第3章

"Yourfriendseemsanicechap，"saidFordatlast。"Callingonhimwillbearealpleasure。Iespeciallylikewhatyousayabouthishands。"

"Ihaveaplan，"begantheassistanttimidly，"aplantogetyouintothehouse—ifyoudon’tmindmymakingsuggestions？"

"Notatall！"exclaimedhischiefheartily。

"Getmeintothehousebyallmeans;that’swhatwe’reherefor。

ThefactthatI’mtobepoisonedorstrangledafterIgettheremustn’tdiscourageus。’"

"Ithought，"saidCuthbert，"Imightstandguardoutside，whileyougotinasadopefiend。"

Fordsnortedindignantly。"DoILOOKlikeadopefiend？"heprotested。

Thevoiceoftheassistantwasoneofdiscouragement。

"Youcertainlydonot，"heexclaimedregretfulIy。"Butit’stheonlyplanIcouldthinkof。"

"Itseemstome，"saidhischieftestily，"thatyouarenotsoveryhealthy—lookingyourself。What’sthematterwithYOURgettinginsideasadopefiendandMYstandingguard？"

"ButIwouldn’tknowwhattodoafterIgotinside，"complainedtheassistant，"andyouwould。Youaresoclever。"

TheexpressionofconfidenceseemedtoflatterFord。

"Imightdothis，"hesaid。"ImightpretendIwasrecoveringfromaheavyspree，andasktobetakencareofuntilIamsober。OrI

couldbeaverygoodimitationofamanontheedgeofanervousbreakdown。Ihaven’tbeenfiveyearsinthenewspaperbusinesswithoutknowingallthereistoknowaboutnerves。That’sit！"hecried。"Iwilldothat！AndifMr。BluebeardSvengali，theStranglerofParisperson，won’ttakemeinasapatient，we’llcomebackwithacoupleofaxesandBREAKin。Butwe’lltrythenervousbreakdownfirst，andwe’lltryitnow。Iwillbeanavalofficer，"declaredFord。"Imadetheround—the—worldcruisewithourfleetasacorrespondent，andIknowenoughseaslangtofoolamedicalman。Iamanavalofficerwhosenerveshavegonewrong。

Ihaveheardofhissanatoriumthrough""How，"askedFordsharply，"haveIheardofhissanatorium？"

"YousawhisadvertisementintheDAILYWORLD，"promptedCuthbert。

"’Homeofconvalescents;mentalandnervoustroublescured。’"

"And，"continuedFord，"Ihavecometohimforrestandtreatment。

MynameisLieutenantHenryGrant。IarrivedinLondontwoweeksagoontheMAURETANIA。Butmynamewasnotonthepassenger—list，becauseIdidnotwanttheNavyDepartmenttoknowIwastakingmyleaveabroad。IhavebeenstoppingatmyownaddressinJermynStreet，andmyreferencesareyourself，theEmbassy，andmylandlord。Youwilltelephonehimatoncethat，ifanyoneasksafterHenryGrant，heistosaywhatyoutellhimtosay。AndifanyonesendsforHenryGrant’sclothes，heistosendMYclothes。"

"Butyoudon’texpecttobeinthereaslongasthat？"exclaimedCuthbert。

"Idonot，"saidFord。"But，ifhetakesmein，Imustmakeabluffofsendingformythings。No;eitherIwillbeturnedoutinfiveminutes，orifheacceptsmeasapatientIwillbethereuntilmidnight。IfIcannotgetthegirloutofthehousebymidnight，itwillmeanthatIcan’tgetoutmyself，andyouhadbetterbringthepoliceandthecoroner。"

"Doyoumeanit？"askedCuthbert。

"Imostcertainlydo！"exclaimedFord。

UntiltwelveIwantachancetogetthisstoryexclusivelyforourpaper。IfsheisnotfreebythenitmeansIhavefallendownonit，andyouandthepolicearetobegintobatterinthedoors。"

Thetwoyoungmenleftthecab，andatsomedistancefromeachotherwalkedtoSowellStreet。AtthehouseofDr。Prothero，Fordstoppedandrangthebell。FromacrossthestreetCuthbertsawthedooropenandthefigureofamanofalmostgiganticstatureblockthedoorway。Foramomenthestoodthere，andthenCuthbertsawhimsteptooneside，sawFordenterthehouseandthedoorcloseuponhim。Cuthbertatoncerantoatelephone，and，havinginstructedFord’slandlordastotheparthewastoplay，returnedtoSowellStreet。There，inastatenearlyapproachingagenuinenervousbreakdown，hecontinuedhisvigil。

Evenwithouthiscriminalrecordtocastaglamouroverhim，FordwouldhavefoundDr。Prothero，adisturbingperson。Hissizewasenormous，hiseyespiercing，sinister，unblinking，andthehandsthatcouldstrangleabull，andwithwhichasthoughtocontrolhimself，hecontinuallypulledathisblackbeard，weregigantic，ofadeadlywhite，withfingerslongandprehensile。InhismannerhehadallthesuaveinsolenceoftheOrientalandthesuspiciousalertnessofoneconstantlyonguard，butalso，asFordatoncenoted，ofonewhollywithoutfear。Hehadnotbeenoveramomentinhispresencebeforethereporterfeltthattosuccessfullylietosuchamanmightbecountedasatriumph。

Protheroopenedthedoorintoalittleofficeleadingoffthehall，andswitchedontheelectriclights。Forsomeshorttime，withoutanyefforttoconcealhissuspicion，hestaredatFordinsilence。

"Well？"hesaid，atlast。Histonewasachallenge。

Fordhadalreadygivenhisassumednameandprofession，andhenowrangliblyintothestoryhehadplanned。Heopenedhiscard—caseandlookedintoitdoubtfully。"IfindIhavenocardwithme，"hesaid;butIam，asItoldyou，LieutenantGrant，oftheUnitedStatesNavy。Iamallrightphysically，exceptformynerves。

They’veplayedmeaqueertrick。Ifthefactsgetoutathome，itmightcostmemycommission。SoI’vecomeoverherefortreatment。"

"WhytoME？"askedProthero。

"Isawbyyouradvertisement，"saidthereporter，"thatyoutreatedfornervousmentaltroubles。Mineisanillusion，"hewenton。"I

seethings，or，rather，alwaysonething—abattle—shipcomingatusheadon。ForthelastyearI’vebeenexecutiveofficeroftheKEARSARGE，andtheresponsibilityhasbeentoomuchforme。"

"Youseeabattle—ship？"inquiredtheJew。

"Aphantombattle—ship，"Fordexplained，"asortOFFLYING

DUTCHMAN。ThetimeIsawitIwasonthebridge，andIyelledandtelegraphedtheengine—room。Ibroughttheshiptoafullstop，andbackedher。Butitwasdirtyweather，andtheerrorwaspassedover。Afterthat，whenIsawthethingcomingIdidnothing。ButeachtimeIthinkitisreal。"Fordshiveredslightlyandglancedabouthim。"Someday，"headdedfatefully，itWILLbereal，andI

willNOTsignal，andtheshipwillsink！"

Insilence，Protheroobservedhisvisitorclosely。Theyoungmanseemedsincere，genuine。Hismannerwasdirectandfrank。Helookedtheparthehadassumed，asoneusedtoauthority。

"Myfeesarelarge，"saidtheRussian。

Atthispoint，hadFord，regardlessofterms，exhibitedahopefuleagernesstoatonceclosewithhim，theJewwouldhaveshownhimthedoor。ButFordwasonguard，andwellawarethatalieutenantinthenavyhadbutfewguineastothrowawayonmedicines。Hemadeamovementasthoughtowithdraw。

"ThenIamafraid，"hesaid，"Imustgosomewhereelse。"

HisreluctanceapparentlyonlypartiallysatisfiedtheJew。

Fordadoptedoppositetactics。Hewasneverwithoutreadymoney。

HispapersawtoitthatinitsinterestshewasalwaysableatanymomenttopayforaspecialtrainacrossEurope，ortobribetheentireworkingstaffofacableoffice。Fromhisbreast—pockethetookabluelinenenvelope，andallowedtheJewtoseethatitwasfilledwithtwenty—poundnotes。"Ihavemeansoutsidemypay，"

saidFord。

Iwouldgivealmostanypricetothemanwhocancureme。"TheeyesoftheRussianflashedavariciously。

"Iwillarrangethetermstosuityou，"heexclaimed。"Yourcaseinterestsme。DoyouSeethis—mirageonlyatsea？"

"Inanyopenplace，"Fordassuredhim。"Inaparkorpublicsquare，butofcoursemostfrequentlyatsea。"

Thequackwavedhisgreathandsasthoughbrushingasideacurtain。

"Iwillremovetheillusion，"hesaid，"andgiveyouothersmorepretty。"Hesmiledmeaningfully——anevil，leeringsmile。"Whenwillyoucome？"heasked。Fordglancedabouthimnervously。

"Ishallstaynow，"hesaid。"Iconfess，inthestreetsandinmylodgingsIamfrightened。Yougivemeconfidence。Iwanttostaynearyou。Ifeelsafewithyou。Ifyouwillgivemewriting—paper，Iwillsendformythings。"

ForamomenttheJewhesitated，andthenmotionedtoadesk。AsFordwrote，Protherostoodnearhim，andthereporterknewthatoverhisshouldertheJewwasreadingwhathewrote。Fordgavehimthenote，unsealed，andaskedthatitbeforwardedatoncetohislodgings。

"To—morrow，"hesaid，"IwillcallupourEmbassy，andgivemyaddresstoourNavalAttache。

"Iwillattendtothat，"saidProthero。

Fromnowyouareinmyhands，andyoucancommunicatewiththeoutsideonlythroughme。Youaretohaveabsoluterest——nobooks，noletters，nopapers。Andyouwillbefedfromaspoon。Iwillexplainmytreatmentlater。Youwillnowgotoyourroom，andyouwillremainthereuntilyouareawellman。"

Fordhadnowishtobeatonceshutofffromtherestofthehouse。

Theodorofcookingcamethroughthehall，andseemedtoofferanexcusefordelay。

"Ismellfood，"helaughed。"AndI’mterrificallyhungry。Can’tI

haveafarewelldinnerbeforeyoubeginfeedingmefromaspoon？"

TheJewwasabouttorefuse，but，withhisguiltyknowledgeofwhatwasgoingforwardinthehouse，hecouldnotbetoosureofthoseheallowedtoenterit。Hewantedmoretimetospendinstudyingthisnewpatient，andthedinner—tableseemedtoofferaplacewherehecoulddosowithouttheothersuspectinghewasunderobservation。

"MyassociateandIwerejustabouttodine，"hesaid。"YouwillwaithereuntilIhaveanotherplacelaid，andyoucanjoinus。"

Hedeparted，walkingheavilydownthehall，butalmostatonceFord，whoseearswerealertforanysound，heardhimreturning，approachingstealthilyontiptoe。IfbythismaneuvertheJewhadhopedtodiscoverhispatientinsomeindiscretion，hewasunsuccessful，forhefoundFordstandingjustwherehehadlefthim，withhisbackturnedtothedoor，andgazingwithapparentinterestatapictureonthewall。Thesignificanceoftheincidentwasnotlostupontheintruder。Ittaughthimhewasstillundersurveillance，andthathemustbearhimselfwarily。Murmuringsomeexcuseforhavingreturned，theJewagaindeparted，andinafewminutesFordheardhisvoice，andthatofanotherman，engagedinlowtonesinwhatwasapparentlyaneagerargument。

OnlyoncewasthevoiceoftheothermanraisedsufficientlyforFordtodistinguishhiswords。"HeisanAmerican，"protestedthevoice;"thatmakesitworse。"

FordguessedthatthespeakerwasPearsall，andthatagainsthisadmittancetothehousehewasmakingearnestprotest。Adoor，closingwithabang，shutofftheargument，butwithinafewminutesitwasevidenttheJewhadcarriedhispoint，forhereappearedtoannouncethatdinnerwaswaiting。Itwasservedinaroomatthefartherendofthehall，andatthetable，whichwaslaidforthree，Fordfoundamanalreadyseated。Protherointroducedhimas"myassociate，"butfromhispresenceinthehouse，andfromthefactthathewasanAmerican，FordknewthathewasPearsall。

Pearsallwasamanoffifty。Hewastall，spare，withcloselyshavenfaceandgrayhair，wornratherlong。HespokewiththeaccentofaSoutherner，andalthoughtoFordhewasstudiouslypolite，hewasobviouslygreatlyillatease。Hehadtheabrupt，inattentivemanners，thetremblingfingersandquiveringlips，ofonewhohadlongbeenaslavetothedrughabit，andwhonow，withdifficulty，washoldinghimselfinhand。

Throughoutthedinner，speakingtohimasthough，interestedonlyashismedicaladvisers，theJew，andoccasionallytheAmerican，sharplyexaminedandcross—examinedtheirvisitor。Buttheywereunabletotriphiminhisstory，ortosuggestthathewasnotjustwhatheclaimedtobe。

Whenthedinnerwasfinished，thethreemen，fordifferentreasons，wereeachmoreathisease。BothPearsallandProtherobelievedfromthenewpatienttheyhadnothingtofear，andFordwascongratulatinghimselfthathispresenceatthehousewasfirmlysecure。

"Ithink，"saidPearsall，"weshouldwarnMr。Grantthatthereareinthehouseotherpatientswho，likehimself，aresufferingfromnervousdisorders。Attimessomesillyneuroticwomanbecomeshysterical，andmaymakeanoutcryorscream。Hemustnotthink"

"That’sallright！"Fordreassuredhimcheerfully。"Iexpectthat。

Inasanatoriumitmustbeunavoidable。"

Ashespoke，asthoughbyasignalprearranged，therecamefromtheupperportionofthehouseascream，long，insistent。

Itwasthevoiceofawoman，raisedinappeal，inprotest，shakenwithfear。Withoutforaninstantregardingit，thetwomenfastenedtheireyesuponthevisitor。ThehandoftheJewdroppedquicklyfromhisbeard，andslidtotheinsidepocketofhiscoat。

Witheyesapparentlyunseeing，Fordnotedthemovement。

"Hecarriesagun，"washismentalcomment，"andheseemsperfectlywillingtouseit。"Aloud，hesaid:"That，Isupposeisoneofthem？"

Protheronoddedgravely，andturnedtoPearsall。"Willyouattendher？"heasked。

AsPearsallroseandlefttheroom，Protherorosealso。

"Youwillcomewithme，"hedirected，"andIwillseeyousettleinyourapartment。Yourbaghasarrivedandisalreadythere。"

TheroomtowhichtheJewledhimwasthefrontoneonthesecondstory。Itwasinnowayinkeepingwithasanatorium，orarest—cure。Thewallswerehiddenbydarkbluehangings，inwhichsparkledtinymirrors，thefloorwascoveredwithTurkishrugs，thelightsconcealedinsidelampsofdullbrassbedeckedwithcrimsontassels。Intheairweretheodorsofstaletobacco—smoke，ofcheapincense，andthesickly，sweetsmellofopium。ToFordtheplacesuggestedacigar—divanratherthanabedroom，andheguessed，correctly，thatwhenProtherohadplayedatpalmistryandclairvoyancethishadbeentheplacewherehereceivedhisdupes。

ButtheAmericanexpressedhimselfpleasedwithhissurroundings，andwhileProtheroremainedintheroom，busiedhimselfwithunpackinghisbag。

OnleavinghimtheJewhaltedinthedooranddeliveredhimselfofalittlespeech。Hisvoicewasstern，sharp，menacing。

"Untilyouarecured，"hesaid，"youwillnotputyourfootoutsidethisroom。Inthishouseareotherinmateswho，asyouhavealreadylearned，areinahighlynervousstate。Thebrainsofsomeareunbalanced。Withmyassociateandmyselftheyarefamiliar，butthesightofastrangerroamingthroughthehallsmightupsetthem。

Theymightattackyou，mightdoyoubodilyinjury。Ifyouwishforanything，ringtheelectricbellbesideyourbedandanattendantwillcome。Butyouyourselfmustnotleavetheroom。"

Heclosedthedoor，andFord，seatinghimselfinfrontofthecoalfire，hastilyconsideredhisposition。Hecouldnotpersuadehimselfthat，strategically，itwasasatisfactoryone。Thegirlhesoughtwasonthetoporfourthfloor，heonthesecond。ToreachherhewouldhavetopassthroughWell—lightedhalls，uptwoflightsOfstairsandtrytoenteradoorthatwouldundoubtedlybelocked。Ontheotherhand，insteadofwanderingaboutintherainoutsidethehouse，hewasnowestablishedontheinside，andasaninmate。Hadtherebeentimeforasiege，hewouldhavebeenconfidentofsuccess。Buttherewasnotime。Thewrittencallforhelphadbeenurgent。Also，thescreamhehadheard，whilethemannerofthetwomenhadshownthattothemitwasacommonplace，wastohimaspurtoinstantaction。Inhasteheknewtherewastheriskoffailure，buthemusttakethatrisk。

HewishedfirsttoassurehimselfthatCuthbertwaswithincall，andtothatendputoutthelightsanddrewasidethecurtainsthatcoveredthewindow。Outside，thefogwasrollingbetweenthehouse—fronts，bothrainandsnowwerefallingheavily，andasolitarygas—lampshowedonlyadesertedanddrippingstreet。

CautiouslyFordlitamatchandforaninstantlettheflameflare。

Hewasalmostatoncerewardedbythesightofanansweringflamethatflickeredfromadarkdoorway。Fordclosedthewindow，satisfiedthathislineofcommunicationwiththeoutsideworldwasstillintact。ThefaithfulCuthbertwasonguard。

Fordrapidlyreviewedeachpossiblecourseofaction。Thesewereseveral，buttoleadanyoneofthemtosuccess，hesawthathemustpossessabetteracquaintancewiththeinteriorofthehouse。

Especiallywasitimportantthatheshouldobtainalineofescapeotherthantheonedownthestairstothefrontdoor。Theknowledgethatintherearofthehousetherewasameansofretreatbyaservants’stairway，orovertheroofofanadjoiningbuilding，orbyafriendlyfire—escape，wouldatleast，lendhimconfidenceinhisadventure。Accordingly，inspiteofProthero’sthreat，hedeterminedatoncetoreconnoitre。Incaseofhisbeingdiscoveredoutsidehisroom，hewouldexplainhiselectricbellwasoutoforder，thatwhenherangnoservanthadanswered，andthathehadsalliedforthinsearchofone。Tomakethisplausible，heunscrewedthecapoftheelectricbuttoninthewall，andwithhisknifecutoffenoughofthewiretopreventaproperconnection。Hethenreplacedthecapand，openingthedoor，steppedintothehall。