I must visit it forthwith.'
So the Doctor sat in the back drawing-room, with a solitary candle; and
Mrs. Rusk was called up, and, grumbling much and very peevish, dressed and
went down, her ill-temper subsiding in a sort of fear as she approached the
visitor.
'How do you do, Madam? A sad visit this. Is anyone watching in the room
where the remains of your late master are laid?'
'No.'
'So much the better; it is a foolish custom. Will you please conduct me to
the room? I must pray where he lies--no longer _he_! And be good enough to
show me my bedroom, and so no one need wait up, and I shall find my way.'
Accompanied by the man who carried his valise, Mrs. Rusk showed him to his
apartment; but he only looked in, and then glanced rapidly about to take
'the bearings' of the door.
'Thank you--yes. Now we'll proceed, here, along here? Let me see. A turn to
the right and another to the left--yes. He has been dead some days. Is he
yet in his coffin?'
'Yes, sir; since yesterday afternoon.'
Mrs. Rusk was growing more and more afraid of this lean figure sheathed in
shining black cloth, whose eyes glittered with a horrible sort of cunning,
and whose long brown fingers groped before him, as if indicating the way by
guess.
Pages:
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231