc%y and uneen surface of thecaern(

And no" 2 co'e to the !ont "here 2 'et "th such sudden anddes!erate dsaster( A strea'$ so'e t"enty feet broad$ ran across'y !ath$ and 2 "al%ed for so'e lttle dstance along the ban% tofnd a s!ot "here 2 could cross dryshod( nally$ 2 ca'e to a!lace "here a sngle flat boulder lay near the centre$ "hch 2could reach n a strde( As t chanced$ ho"eer$ the roc% had beencut a"ay and 'ade to!heay by the rush of the strea'$ so thatt tlted oer as 2 landed on t and shot 'e nto the cecold

"ater( My candle "ent out$ and 2 found 'yself flounderng about nutter and absolute dar%ness(


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2 staggered to 'y feet agan$ 'ore a'used than alar'ed by 'yadenture( The candle had fallen fro' 'y hand$ and "as lost n thestrea'$ but 2 had t"o others n 'y !oc%et$ so that t "as of no'!ortance( 2 got one of the' ready$ and dre" out 'y box of'atches to lght t(


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alert( -eyond all doubt 2 had heard a soundso'e sound erydstnct fro' the gurglng of the "aters( 2t had !assed$ but thereerberaton of t stll lngered n 'y ear( )as t a search!artyN They "ould 'ost certanly hae shouted$ and ague as thssound "as "hch had "a%ened 'e$ t "as ery dstnct fro' the hu'anoce( 2 sat !al!tatng and hardly darng to breathe( There t"as agan& And agan& =o" t had beco'e contnuous( 2t "as a

treadyes$ surely t "as the tread of so'e lng creature(-ut "hat a tread t "as& 2t gae one the '!resson of enor'ous"eght carred u!on s!ongel%e feet$ "hch gae forth a 'uffledbut earfllng sound( The dar%ness "as as co'!lete as eer$ butthe tread "as regular and decse( And t "as co'ng beyond allueston n 'y drecton(

My s%n gre" cold$ and 'y har stood on end as 2 lstened tothat steady and !onderous footfall( There "as so'e creature there$and surely by the s!eed of ts adance$ t "as one "hch could seen the dar%( 2 crouched lo" on 'y roc% and tred to blend 'yselfnto t( The ste!s gre" nearer stll$ then sto!!ed$ and !resently

2 "as a"are of a loud la!!ng and gurglng( The creature "asdrn%ng at the strea'( Then agan there "as slence$ bro%en by asuccesson of long snffs and snorts of tre'endous olu'e andenergy( .ad t caught the scent of 'eN My o"n nostrls "ereflled by a lo" fetd odour$ 'e!htc and abo'nable( Then 2 heardthe ste!s agan( They "ere on 'y sde of the strea' no"( Thestones rattled "thn a fe" yards of "here 2 lay( .ardly darng tobreathe$ 2 crouched u!on 'y roc%( Then the ste!s dre" a"ay( 2heard the s!lash as t returned across the rer$ and the soundded a"ay nto the dstance n the drecton fro' "hch t hadco'e(

or a long t'e 2 lay u!on the roc%$ too 'uch horrfed to'oe( 2 thought of the sound "hch 2 had heard co'ng fro' thede!ths of the cae$ of Ar'tages fears$ of the strange '!ressonn the 'ud$ and no" ca'e ths fnal and absolute !roof that there"as ndeed so'e nconceable 'onster$ so'ethng utterly unearthlyand dreadful$ "hch lur%ed n the hollo" of the 'ountan(


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sto!!ed untl$ "th "eary feet and !antng lungs$ 2 rushed u! thefnal slo!e of stones$ bro%e through the tangle of brars$ andflung 'yself exhausted u!on the soft grass under the !eaceful lghtof the stars( 2t "as three n the 'ornng "hen 2 reached the far'house$ and today 2 a' all unstrung and uerng after 'yterrfc adenture( As yet 2 hae told no one( 2 'ust 'oe "arlyn the 'atter( )hat "ould the !oor lonely "o'en$ or the uneducated

yo%els here thn% of t f 2 "ere to tell the' 'y ex!erenceN ?et'e go to so'eone "ho can understand and adse(

A!rl :5(2 "as lad u! n bed for t"o days after 'yncredble adenture n the caern( 2 use the adjecte "th aery defnte 'eanng$ for 2 hae had an ex!erence snce "hch hasshoc%ed 'e al'ost as 'uch as the other( 2 hae sad that 2 "asloo%ng round for so'eone "ho could adse 'e( There s a Dr( Mar%Qohnson "ho !ractces so'e fe" 'les a"ay$ to "ho' 2 had a note ofreco''endaton fro' Professor /aunderson( To h' 2 droe$"hen 2 "as strong enough to get about$ and 2 recounted to h' 'y"hole strange ex!erence( .e lstened ntently$ and then carefully

exa'ned 'e$ !ayng s!ecal attenton to 'y reflexes and to the!u!ls of 'y eyes( )hen he had fnshed$ he refused to dscuss 'yadenture$ sayng that t "as entrely beyond h'$ but he gae 'ethe card of a Mr( Pcton at Castleton$ "th the adce that 2should nstantly go to h' and tell h' the story exactly as 2 haddone to h'self( .e "as$ accordng to 'y adser$ the ery 'an "ho"as !ree'nently suted to hel! 'e( 2 "ent on to the staton$therefore$ and 'ade 'y "ay to the lttle to"n$ "hch s so'e ten'les a"ay( Mr( Pcton a!!eared to be a 'an of '!ortance$ as hsbrass !late "as ds!layed u!on the door of a consderable buldngon the outs%rts of the to"n( 2 "as about to rng hs bell$ "henso'e 'sgng ca'e nto 'y 'nd$ and$ crossng to a neghbourng

sho!$ 2 as%ed the 'an behnd the counter f he could tell 'eanythng of Mr( Pcton( H)hy$H sad he$ Hhe s the best 'ad doctorn Derbyshre$ and yonder s hs asylu'(H Oou can 'agne that t"as not long before 2 had sha%en the dust of Castleton fro' 'y feetand returned to the far'$ cursng all un'agnate !edants "hocannot concee that there 'ay be thngs n creaton "hch haeneer yet chanced to co'e across ther 'oles son( After all$no" that 2 a' cooler$ 2 can afford to ad't that 2 hae been no'ore sy'!athetc to Ar'tage than Dr( Qohnson has been to 'e(

A!rl :( )hen 2 "as a student 2 had the re!utaton ofbeng a 'an of courage and enter!rse( 2 re'e'ber that "hen there

"as a ghosthunt at Coltbrdge t "as 2 "ho sat u! n thehaunted house( 2s t adancng years @after all$ 2 a' only thrtyfe$ or s t ths !hyscal 'alady "hch has caused degeneratonNCertanly 'y heart uals "hen 2 thn% of that horrble caern nthe hll$ and the certanty that t has so'e 'onstrous occu!ant()hat shall 2 doN There s not an hour n the day that 2 do notdebate the ueston( 2f 2 say nothng$ then the 'ystery re'ansunsoled( 2f 2 do say anythng$ then 2 hae the alternate of 'adalar' oer the "hole countrysde$ or of absolute ncredulty "hch'ay end n consgnng 'e to an asylu'(


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hred$ but 2 hae bought a do;en heay ga'e cartrdges$ "hch "ouldbrng do"n a rhnoceros( =o" 2 a' ready for 'y troglodyte frend(Ge 'e better health and a lttle s!ate of energy$ and 2 shall tryconclusons "th h' yet( -ut "ho and "hat s heN Ah& there sthe ueston "hch stands bet"een 'e and 'y slee!( .o" 'anytheores do 2 for'$ only to dscard each n turn& 2t s all soutterly unthn%able( And yet the cry$ the foot'ar%$ the tread n

the caernno reasonng can get !ast these 2 thn% of the old"orld legends of dragons and of other 'onsters( )ere they$!erha!s$ not such farytales as "e hae thoughtN Can t be thatthere s so'e fact "hch underles the'$ and a' 2$ of all 'ortals$the one "ho s chosen to ex!ose tN

May 6(or seeral days 2 hae been lad u! by theagares of an Englsh s!rng$ and durng those days there haebeen deelo!'ents$ the true and snster 'eanng of "hch no onecan a!!recate sae 'yself( 2 'ay say that "e hae had cloudy and'oonless nghts of late$ "hch accordng to 'y nfor'aton "ere theseasons u!on "hch shee! dsa!!eared( )ell$ shee! hae

dsa!!eared( T"o of Mss Allertons$ one of old Pearsons of theCat )al%$ and one of Mrs( Moultons( our n all durng threenghts( =o trace s left of the' at all$ and the countrysde sbu;;ng "th ru'ours of g!ses and of shee!stealers(

-ut there s so'ethng 'ore serous than that( Ooung Ar'tagehas dsa!!eared also( .e left hs 'oorland cottage early on)ednesday nght and has neer been heard of snce( .e "as anunattached 'an$ so there s less sensaton than "ould other"se bethe case( The !o!ular ex!lanaton s that he o"es 'oney$ and hasfound a stuaton n so'e other !art of the country$ "hence he "ll!resently "rte for hs belongngs( -ut 2 hae grae 'sgngs(

2s t not 'uch 'ore l%ely that the recent tragedy of the shee! hascaused h' to ta%e so'e ste!s "hch 'ay hae ended n hs o"ndestructonN .e 'ay$ for exa'!le$ hae lan n "at for thecreature and been carred off by t nto the recesses of the'ountans( )hat an nconceable fate for a cl;ed Englsh'anof the t"enteth century& And yet 2 feel that t s !ossble andeen !robable( -ut n that case$ ho" far a' 2 ans"erable both forhs death and for any other 'sha! "hch 'ay occurN /urely "ththe %no"ledge 2 already !ossess t 'ust be 'y duty to see thatso'ethng s done$ or f necessary to do t 'yself( 2t 'ust be thelatter$ for ths 'ornng 2 "ent do"n to the local !olcestatonand told 'y story( The ns!ector entered t all n a large boo%

and bo"ed 'e out "th co''endable graty$ but 2 heard a burst oflaughter before 2 had got do"n hs garden !ath( =o doubt he "asrecountng 'y adenture to hs fa'ly(

Qune 10(2 a' "rtng ths$ !ro!!ed u! n bed$ sx "ee%safter 'y last entry n ths journal( 2 hae gone through aterrble shoc% both to 'nd and body$ arsng fro' such anex!erence as has seldo' befallen a hu'an beng before( -ut 2 haeattaned 'y end( The danger fro' the Terror "hch d"ells n the-lue Qohn Ga! has !assed neer to return( Thus 'uch at least 2$ abro%en nald$ hae done for the co''on good( ?et 'e no" recount"hat occurred as clearly as 2 'ay(

The nght of rday$ May 6rd$ "as dar% and cloudythe erynght for the 'onster to "al%( About eleen ocloc% 2 "ent fro'


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the far'house "th 'y lantern and 'y rfle$ hang frst left anote u!on the table of 'y bedroo' n "hch 2 sad that$ f 2 "ere'ssng$ search should be 'ade for 'e n the drecton of the Ga!(2 'ade 'y "ay to the 'outh of the ,o'an shaft$ and$ hang !erched'yself a'ong the roc%s close to the o!enng$ 2 shut off 'y lanternand "ated !atently "th 'y loaded rfle ready to 'y hand(

2t "as a 'elancholy gl( All do"n the "ndng alley 2 couldsee the scattered lghts of the far'houses$ and the church cloc%of Cha!elleDale tollng the hours ca'e fantly to 'y ears(These to%ens of 'y fello"'en sered only to 'a%e 'y o"n !ostonsee' the 'ore lonely$ and to call for a greater effort to oerco'ethe terror "hch te'!ted 'e contnually to get bac% to the far'$and abandon for eer ths dangerous uest( And yet there les dee!n eery 'an a rooted selfres!ect "hch 'a%es t hard for h' toturn bac% fro' that "hch he has once underta%en( Ths feelng of!ersonal !rde "as 'y salaton no"$ and t "as that alone "hchheld 'e fast "hen eery nstnct of 'y nature "as draggng 'e a"ay(2 a' glad no" that 2 had the strength( 2n s!te of all that s has

cost 'e$ 'y 'anhood s at least aboe re!roach(

T"ele ocloc% struc% n the dstant church$ then one$ thent"o( 2t "as the dar%est hour of the nght( The clouds "eredrftng lo"$ and there "as not a star n the s%y( An o"l "ashootng so'e"here a'ong the roc%s$ but no other sound$ sae thegentle sough of the "nd$ ca'e to 'y ears( And then suddenly 2heard t& ro' far a"ay do"n the tunnel ca'e those 'uffled ste!s$so soft and yet so !onderous( 2 heard also the rattle of stones asthey gae "ay under that gant tread( They dre" nearer( They "ereclose u!on 'e( 2 heard the crashng of the bushes round theentrance$ and then d'ly through the dar%ness 2 "as conscous of

the loo' of so'e enor'ous sha!e$ so'e 'onstrous nchoate creature$!assng s"ftly and ery slently out fro' the tunnel( 2 "as!aralysed "th fear and a'a;e'ent( ?ong as 2 had "ated$ no" thatt had actually co'e 2 "as un!re!ared for the shoc%( 2 lay'otonless and breathless$ "hlst the great dar% 'ass "hs%ed by 'eand "as s"allo"ed u! n the nght(

-ut no" 2 nered 'yself for ts return( =o sound ca'e fro' theslee!ng countrysde to tell of the horror "hch "as loose( 2n no"ay could 2 judge ho" far off t "as$ "hat t "as dong$ or "hen t'ght be bac%( -ut not a second t'e should 'y nere fal 'e$ nota second t'e should t !ass unchallenged( 2 s"ore t bet"een 'y

clenched teeth as 2 lad 'y coc%ed rfle across the roc%(

And yet t nearly ha!!ened( There "as no "arnng of a!!roachno" as the creature !assed oer the grass( /uddenly$ l%e a dar%$drftng shado"$ the huge bul% loo'ed u! once 'ore before 'e$'a%ng for the entrance of the cae( Agan ca'e that !aralyss ofolton "hch held 'y croo%ed forefnger '!otent u!on thetrgger( -ut "th a des!erate effort 2 shoo% t off( Een as thebrush"ood rustled$ and the 'onstrous beast blended "th the shado"of the Ga!$ 2 fred at the retreatng for'( 2n the bla;e of thegun 2 caught a gl'!se of a great shaggy 'ass$ so'ethng "th roughand brstlng har of a "thered grey colour$ fadng a"ay to "hte

n ts lo"er !arts$ the huge body su!!orted u!on short$ thc%$curng legs( 2 had just that glance$ and then 2 heard the rattleof the stones as the creature tore do"n nto ts burro"( 2n an


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nstant$ "th a tru'!hant reulson of feelng$ 2 had cast 'yfears to the "nd$ and uncoerng 'y !o"erful lantern$ "th 'yrfle n 'y hand$ 2 s!rang do"n fro' 'y roc% and rushed after the'onster do"n the old ,o'an shaft(

My s!lendd la'! cast a brllant flood of d lght n frontof 'e$ ery dfferent fro' the yello" gl''er "hch had aded 'e

do"n the sa'e !assage only t"ele days before( As 2 ran$ 2 sa" thegreat beast lurchng along before 'e$ ts huge bul% fllng u! the"hole s!ace fro' "all to "all( 2ts har loo%ed l%e coarse fadedoa%u'$ and hung do"n n long$ dense 'asses "hch s"ayed as t'oed( 2t "as l%e an enor'ous uncl!!ed shee! n ts fleece$ butn s;e t "as far larger than the largest ele!hant$ and tsbreadth see'ed to be nearly as great as ts heght( 2t flls 'e"th a'a;e'ent no" to thn% that 2 should hae dared to follo" sucha horror nto the bo"els of the earth$ but "hen ones blood s u!$and "hen ones uarry see's to be flyng$ the old !r'eal huntngs!rt a"a%es and !rudence s cast to the "nd( ,fle n hand$ 2ran at the to! of 'y s!eed u!on the tral of the 'onster(

2 had seen that the creature "as s"ft( =o" 2 "as to fnd outto 'y cost that t "as also ery cunnng( 2 had 'agned that t"as n !anc flght$ and that 2 had only to !ursue t( The deathat t 'ght turn u!on 'e neer entered 'y excted bran( 2 haealready ex!laned that the !assage do"n "hch 2 "as racng o!enednto a great central cae( 2nto ths 2 rushed$ fearful lest 2should lose all trace of the beast( -ut he had turned u!on hs o"ntraces$ and n a 'o'ent "e "ere face to face(

That !cture$ seen n the brllant "hte lght of the lantern$s etched for eer u!on 'y bran( .e had reared u! on hs hnd

legs as a bear "ould do$ and stood aboe 'e$ enor'ous$ 'enacngsuch a creature as no nght'are had eer brought to 'y 'agnaton(2 hae sad that he reared l%e a bear$ and there "as so'ethngbearl%ef one could concee a bear "hch "as tenfold the bul%of any bear seen u!on earthn hs "hole !ose and atttude$ n hsgreat croo%ed forelegs "th ther ory"hte cla"s$ n hs ruggeds%n$ and n hs red$ ga!ng 'outh$ frnged "th 'onstrous fangs(


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/x "ee%s hae no" ela!sed$ and 2 a' able to st out once 'oren the sunshne( Qust o!!oste 'e s the stee! hllsde$ grey "thshaly roc%$ and yonder on ts flan% s the dar% cleft "hch 'ar%sthe o!enng of the -lue Qohn Ga!( -ut t s no longer a source ofterror( =eer agan through that llo'ened tunnel shall anystrange sha!e flt out nto the "orld of 'en( The educated and the

scentfc$ the Dr( Qohnsons and the l%e$ 'ay s'le at 'ynarrate$ but the !oorer fol% of the countrysde had neer a doubtas to ts truth(


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co''uncaton "th the outer ar "as 'ore easy( Ths !lace hadthen deelo!ed a fauna and flora of ts o"n$ ncludng such'onsters as the one "hch 2 had seen$ "hch 'ay "ell hae been theold caebear$ enor'ously enlarged and 'odfed by ts ne"enron'ent( or countless aeons the nternal and the externalcreaton had %e!t a!art$ gro"ng steadly a"ay fro' each other(Then there had co'e so'e rft n the de!ths of the 'ountan "hch

had enabled one creature to "ander u! and$ by 'eans of the ,o'antunnel$ to reach the o!en ar( ?%e all subterranean lfe$ t hadlost the !o"er of sght$ but ths had no doubt been co'!ensated forby nature n other drectons( Certanly t had so'e 'eans offndng ts "ay about$ and of huntng do"n the shee! u!on thehllsde( As to ts choce of dar% nghts$ t s !art of 'y theorythat lght "as !anful to those great "hte eyeballs$ and that t"as only a !tchblac% "orld "hch t could tolerate( Perha!s$ndeed$ t "as the glare of 'y lantern "hch saed 'y lfe at thata"ful 'o'ent "hen "e "ere face to face( /o 2 read the rddle( 2leae these facts behnd 'e$ and f you can ex!lan the'$ do soR orf you choose to doubt the'$ do so( =ether your belef nor your

ncredulty can alter the'$ nor affect one "hose tas% s nearlyoer(

/o ended the strange narrate of Dr( Qa'es .ardcastle(

The -ra;lan Cat

2t s hard luc% on a young fello" to hae ex!ense tastes$ greatex!ectatons$ arstocratc connectons$ but no actual 'oney nhs !oc%et$ and no !rofesson by "hch he 'ay earn any( The fact"as that 'y father$ a good$ sangune$ easygong 'an$ had suchconfdence n the "ealth and beneolence of hs bachelor elderbrother$ ?ord /outherton$ that he too% t for granted that 2$ hsonly son$ "ould neer be called u!on to earn a lng for 'yself(.e 'agned that f there "ere not a acancy for 'e on the great/outherton Estates$ at least there "ould be found so'e !ost nthat d!lo'atc serce "hch stll re'ans the s!ecal !resereof our !rleged classes( .e ded too early to real;e ho"false hs calculatons had been( =ether 'y uncle nor the /tate

too% the slghtest notce of 'e$ or sho"ed any nterest n 'ycareer( An occasonal brace of !heasants$ or bas%et of hares$"as all that eer reached 'e to re'nd 'e that 2 "as her to


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farly "elltodo( The nearest of these "as Eerard ng$ 'yfathers ne!he" and 'y o"n frst cousn$ "ho had s!ent anadenturous lfe n -ra;l$ and had no" returned to ths country tosettle do"n on hs fortune( )e neer %ne" ho" he 'ade hs 'oney$but he a!!eared to hae !lenty of t$ for he bought the estate ofGreylands$ near Cl!tonontheMarsh$ n /uffol%( or thefrst year of hs resdence n England he too% no 'ore notce of 'e

than 'y 'serly uncleR but at last one su''er 'ornng$ to 'y erygreat relef and joy$ 2 receed a letter as%ng 'e to co'e do"nthat ery day and s!end a short st at Greylands Court( 2 "asex!ectng a rather long st to -an%ru!tcy Court at the t'e$ andths nterru!ton see'ed al'ost !rodental( 2f 2 could only geton ter's "th ths un%no"n relate of 'ne$ 2 'ght !ull throughyet( or the fa'ly credt he could not let 'e go entrely to the"all( 2 ordered 'y alet to !ac% 'y alse$ and 2 set off the sa'eeenng for Cl!tonontheMarsh(

After changng at 2!s"ch$ a lttle local tran de!osted 'e ata s'all$ deserted staton lyng a'dst a rollng grassy country$

"th a sluggsh and "ndng rer curng n and out a'dst thealleys$ bet"een hgh$ slted ban%s$ "hch sho"ed that "e "ere"thn reach of the tde( =o carrage "as a"atng 'e @2 foundafter"ards that 'y telegra' had been delayed$ so 2 hred a dogcartat the local nn( The drer$ an excellent fello"$ "as full of 'yrelates !rases$ and 2 learned fro' h' that Mr( Eerard ng"as already a na'e to conjure "th n that !art of the county( .ehad entertaned the schoolchldren$ he had thro"n hs grounds o!ento stors$ he had subscrbed to chartesn short$ hsbeneolence had been so unersal that 'y drer could only accountfor t on the su!!oston that he had !arla'entary a'btons(

My attenton "as dra"n a"ay fro' 'y drers !anegyrc by thea!!earance of a ery beautful brd "hch settled on a telegra!h!ost besde the road( At frst 2 thought that t "as a jay$ but t"as larger$ "th a brghter !lu'age( The drer accounted for ts!resence at once by sayng that t belonged to the ery 'an "ho' "e"ere about to st( 2t see's that the accl'at;aton of foregncreatures "as one of hs hobbes$ and that he had brought "th h'fro' -ra;l a nu'ber of brds and beasts "hch he "as endeaourngto rear n England( )hen once "e had !assed the gates of GreylandsPar% "e had a'!le edence of ths taste of hs( /o'e s'alls!otted deer$ a curous "ld !g %no"n$ 2 belee$ as a !eccary$ agorgeously feathered orole$ so'e sort of ar'adllo$ and a sngular

lu'berng ntoed beast l%e a ery fat badger$ "ere a'ong thecreatures "hch 2 obsered as "e droe along the "ndng aenue(

Mr( Eerard ng$ 'y un%no"n cousn$ "as standng n !ersonu!on the ste!s of hs house$ for he had seen us n the dstance$and guessed that t "as 2( .s a!!earance "as ery ho'ely andbeneolent$ short and stout$ fortyfe years old$ !erha!s$ "th around$ goodhu'oured face$ burned bro"n "th the tro!cal sun$ andshot "th a thousand "rn%les( .e "ore "hte lnen clothes$ ntrue !lanter style$ "th a cgar bet"een hs l!s$ and a largePana'a hat u!on the bac% of hs head( 2t "as such a fgure as oneassocates "th a erandahed bungalo"$ and t loo%ed curously out

of !lace n front of ths broad$ stone Englsh 'anson$ "th tssold "ngs and ts Pallado !llars before the door"ay(


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HMy dear&H he cred$ glancng oer hs shoulderR H'y dear$ heres our guest& )elco'e$ "elco'e to Greylands& 2 a' delghted to'a%e your acuantance$ Cousn Marshall$ and 2 ta%e t as a greatco'!l'ent that you should honour ths slee!y lttle country !lace"th your !resence(H

=othng could be 'ore hearty than hs 'anner$ and he set 'e at

'y ease n an nstant( -ut t needed all hs cordalty to atonefor the frgdty and een rudeness of hs "fe$ a tall$ haggard"o'an$ "ho ca'e for"ard at hs su''ons( /he "as$ 2 belee$ of-ra;lan extracton$ though she s!o%e excellent Englsh$ and 2excused her 'anners on the score of her gnorance of our custo's(/he dd not atte'!t to conceal$ ho"eer$ ether then or after"ards$that 2 "as no ery "elco'e stor at Greylands Court( .er actual"ords "ere$ as a rule$ courteous$ but she "as the !ossessor of a!ar of !artcularly ex!resse dar% eyes$ and 2 read n the' eryclearly fro' the frst that she heartly "shed 'e bac% n ?ondononce 'ore(

.o"eer$ 'y debts "ere too !ressng and 'y desgns u!on 'y"ealthy relate "ere too tal for 'e to allo" the' to be u!set bythe llte'!er of hs "fe$ so 2 dsregarded her coldness andrec!rocated the extre'e cordalty of hs "elco'e( =o !ans hadbeen s!ared by h' to 'a%e 'e co'fortable( My roo' "as a char'ngone( .e '!lored 'e to tell h' anythng "hch could add to 'yha!!ness( 2t "as on the t! of 'y tongue to nfor' h' that ablan% cheue "ould 'aterally hel! to"ards that end$ but 2 feltthat t 'ght be !re'ature n the !resent state of ouracuantance( The dnner "as excellent$ and as "e sat togetherafter"ards oer hs .aanas and coffee$ "hch later he told 'e "ass!ecally !re!ared u!on hs o"n !lantaton$ t see'ed to 'e that

all 'y drers euloges "ere justfed$ and that 2 had neer 'eta 'ore largehearted and hos!table 'an(

-ut$ n s!te of hs cheery good nature$ he "as a 'an "th astrong "ll and a fery te'!er of hs o"n(


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HMght 2 trouble you to "al% outsde$ MarshallNH sad he( @2'ay 'enton that 'y o"n na'e s Marshall ng(

.e closed the door behnd 'e$ and then$ for an nstant$ 2 heardh' tal%ng n a lo" oce of concentrated !asson to hs "fe(Ths gross breach of hos!talty had edently ht u!on hstenderest !ont( 2 a' no eaesdro!!er$ so 2 "al%ed out on to the

la"n( Presently 2 heard a hurred ste! behnd 'e$ and there "asthe lady$ her face !ale "th excte'ent$ and her eyes red "thtears(

HMy husband has as%ed 'e to a!olog;e to you$ Mr( Marshallng$H sad she$ standng "th do"ncast eyes before 'e(

HPlease do not say another "ord$ Mrs( ng(H

.er dar% eyes suddenly bla;ed out at 'e(

HOou fool&H she hssed$ "th frantc ehe'ence$ and turnng on

her heel s"e!t bac% to the house(

The nsult "as so outrageous$ so nsufferable$ that 2 couldonly stand starng after her n be"lder'ent( 2 "as stll there"hen 'y host joned 'e( .e "as hs cheery$ chubby self once 'ore(

H2 ho!e that 'y "fe has a!olog;ed for her foolsh re'ar%s$Hsad he(

H


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an ron handle attached to a "heel and a dru'( A lne of stoutbars extended across the !assage(

H2 a' about to sho" you the je"el of 'y collecton$H sad he(HThere s only one other s!ec'en n Euro!e$ no" that the ,otterda'cub s dead( 2t s a -ra;lan cat(H

H-ut ho" does that dffer fro' any other catNH

HOou "ll soon see that$H sad he$ laughng( H)ll you %ndlydra" that shutter and loo% throughNH

2 dd so$ and found that 2 "as ga;ng nto a large$ e'!ty roo'$"th stone flags$ and s'all$ barred "ndo"s u!on the farther "all(2n the centre of ths roo'$ lyng n the 'ddle of a golden !atchof sunlght$ there "as stretched a huge creature$ as large as atger$ but as blac% and slee% as ebony( 2t "as s'!ly a eryenor'ous and ery "ell%e!t blac% cat$ and t cuddled u! and bas%edn that yello" !ool of lght exactly as a cat "ould do( 2t "as so

graceful$ so sne"y$ and so gently and s'oothly dabolcal$ that 2could not ta%e 'y eyes fro' the o!enng(

H2snt he s!lenddNH sad 'y host$ enthusastcally(

HGlorous& 2 neer sa" such a noble creature(H

H/o'e !eo!le call t a blac% !u'a$ but really t s not a !u'aat all( That fello" s nearly eleen feet fro' tal to t!( ouryears ago he "as a lttle ball of bac% fluff$ "th t"o yello" eyesstarng out of t( .e "as sold 'e as a ne"born cub u! n the "ldcountry at the head"aters of the ,o =egro( They s!eared hs

'other to death after she had %lled a do;en of the'(H

HThey are ferocous$ thenNH

HThe 'ost absolutely treacherous and bloodthrsty creaturesu!on earth( Oou tal% about a -ra;lan cat to an u!country2ndan$ and see h' get the ju'!s( They !refer hu'ans to ga'e(Ths fello" has neer tasted lng blood yet$ but "hen he does he"ll be a terror( At !resent he "ont stand anyone but 'e n hsden( Een -ald"n$ the groo'$ dare not go near h'( As to 'e$ 2a' hs 'other and father n one(H

As he s!o%e he suddenly$ to 'y astonsh'ent$ o!ened the doorand sl!!ed n$ closng t nstantly behnd h'( At the sound ofhs oce the huge$ lthe creature rose$ ya"ned and rubbed tsround$ blac% head affectonately aganst hs sde$ "hle he !attedand fondled t(

H=o"$ To''y$ nto your cage&H sad he(

The 'onstrous cat "al%ed oer to one sde of the roo' andcoled tself u! under a gratng( Eerard ng ca'e out$ andta%ng the ron handle "hch 2 hae 'entoned$ he began to turn t(As he dd so the lne of bars n the corrdor began to !ass through

a slot n the "all and closed u! the front of ths gratng$ so asto 'a%e an effecte cage( )hen t "as n !oston he o!ened thedoor once 'ore and nted 'e nto the roo'$ "hch "as heay "th


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the !ungent$ 'usty s'ell !ecular to the great carnora(

HThats ho" "e "or% t$H sad he( H)e ge h' the run of theroo' for exercse$ and then at nght "e !ut h' n hs cage( Ooucan let h' out by turnng the handle fro' the !assage$ or you can$as you hae seen$ coo! h' u! n the sa'e "ay( =o$ no$ you shouldnot do that&H

2 had !ut 'y hand bet"een the bars to !at the glossy$ heangflan%( .e !ulled t bac%$ "th a serous face(

H2 assure you that he s not safe( Dont 'agne that because2 can ta%e lbertes "th h' anyone else can( .e s eryexcluse n hs frendsarent you$ To''yN Ah$ he hears hslunch co'ng to h'& Dont you$ boyNH

A ste! sounded n the stoneflagged !assage$ and the creaturehad s!rung to hs feet$ and "as !acng u! and do"n the narro" cage$hs yello" eyes glea'ng$ and hs scarlet tongue r!!lng and

uerng oer the "hte lne of hs jagged teeth( A groo' entered"th a coarse jont u!on a tray$ and thrust t through the bars toh'( .e !ounced lghtly u!on t$ carred t off to the corner$ andthere$ holdng t bet"een hs !a"s$ tore and "renched at t$rasng hs bloody 'u;;le eery no" and then to loo% at us( 2t "asa 'algnant and yet fascnatng sght(

HOou cant "onder that 2 a' fond of h'$ can youNH sad 'yhost$ as "e left the roo'$ Hes!ecally "hen you consder that 2hae had the rearng of h'( 2t "as no jo%e brngng h' oer fro'the centre of /outh A'ercaR but here he s safe and soundand$ as2 hae sad$ far the 'ost !erfect s!ec'en n Euro!e( The !eo!le

at the Xoo are dyng to hae h'$ but 2 really cant !art "th h'(=o"$ 2 thn% that 2 hae nflcted 'y hobby u!on you long enough$so "e cannot do better than follo" To''ys exa'!le$ and go to ourlunch(H

My /outh A'ercan relate "as so engrossed by hs grounds andther curous occu!ants$ that 2 hardly gae h' credt at frst forhang any nterests outsde the'( That he had so'e$ and !ressngones$ "as soon borne n u!on 'e by the nu'ber of telegra's "hch hereceed( They arred at all hours$ and "ere al"ays o!ened by h'"th the ut'ost eagerness and anxety u!on hs face( /o'et'es 2'agned that t 'ust be the Turf$ and so'et'es the /toc%

Exchange$ but certanly he had so'e ery urgent busness gongfor"ards "hch "as not transacted u!on the Do"ns of /uffol%(Durng the sx days of 'y st he had neer fe"er than threeor four telegra's a day$ and so'et'es as 'any as seen or eght(

2 had occu!ed these sx days so "ell$ that by the end of the'2 had succeeded n gettng u!on the 'ost cordal ter's "th 'ycousn( Eery nght "e had sat u! late n the bllardroo'$ hetellng 'e the 'ost extraordnary stores of hs adentures nA'ercastores so des!erate and rec%less$ that 2 could hardlyassocate the' "th the bro"n lttle$ chubby 'an before 'e( 2nreturn$ 2 entured u!on so'e of 'y o"n re'nscences of ?ondon

CONAN DOYLE Tales of Terror and Mistery

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Transcript of CONAN DOYLE Tales of Terror and Mistery