第26章

Thedoctorpausedtotakebreathandlooked，forthefirsttimesincethevisitorshadenteredthehouse，atMissGwilt。Forthefirsttime，onherside，shesteppedforwardamongtheaudience，andlookedathiminreturn。Afteramomentaryobstructionintheshapeofacough，thedoctorwenton。

“Say，ladiesandgentlemen。”heproceeded，“thatmypatienthasjustcomein。Hismindisonemassofnervousfanciesandcaprices，whichhisfriends(withthebestpossibleintentions)

havebeenignorantlyirritatingathome。Theyhavebeenafraidofhim，forinstance，atnight。Theyhaveforcedhimtohavesomebodytosleepintheroomwithhim，ortheyhaveforbiddenhim，incaseofaccidents，tolockhisdoor。Hecomestomethefirstnight，andsays:’Mind，Iwon’thaveanybodyinmyroom！’——’Certainlynot！’——’Iinsistonlockingmydoor。’——’Byallmeans！’Inhegoes，andlockshisdoor;andthereheis，soothedandquieted，predisposedtoconfidence，predisposedtosleep，byhavinghisownway。’Thisisallverywell，’youmaysay;’butsupposesomethinghappens，supposehehasafitinthenight，whatthen？’Youshallsee！Hallo，myyoungfriend！“criedthedoctor，suddenlyaddressingthesleepylittleboy。“Let’shaveagame。Youshallbethepoorsickman，andI’llbethegooddoctor。Gointothatroomandlockthedoor。There’sabraveboy！

Haveyoulockedit？Verygood！DoyouthinkIcan’tgetatyouifIlike？Iwaittillyou’reasleep——Ipressthislittlewhitebutton，hiddenhereinthestencilledpatternoftheouterwall——themortiseofthelockinsidefallsbacksilentlyagainstthedoor-post——andIwalkintotheroomwheneverIlike。Thesameplanispursuedwiththewindow。Mycapriciouspatientwon’topenitatnight，whenheought。Ihumorhimagain。’Shutit，dearsir，byallmeans！’Assoonasheisasleep，Ipulltheblackhandlehiddenhere，inthecornerofthewall。Thewindowoftheroominsidenoiselesslyopens，asyousee。Saythepatient’scapriceistheotherway——hepersistsinopeningthewindowwhenheoughttoshutit。Lethim！byallmeans，lethim！Ipullasecondhandlewhenheissnuginhisbed，andthewindownoiselesslyclosesinamoment。Nothingtoirritatehim，ladiesandgentlemen——absolutelynothingtoirritatehim！ButIhaven’tdonewithhimyet。Epidemicdisease，inspiteofallmyprecautions，mayenterthisSanitarium，andmayrenderthepurifyingofthesick-roomnecessary。Orthepatient’scasemaybecomplicatedbyotherthannervousmalady——say，forinstance，asthmaticdifficultyofbreathing。Intheonecase，fumigationisnecessary;intheother，additionaloxygenintheairwillgiverelief。Theepidemicnervouspatientsays，’Iwon’tbesmokedundermyownnose！’Theasthmaticnervouspatientgaspswithterrorattheideaofachemicalexplosioninhisroom。I

noiselesslyfumigateoneofthem;Inoiselesslyoxygenizetheother，bymeansofasimpleApparatusfixedoutsideinthecornerhere。Itisprotectedbythiswoodencasing;itislockedwithmyownkey;anditcommunicatesbymeansofatubewiththeinterioroftheroom。Lookatit！“

WithapreliminaryglanceatMissGwilt，thedoctorunlockedthelidofthewoodencasing，anddisclosedinsidenothingmoreremarkablethanalargestonejar，havingaglassfunnel，andapipecommunicatingwiththewall，insertedinthecorkwhichclosedthemouthofit。WithanotherlookatMissGwilt，thedoctorlockedthelidagain，andasked，intheblandestmanner，whetherhisSystemwasintelligiblenow？

“Imightintroduceyoutoallsortsofothercontrivancesofthesamekind。”heresumed，leadingthewaydownstairs;“butitwouldbeonlythesamethingoverandoveragain。Anervouspatientwhoalwayshashisownwayisanervouspatientwhoisneverworried;

andanervouspatientwhoisneverworriedisanervouspatientcured。Thereitisinanutshell！ComeandseetheDispensary，ladies;theDispensaryandthekitchennext！“

Oncemore，MissGwiltdroppedbehindthevisitors，andwaitedalone——lookingsteadfastlyattheRoomwhichthedoctorhadopened，andattheapparatuswhichthedoctorhadunlocked。

Again，withoutawordpassingbetweenthem，shehadunderstoodhim。Sheknew，aswellasifhehadconfessedit，thathewascraftilyputtingthenecessarytemptationinherway，beforewitnesseswhocouldspeaktothesuperficiallyinnocentactswhichtheyhadseen，ifanythingserioushappened。Theapparatus，originallyconstructedtoservethepurposeofthedoctor’smedicalcrotchets，wasevidentlytobeputtosomeotheruse，ofwhichthedoctorhimselfhadprobablyneverdreamedtillnow。Andthechanceswerethat，beforethedaywasover，thatotherusewouldbeprivatelyrevealedtoherattherightmoment，inthepresenceoftherightwitness。“Armadalewilldiethistime。”shesaidtoherself，asshewentslowlydownthestairs。“Thedoctorwillkillhim，bymyhands。”

ThevisitorswereintheDispensarywhenshejoinedthem。Alltheladieswereadmiringthebeautyoftheantiquecabinet;and，asanecessaryconsequence，alltheladiesweredesirousofseeingwhatwasinside。Thedoctor——afterapreliminarylookatMissGwilt——good-humoredlyshookhishead。“Thereisnothingtointerestyouinside。”hesaid。“NothingbutrowsoflittleshabbybottlescontainingthepoisonsusedinmedicinewhichIkeepunderlockandkey。Cometothekitchen，ladies，andhonormewithyouradviceondomesticmattersbelowstairs。”HeglancedagainatMissGwiltasthecompanycrossedthehall，withalookwhichsaidplainly，“Waithere。”

Inanotherquarterofanhourthedoctorhadexpoundedhisviewsoncookeryanddiet，andthevisitors(dulyfurnishedwithprospectuses)weretakingleaveofhimatthedoor。“Quiteanintellectualtreat！“theysaidtoeachother，astheystreamedoutagaininneatlydressedprocessionthroughtheirongates。

“Andwhataverysuperiorman！“

ThedoctorturnedbacktotheDispensary，hummingabsentlytohimself，andfailingentirelytoobservethecornerofthehallinwhichMissGwiltstoodretired。Afteraninstant’shesitation，shefollowedhim。Theassistantwasintheroomwhensheenteredit——summonedbyhisemployerthemomentbefore。

“Doctor。”shesaid，coldlyandmechanically，asifshewasrepeatingalesson，“Iamascuriousastheotherladiesaboutthatprettycabinetofyours。Nowtheyareallgone，won’tyoushowtheinsideofitto_me？_“

Thedoctorlaughedinhispleasantestmanner。

“Theoldstory。”hesaid。“Blue-Beard’slockedchamber，andfemalecuriosity！(Don’tgo，Benjamin，don’tgo。)Mydearlady，whatinterestcanyoupossiblyhaveinlookingatamedicalbottle，simplybecauseithappenstobeabottleofpoison？”

Sherepeatedherlessonforthesecondtime。

“Ihavetheinterestoflookingatit。”shesaid，“andofthinking，ifitgotintosomepeople’shands，oftheterriblethingsitmightdo。”

Thedoctorglancedathisassistantwithacompassionatesmile。

“Curious，Benjamin。”hesaid，“theromanticviewtakenofthesedrugsofoursbytheunscientificmind！Mydearlady。”headded，turningtoMissGwilt，“if_that_istheinterestyouattachtolookingatpoisons，youneedn’taskmetounlockmycabinet——youneedonlylookaboutyouroundtheshelvesofthisroom。Thereareallsortsofmedicalliquidsandsubstancesinthosebottles——mostinnocent，mostusefulinthemselves——which，incombinationwithothersubstancesandotherliquids，becomepoisonsasterribleandasdeadlyasanythatIhaveinmycabinetunderlockandkey。”

Shelookedathimforamoment，andcreasedtotheoppositesideoftheroom。

“Showmeone。”shesaid，Stillsmilingasgood-humoredlyasever，thedoctorhumoredhisnervouspatient。Hepointedtothebottlefromwhichhehadprivatelyremovedtheyellowliquidonthepreviousday，andwhichhehadfilledupagainwithacarefully-coloredimitationintheshapeofamixtureofhisown。

“Doyouseethatbottle。”hesaid——“thatplump，round，comfortable-lookingbottle？Nevermindthenameofwhatisbesideit;letussticktothebottle，anddistinguishit，ifyoulike，bygivingitanameofourown。Supposewecallit’ourStoutFriend’？Verygood。OurStoutFriend，byhimself，isamostharmlessandusefulmedicine。Heisfreelydispensedeverydaytotensofthousandsofpatientsalloverthecivilizedworld。Hehasmadenoromanticappearancesincourtsoflaw;hehasexcitednobreathlessinterestinnovels;hehasplayednoterrifyingpartonthestage。Thereheis，aninnocent，inoffensivecreature，whotroublesnobodywiththeresponsibilityoflockinghimup！_But_bringhimintocontactwithsomethingelse——introducehimtotheacquaintanceofacertaincommonmineralsubstance，ofauniversallyaccessiblekind，brokenintofragments;provideyourselfwith(say)sixdosesofourStoutFriend，andpourthosedosesconsecutivelyonthefragmentsI

havementioned，atintervalsofnotlessthanfiveminutes。

Quantitiesoflittlebubbleswillriseateverypouring;collectthegasinthosebubbles，andconveyitintoaclosedchamber——andletSamsonhimselfbeinthatclosedchamber;ourstoutFriendwillkillhiminhalfanhour！Willkillhimslowly，withouthisseeinganything，withouthissmellinganything，withouthisfeelinganythingbutsleepiness。Willkillhim，andtellthewholeCollegeofSurgeonsnothing，iftheyexaminehimafterdeath，butthathediedofapoplexyorcongestionofthelungs！Whatdoyouthinkof_that，_mydearlady，inthewayofmysteryandromance？IsourharmlessStoutFriendasinteresting_now_asifherejoicedintheterriblepopularfameoftheArsenicandtheStrychninewhichIkeeplockedupthere？Don’tsupposeIamexaggerating！Don’tsupposeI’minventingastorytoputyouoffwith，asthechildrensay。AskBenjaminthere。”saidthedoctor，appealingtohisassistant，withhiseyesfixedonMissGwilt。“AskBenjamin。”herepeated，withthesteadiestemphasisonthenextwords，“ifsixdosesfromthatbottle，atintervalsoffiveminuteseach，wouldnot，undertheconditionsI

havestated，producetheresultsIhavedescribed？”

TheResidentDispenser，modestlyadmiringMissGwiltatadistance，startedandcoloredup。Hewasplainlygratifiedbythelittleattentionwhichhadincludedhimintheconversation。

“Thedoctorisquiteright，ma’am。”hesaid，addressingMissGwilt，withhisbestbow;“theproductionofthegas，extendedoverhalfanhour，wouldbequitegradualenough。And。”addedtheDispenser，silentlyappealingtohisemployertolethimexhibitalittlechemicalknowledgeonhisownaccount，“thevolumeofthegaswouldbesufficientattheendofthetime——ifIamnotmistaken，sir？——tobefataltoanypersonenteringtheroominlessthanfiveminutes。”

“Unquestionably，Benjamin。”rejoinedthedoctor。“ButIthinkwehavehadenoughofchemistryforthepresent。”headded，turningtoMissGwilt。“Witheverydesire，mydearlady，togratifyeverypassingwishyoumayform，Iventuretoproposetryingamorecheerfulsubject。SupposeweleavetheDispensary，beforeitsuggestsanymoreinquiriestothatactivemindofyours？No？Youwanttoseeanexperiment？Youwanttoseehowthelittlebubblesaremade？Well，well！thereisnoharminthat。WewillletMrs。

Armadaleseethebubbles。”continuedthedoctor，inthetoneofaparenthumoringaspoiledchild。“Tryifyoucanfindafewofthosefragmentsthatwewant，Benjamin。Idaresaytheworkmen(slovenlyfellows！)haveleftsomethingofthesortaboutthehouseorthegrounds。”

TheResidentDispenserlefttheroom。

Assoonashisbackwasturned，thedoctorbeganopeningandshuttingdrawersinvariouspartsoftheDispensary，withtheairofamanwhowantssomethinginahurry，anddoesnotknowwheretofindit。“Blessmysoul！“heexclaimed，suddenlystoppingatthedrawerfromwhichhehadtakenhiscardsofinvitationonthepreviousday，“what’sthis？Akey？Aduplicatekey，asI’malive，ofmyfumigatingapparatusupstairs！Ohdear，dear，howcarelessIget。”saidthedoctor，turningroundbrisklytoMissGwilt。“I

hadn’ttheleastideathatIpossessedthissecondkey。Ishouldneverhavemissedit。IdoassureyouIshouldneverhavemisseditifanybodyhadtakenitoutofthedrawer！“Hebustledawaytotheotherendoftheroom——withoutclosingthedrawer，andwithouttakingawaytheduplicatekey。

Insilence，MissGwiltlistenedtillhehaddone。Insilence，sheglidedtothedrawer。Insilence，shetookthekeyandhiditinherapronpocket。

TheDispensercameback，withthefragmentsrequiredofhim，collectedinabasin。“Thankyou，Benjamin。”saidthedoctor。

“Kindlycoverthemwithwater，whileIgetthebottledown。”

Asaccidentssometimeshappeninthemostperfectlyregulatedfamilies，soclumsinesssometimespossessesitselfofthemostperfectlydisciplinedhands。Intheprocessofitstransferfromtheshelftothedoctor，thebottleslippedandfellsmashedtopiecesonthefloor。

“Oh，myfingersandthumbs！“criedthedoctor，withanairofcomicvexation，“whatintheworlddoyoumeanbyplayingmesuchawickedtrickasthat？Well，well，well——itcan’tbehelped。

Havewegotanymoreofit，Benjamin？”

“Notadrop，sir。”

“Notadrop！“echoedthedoctor。“Mydearmadam，whatexcusescanIofferyou？Myclumsinesshasmadeourlittleexperimentimpossibleforto-day。Remindmetoordersomemoreto-morrow，Benjamin，anddon’tthinkoftroublingyourselftoputthatmesstorights。I’llsendthemanheretomopitallup。OurStoutFriendisharmlessenoughnow，mydearlady——incombinationwithaboardedfloorandacomingmop！I’msosorry;Ireallyamsosorrytohavedisappointedyou。”Withthosesoothingwords，heofferedhisarm，andledMissGwiltoutoftheDispensary。

“Haveyoudonewithmeforthepresent？”sheasked，whentheywereinthehall。

“Oh，dear，dear，whatawayofputtingit！“exclaimedthedoctor。

“Dinneratsix。”headded，withhispolitestemphasis，assheturnedfromhimindisdainfulsilence，andslowlymountedthestairstoherownroom。

Aclockofthenoiselesssort——incapableofoffendingirritablenerves——wasfixedinthewall，abovethefirst-floorlanding，attheSanitarium。Atthemomentwhenthehandspointedtoaquarterbeforesix，thesilenceofthelonelyupperregionswassoftlybrokenbytherustlingofMissGwilt’sdress。Sheadvancedalongthecorridorofthefirstfloor——pausedatthecoveredapparatusfixedoutsidetheroomnumberedFour——listenedforamoment——andthenunlockedthecoverwiththeduplicatekey。

Theopenlidcastashadowovertheinsideofthecasing。Allshesawatfirstwaswhatshehadseenalready——thejar，andthepipeandglassfunnelinsertedinthecork。Sheremovedthefunnel;

and，lookingabouther，observedonthewindow-sillclosebyawax-tippedwandusedforlightingthegas。Shetookthewand，and，introducingitthroughtheapertureoccupiedbythefunnel，movedittoandfrointhejar。Thefaintsplashofsomeliquid，andthegratingnoiseofcertainhardsubstanceswhichshewasstirringabout，werethetwosoundsthatcaughtherear。Shedrewoutthewand，andcautiouslytouchedthewetleftonitwiththetipofhertongue。Cautionwasquiteneedlessinthiscase。Theliquidwas——water。

Inputtingthefunnelbackinitsplace，shenoticedsomethingfaintlyshiningintheobscurelylitvacantspaceatthesideofthejar。Shedrewitout，andproducedaPurpleFlask。Theliquidwithwhichitwasfilledshoweddarkthroughthetransparentcoloringoftheglass;andfastenedatregularintervalsdownonesideoftheFlaskweresixthinstripsofpaper，whichdividedthecontentsintosixequalparts。

Therewasnodoubtnowthattheapparatushadbeensecretlypreparedforher——theapparatusofwhichshealone(besidesthedoctor)possessedthekey。

SheputbacktheFlask，andlockedthecoverofthecasing。Foramomentshestoodlookingatit，withthekeyinherhand。Onasudden，herlostcolorcameback。Onasudden，itsnaturalanimationreturned，forthefirsttimethatday，toherface。Sheturnedandhurriedbreathlesslyupstairstoherroomonthesecondfloor。Witheagerhandsshesnatchedhercloakoutofthewardrobe，andtookherbonnetfromthebox。“I’mnotinprison！“

sheburstout，impetuously。“I’vegottheuseofmylimbs！Icango——nomatterwhere，aslongasIamoutofthishouse！“

Withhercloakonhershoulders，withherbonnetinherhand，shecrossedtheroomtothedoor。Amomentmore——andshewouldhavebeenoutinthepassage。Inthatmomenttheremembranceflashedbackonherofthehusbandwhomshehaddeniedtohisface。Shestoppedinstantly，andthrewthecloakandbonnetfromheronthebed。“No！“shesaid;“thegulfisdugbetweenus——theworstisdone！“

Therewasaknockatthedoor。Thedoctor’svoiceoutsidepolitelyremindedherthatitwassixo’clock。

Sheopenedthedoor，andstoppedhimonhiswaydownstairs。

“Whattimeisthetraindueto-night？”sheasked，inawhisper。

“Atten。”answeredthedoctor，inavoicewhichalltheworldmighthear，andwelcome。

“WhatroomisMr。Armadaletohavewhenhecomes？”

“Whatroomwouldyoulikehimtohave？”

“NumberFour。”

Thedoctorkeptupappearancestotheverylast。

“NumberFourletitbe。”hesaid，graciously。“Provided，ofcourse，thatNumberFourisunoccupiedatthetime。”

*****

Theeveningworeon，andthenightcame。

Atafewminutesbeforeten，Mr。Bashwoodwasagainathispost，oncemoreonthewatchforthecomingofthetidaltrain。

Theinspectoronduty，whoknewhimbysight，andwhohadpersonallyascertainedthathisregularattendanceattheterminusimpliednodesignsonthepursesandportmanteausofthepassengers，noticedtwonewcircumstancesinconnectionwithMr。

Bashwoodthatnight。Inthefirstplace，insteadofexhibitinghiscustomarycheerfulness，helookedanxiousanddepressed。Inthesecondplace，whilehewaswatchingforthetrain，hewastoallappearancebeingwatchedinhisturn，byaslim，dark，undersizedman，whohadlefthisluggage(markedwiththenameofMidwinter)atthecustom-housedepartmenttheeveningbefore，andwhohadreturnedtohaveitexaminedabouthalfanhoursince。

WhathadbroughtMidwintertotheterminus？Andwhywashe，too，waitingforthetidaltrain？

AfterstrayingasfarasHendonduringhislonelywalkofthepreviousnight，hehadtakenrefugeatthevillageinn，andhadfallenasleep(fromsheerexhaustion)towardthoselaterhoursofthemorningwhichwerethehoursthathiswife’sforesighthadturnedtoaccount。Whenhereturnedtothelodging，thelandladycouldonlyinformhimthathertenanthadsettledeverythingwithher，andhadleft(forwhatdestinationneithershenorherservantcouldtell)morethantwohourssince。

Havinggivensomelittletimetoinquiries，theresultofwhichconvincedhimthattheclewwaslostsofar，Midwinterhadquittedthehouse，andhadpursuedhiswaymechanicallytothebusierandmorecentralpartsofthemetropolis。Withthelightnowthrownonhiswife’scharacter，tocallattheaddressshehadgivenhimastheaddressatwhichhermotherlivedwouldbeplainlyuseless。Hewentonthroughthestreets，resolutetodiscoverher，andtryingvainlytoseethemeanstohisend，tillthesenseoffatigueforceditselfonhimoncemore。Stoppingtorestandrecruithisstrengthatthefirsthotelhecameto，achancedisputebetweenthewaiterandastrangeraboutalostportmanteauremindedhimofhisownluggage，leftattheterminus，andinstantlytookhismindbacktothecircumstancesunderwhichheandMr。Bashwoodhadmet。Inamomentmore，theideathathehadbeenvainlyseekingonhiswaythroughthestreetsflashedonhim。Inamomentmore，hehaddeterminedtotrythechanceoffindingthestewardagainonthewatchforthepersonwhosearrivalhehadevidentlyexpectedbythepreviousevening’strain。

IgnorantofthereportofAllan’sdeathatsea;uninformed，attheterribleinterviewwithhiswife，ofthepurposewhichherassumptionofawidow’sdressreallyhadinview，Midwinter’sfirstvaguesuspicionsofherfidelityhadnowinevitablydevelopedintotheconvictionthatshewasfalse。Hecouldplacebutoneinterpretationonheropendisavowalofhim，andonhertakingthenameunderwhichhehadsecretlymarriedher。Herconductforcedtheconclusiononhimthatshewasengagedinsomeinfamousintrigue;andthatshehadbaselysecuredherselfbeforehandinthepositionofallothersinwhichsheknewitwouldbemostodiousandmostrepellenttohimtoclaimhisauthorityoverher。WiththatconvictionhewasnowwatchingMr。

Bashwood，firmlypersuadedthathiswife’shiding-placewasknowntothevileservantofhiswife’svices;anddarklysuspecting，asthetimeworeon，thattheunknownmanwhohadwrongedhim，andtheunknowntravelerforwhosearrivalthestewardwaswaiting，wereoneandthesame。

Thetrainwaslatethatnight，andthecarriagesweremorethanusuallycrowdedwhentheyarrivedatlast。Midwinterbecameinvolvedintheconfusionontheplatform，andintheefforttoextricatehimselfhelostsightofMr。Bashwoodforthefirsttime。

Alapseofsomefewminuteshadpassedbeforeheagaindiscoveredthestewardtalkingeagerlytoamaninalooseshaggycoat，whosebackwasturnedtowardhim。Forgetfulofallthecautionsandrestraintswhichhehadimposedonhimselfbeforethetrainappeared，Midwinterinstantlyadvancedonthem。Mr。Bashwoodsawhisthreateningfaceashecameon，andfellbackinsilence。Themanintheloosecoatturnedtolookwherethestewardwaslooking，anddisclosedtoMidwinter，inthefulllightofthestation-lamp，Allan’sface！

Forthemomenttheybothstoodspeechless，handinhand，lookingateachother。Allanwasthefirsttorecoverhimself。

“ThankGodforthis！“hesaid，fervently。“Idon’taskhowyoucamehere:it’senoughformethatyouhavecome。Miserablenewshasmetmealready，Midwinter。Nobodybutyoucancomfortme，andhelpmetobearit。”Hisvoicefalteredoverthoselastwords，andhesaidnomore。

ThetoneinwhichhehadspokenrousedMidwintertomeetthecircumstancesastheywere，byappealingtotheoldgratefulinterestinhisfriendwhichhadoncebeentheforemostinterestofhislife。Hemasteredhispersonalmiseryforthefirsttimesinceithadfallenonhim，andgentlytakingAllanaside，askedwhathadhappened。

Theanswer——afterinforminghimofhisfriend’sreporteddeathatsea——announced(onMr。Bashwood’sauthority)thatthenewshadreachedMissMilroy，andthatthedeplorableresultoftheshockthusinflictedhadobligedthemajortoplacehisdaughterintheneighborhoodofLondon，undermedicalcare。

Beforesayingawordonhisside，Midwinterlookeddistrustfullybehindhim。Mr。Bashwoodhadfollowedthem。Mr。Bashwoodwaswatchingtoseewhattheydidnext。

“WashewaitingyourarrivalheretotellyouthisaboutMissMilroy？”askedMidwinter，lookingagainfromthestewardtoAllan。

“Yes。”saidAllan。“Hehasbeenkindlywaitinghere，nightafternight，tomeetme，andbreakthenewstome。”

Midwinterpausedoncemore。Theattempttoreconciletheconclusionhehaddrawnfromhiswife’sconductwiththediscoverythatAllanwasthemanforwhosearrivalMr。Bashwoodhadbeenwaitingwashopeless。Theonepresentchanceofdiscoveringatruersolutionofthemysterywastopressthestewardontheoneavailablepointinwhichhehadlaidhimselfopentoattack。HehadpositivelydeniedonthepreviouseveningthatheknewanythingofAllan’smovements，orthathehadanyinterestinAllan’sreturntoEngland。HavingdetectedMr。

Bashwoodinonelietoldtohimself。MidwinterinstantlysuspectedhimoftellinganothertoAllan。HeseizedtheopportunityofsiftingthestatementaboutMissMilroyonthespot。

“Howhaveyoubecomeacquaintedwiththissadnews？”heinquired，turningsuddenlyonMr。Bashwood。

“Throughthemajor，ofcourse。”saidAllan，beforethestewardcouldanswer。

“WhoisthedoctorwhohasthecareofMissMilroy？”persistedMidwinter，stilladdressingMr。Bashwood。

Forthesecondtimethestewardmadenoreply。Forthesecondtime，Allanansweredforhim。

“Heisamanwithaforeignname。”saidAllan。“HekeepsaSanitariumnearHampstead。Whatdidyousaytheplacewascalled，Mr。Bashwood？”

“FairweatherVale，sir。”saidthesteward，answeringhisemployer，asamatterofnecessity，butansweringveryunwillingly。

TheaddressoftheSanitariuminstantlyremindedMidwinterthathehadtracedhiswifetoFairweatherValeVillasthepreviousnight。Hebegantoseelightthroughthedarkness，dimly，forthefirsttime。Theinstinctwhichcomeswithemergency，beforetheslowerprocessofreasoncanassertitself，broughthimataleaptotheconclusionthatMr。Bashwood——whohadbeencertainlyactingunderhiswife’sinfluencethepreviousday——mightbeactingagainunderhiswife’sinfluencenow。Hepersistedinsiftingthesteward’sstatement，withtheconvictiongrowingfirmerandfirmerinhismindthatthestatementwasalie，andthathiswifewasconcernedinit。

“IsthemajorinNorfolk？”heasked，“orishenearhisdaughterinLondon？”

“InNorfolk。”saidMr。Bashwood。HavingansweredAllan’slookofinquiry，insteadofMidwinter’sspokenquestion，inthosewords，hehesitated，lookedMidwinterinthefaceforthefirsttime，andadded，suddenly:“Iobject，ifyouplease，tobecross-examined，sir。IknowwhatIhavetoldMr。Armadale，andI

knownomore。”

Thewords，andthevoiceinwhichtheywerespoken，werealikeatvariancewithMr。Bashwood’susuallanguageandMr。Bashwood’susualtone。Therewasasullendepressioninhisface——therewasafurtivedistrustanddislikeinhiseyeswhentheylookedatMidwinter，whichMidwinterhimselfnownoticedforthefirsttime。Beforehecouldanswerthesteward’sextraordinaryoutbreak，Allaninterfered。

“Don’tthinkmeimpatient。”hesaid;“butit’sgettinglate;it’salongwaytoHampstead。I’mafraidtheSanitariumwillbeshutup。”

Midwinterstarted。“YouarenotgoingtotheSanitariumto-night！“heexclaimed。

Allantookhisfriend’shandandwrungithard。“IfyouwereasfondofherasIam。”hewhispered，“youwouldtakenorest，youcouldgetnosleep，tillyouhadseenthedoctor，andheardthebestandtheworsthehadtotellyou。Poordearlittlesoul！whoknows，ifshecouldonlyseemealiveandwell——“Thetearscameintohiseyes，andheturnedawayhisheadinsilence。

Midwinterlookedatthesteward。“Standback。”hesaid。“IwanttospeaktoMr。Armadale。”Therewassomethinginhiseyewhichitwasnotsafetotriflewith。Mr。Bashwooddrewbackoutofhearing，butnotoutofsight。Midwinterlaidhishandfondlyonhisfriend’sshoulder。

“Allan。”hesaid，“Ihavereasons——“Hestopped。Couldthereasonsbegivenbeforehehadfairlyrealizedthemhimself;atthattime，too，andunderthosecircumstances？Impossible！“I

havereasons。”heresumed，“foradvisingyounottobelievetooreadilywhatMr。Bashwoodmaysay。Don’ttellhimthis，buttakethewarning。”

Allanlookedathisfriendinastonishment。“ItwasyouwhoalwayslikedMr。Bashwood！“heexclaimed。“Itwasyouwhotrustedhim，whenhefirstcametothegreathouse！“

“PerhapsIwaswrong，Allan，andperhapsyouwereright。WillyouonlywaittillwecantelegraphtoMajorMilroyandgethisanswer？Willyouonlywaitoverthenight？”

“IshallgomadifIwaitoverthenight。”saidAllan。“YouhavemadememoreanxiousthanIwasbefore。IfIamnottospeakaboutittoBashwood，ImustandwillgototheSanitarium，andfindoutwhethersheisorisnotthere，fromthedoctorhimself。”

Midwintersawthatitwasuseless。InAllan’sintereststherewasonlyoneothercourselefttotake。“Willyouletmegowithyou？”heasked。

Allan’sfacebrightenedforthefirsttime。“Youdear，goodfellow！“heexclaimed。“ItwastheverythingIwasgoingtobegofyoumyself。”

Midwinterbeckonedtothesteward。“Mr。ArmadaleisgoingtotheSanitarium。”hesaid，“andImeantoaccompanyhim。Getacabandcomewithus。”

Hewaited，toseewhetherMr。Bashwoodwouldcomply。Havingbeenstrictlyordered，whenAllandidarrive，nottolosesightofhim，andhaving，inhisowninterests，Midwinter’sunexpectedappearancetoexplaintoMissGwilt，thestewardhadnochoicebuttocomply。Insullensubmissionhedidashehadbeentold。

ThekeysofAllan’sbaggagewasgiventotheforeigntravelingservantwhomhehadbroughtwithhim，andthemanwasinstructedtowaithismaster’sordersattheterminushotel。Inaminutemorethecabwasonitswayoutofthestation——withMidwinterandAllaninside，andMr。Bashwoodbythedriveronthebox。

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Betweenelevenandtwelveo’clockthatnight，MissGwilt，standingaloneatthewindowwhichlitthecorridoroftheSanitariumonthesecondfloor，heardtherollofwheelscomingtowardher。Thesound，gatheringrapidlyinvolumethroughthesilenceofthelonelyneighborhood，stoppedattheirongates。Inanotherminuteshesawthecabdrawupbeneathher，atthehousedoor。

Theearliernighthadbeencloudy，buttheskywasclearingnowandthemoonwasout。Sheopenedthewindowtoseeandhearmoreclearly。BythelightofthemoonshesawAllangetoutofthecab，andturnroundtospeaktosomeotherpersoninside。Theansweringvoicetoldher，beforeheappearedinhisturn，thatArmadale’scompanionwasherhusband。

Thesamepetrifyinginfluencethathadfallenonherattheinterviewwithhimofthepreviousdayfellonhernow。Shestoodbythewindow，whiteandstill，andhaggardandold——asshehadstoodwhenshefirstfacedhimin