e evenings. Hence it was that I was in the habit of indulging in very long nocturnal excursions, in which I sought the heights of Hampstead and Highgate in order to cleanse my system from the im

las which the huge city is for ever pushing farther and farther out into the country. It was a fine, clear spring night, the moon was shining out of an unclouded sky, and I, havi

n, with the great, dark, gloomy house looming at the back of it. Evidently it had been the country retreat of some wealthy merchant, built perhaps when the nearest street was a mile off, and now gradually overtaken and surrounded by the red brick tentacles of the London octopus. The nex

ach other with that malignant accuracy which brings two ocean liners together in the broad waste of the Atlantic. It was the cyclist's fault. He tried to cross in front of the cab, miscalculated his distance, and was knocked sprawling by the horse's shoulder. He

d to his side. "Any

ist, I think; but it's pretty painfu

k moustache and large, brown eyes, sensitive and nervous in appearance, with indications of weak health upon his sunken cheeks. Work or worry ha

it to the gro

do yo

n the garden. "I was cutting across to the gate when tha

down the drive, and up the steps to the hall door. There was not a light any

ery much," said he, fumbli

allow me to

could really do nothing without me. The door had opened into a pi

ht," said he, feeling

upon the table, and we lit it between us. "Now, I'm all right. You can leave me now! Go

ore than I could stand. I pulled at the bell-rope, and heard the bell ringing furiously far away. But no one came in response. The bell tinkled away into silence, which no murmur or movement came to break. I waited, and rang again, with the same res

ped from the cornice, and rosettes of lichen which had formed upon the walls. My feet reverberated in those empty and silent chambers. Then I wandered on down the passage, with the idea that the kitchens, at least, mi

pression of having been there for a long time, for it was dusty and discoloured. I was still staring at it, and wondering what that door might conceal, wh

you take the lam

king for a

me time," said he. "I

f you get

other, and pain or emotion has that effect upon me. It will carr

. Frank Alder

ld meet a lawyer, for my friend, Mr. Perceva

ppy, I a

know. Did you say that you had run wit

es

, with emphasis, and he

on hoping that I s

rooms?" he asked, wit

that I co

d he shrugged his shoulders with the air

ce, w

or with the

, I

rious to know w

d strike me

, year after year, just longing all the time to know wha

" I cried, "that you

e than

y don't

n't," s

isitive than my neighbours, but there certainly was something in the situation which appealed very strongly to my curiosit

n a hurry?

ve nothin

ive a very retired and secluded life here. I don't suppose there is a man in London w

house, and the sinister door with the discoloured red seal upon it. There was something queer and grotesque in the sit

if I cannot act as host, but I can't get across the room. Those are cigars in the

es

r man, without any profession at all. And then, on the top of it all, I am left with this great mansion on my hands, which I cannot possibly keep up. Isn't it an abs

sell the ho

ustn

it, t

tn't do th

ed, and my com

it is, if it won't

I should be exceed

s than relieve any curiosity that you may feel. You must k

His flight from the country some seven years before h

nsuccessful speculation. He was a nervous, sensitive man, and the responsibility quite upset his reason. He had committed no legal offence. It

ed!" s

came right again, and so there was no reason why he should not look any man in the fac

he last t

ard from him t

l you then wher

when my poor mother died. He wrote to me then, with some instr

u heard

ich you stumbled to-night, has its origin. Pass me that desk, if you please. Here I hav

Perceval,

hen of myself. I don't know what we should have done without Perceval. He saw the letters, but no one else.

e letter w

r Deare

from telling you that things have been going badly with me. This will cause me to leave you for a little time, but it is with the absolute assurance that we shall see each other very soon. On this you

garden passage. To prevent any painful thoughts, I may assure you once for all, dear, that it is nothing of which I need be ashamed. But still I do not wish you or Felix to enter that room. It is locked, and I implore you when you receive this to at once place

onsult Mr. Perceval on any matters which may arise. He has my complete confiden

ways your lo

laus St

4th,

aid my companion apologetically. "You must look upon it as done in yo

nce," I answered, "and exceedi

ly accurate. When he said, therefore, that he hoped to see my mother very soon, and when he said

an it be?" I

ark, but no address. They were short and to the same effect: that they would soon be re-united, and that she should not fret. Then there was a silence, which lasted until her death; and then came a letter to me of so private a nature that I cannot show it to you, begging me never to think evil of him, giving me much good advice, and saying that the sealing of the room was of less importance now than dur

ld mortg

had alrea

singular sta

and to dismiss the servants, until now, as you see, I am livin

do you

first thing that I do will be to open that

inued to stay away when these inv

st be

ommitted any legal offence

on

not take your m

not

he conceal h

not

mother to die and be bur

not

strongest reasons for keeping out of the country, and that, if nothing has been proved against him, he at least thought that something might be

not take my sugge

upon him as my ideal man. His only fault was that he was too sensitive and too unselfish. That any one should lose money through him wou

t I knew that the facts were against him, and that he was

for I have a long walk before me. Your story has interested me s

he; and so, having bade h

rift away from our direct observation and end only in a hope or a suspicion. One afternoon, however, a card bearing the name of Mr. J. H. P

name has been mentioned to you by my

I answered,

on with the disappearance of my former employer, Mr. Stanislaus Sta

di

sed an interest

ested me

ford's permission to open the door on

emem

first birthd

ened it?" I

well to have witnesses present when that door is opened. You are a lawyer,

cert

ay, and so am I. Shall we meet

ome with

you. Good-bye, for the present." He

Perceval and my young acquaintance were waiting for me in the little room. I was not surprised to see the young man looking pale and nervous, but I was rather astonished to find

now, Perceval," said he to his companion, "I suppose there is no obstacle to

used in the passage outside the door, and his hand was shaking

ou will prepare yourself in case any shock should be awai

Perceval? You are tr

is dry lips between every jerky sentence, and I suddenly realised, as clearly as if he had told me, that he knew what was

ff. The lamp was rattling and shaking in Perceval's hands, so I took it from him and held it near the key-hole, while Stanniford tried key after key. At

liar, heavy smell, partly chemical, partly animal, filled the air. A single table and chair were in front of us, and at this, with his back turned towards us, a man was seated in the act of writing. His outline and attitude were as natural as life; but as the light fell upon him, it made my hair

ster!" cried the clerk, and the t

, "Mr. Stanisla

, I went on my knees to him, but he would have his way. You see the key on the table.

ed; "the air is poisonous. Come, Stanniford, come!" Taking an arm each

usness. "He is sitting there dead in his chair. You knew

along, but my position has been a terribly difficult one. For s

t, and neve

iford, sir! Make allowance for a m

red up, and helped himself from the brandy bottle. "These

in my keeping to be posted. I have followed his instructions to the

man's shaken nerves. "Tell me abou

. It worried him and tormented him, until he determined to end his life. Oh, Mr. Stanniford, if you knew how I have prayed him and wrestled with him over it, you would never blame me! And he in turn prayed me as no man has ever prayed me before. He had made up his m

's heart would fail at the slightest shock. He had a horror of accelerating her end, and yet h

eeing her again so soon, he was referring to her own approaching death, which he had been assured could not be delayed more than a very few months. So

e idea of his being abroad. It was his wish that I should say nothing, and I have said nothing. I have been a faithful servant. Seven years afte

some time. It was brok

red my mother a shock, which would certainl

r was writing, sir. Sh

o

, if my wishes have been faithfully carried out, have been dead many years. Surely no one who has lost money through me will st

e cried,

F MEDIC