按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
I am walking back to college； if you are coming in that direction； we can
have a chat。〃
But it was little chat that they had upon their homeward path。 Smith's
mind was too full of the incidents of the evening； the absence of the
mummy from his neighbour's rooms； the step that passed him on the stair；
the reappearancethe extraordinary； inexplicable reappearance of the
grisly thingand then this attack upon Lee； corresponding so closely to the
previous outrage upon another man against whom Bellingham bore a
grudge。 All this settled in his thoughts； together with the many little
incidents which had previously turned him against his neighbour； and the
singular circumstances under which he was first called in to him。 What
had been a dim suspicion； a vague； fantastic conjecture； had suddenly
taken form； and stood out in his mind as a grim fact； a thing not to be
denied。 And yet； how monstrous it was！ how unheard of！ how entirely
beyond all bounds of human experience。 An impartial judge； or even the
friend who walked by his side； would simply tell him that his eyes had
deceived him； that the mummy had been there all the time； that young Lee
had tumbled into the river as any other man tumbles into a river； and that a
149
… Page 150…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
blue pill was the best thing for a disordered liver。 He felt that he would
have said as much if the positions had been reversed。 And yet he could
swear that Bellingham was a murderer at heart； and that he wielded a
weapon such as no man had ever used in all the grim history of crime。
Hastie had branched off to his rooms with a few crisp and emphatic
comments upon his friend's unsociability； and Abercrombie Smith crossed
the quadrangle to his corner turret with a strong feeling of repulsion for his
chambers and their associations。 He would take Lee's advice； and move
his quarters as soon as possible； for how could a man study when his ear
was ever straining for every murmur or footstep in the room below？ He
observed； as he crossed over the lawn； that the light was still shining in
Bellingham's window； and as he passed up the staircase the door opened；
and the man himself looked out at him。 With his fat； evil face he was like
some bloated spider fresh from the weaving of his poisonous web。
〃Good…evening；〃 said he。 〃Won't you come in？〃
〃No；〃 cried Smith； fiercely。
〃No？ You are busy as ever？ I wanted to ask you about Lee。 I was
sorry to hear that there was a rumour that something was amiss with him。〃
His features were grave； but there was the gleam of a hidden laugh in
his eyes as he spoke。 Smith saw it； and he could have knocked him down
for it。
〃You'll be sorrier still to hear that Monkhouse Lee is doing very well；
and is out of all danger；〃 he answered。 〃Your hellish tricks have not
come off this time。 Oh； you needn't try to brazen it out。 I know all
about it。〃
Bellingham took a step back from the angry student； and half…closed
the door as if to protect himself。
〃You are mad；〃 he said。 〃What do you mean？ Do you assert that I
had anything to do with Lee's accident？〃
〃Yes；〃 thundered Smith。 〃You and that bag of bones behind you； you
worked it between you。 I tell you what it is； Master B。； they have given
up burning folk like you； but we still keep a hangman； and； by George！ if
any man in this college meets his death while you are here； I'll have you
up； and if you don't swing for it； it won't be my fault。 You'll find that
150
… Page 151…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
your filthy Egyptian tricks won't answer in England。〃
〃You're a raving lunatic；〃 said Bellingham。
〃All right。 You just remember what I say； for you'll find that I'll be
better than my word。〃
The door slammed； and Smith went fuming up to his chamber； where
he locked the door upon the inside； and spent half the night in smoking his
old briar and brooding over the strange events of the evening。
Next morning Abercrombie Smith heard nothing of his neighbour； but
Harrington called upon him in the afternoon to say that Lee was almost
himself again。 All day Smith stuck fast to his work； but in the evening he
determined to pay the visit to his friend Dr。 Peterson upon which he had
started upon the night before。 A good walk and a friendly chat would be
welcome to his jangled nerves。
Bellingham's door was shut as he passed； but glancing back when he
was some distance from the turret； he saw his neighbour's head at the
window outlined against the lamp…light； his face pressed apparently
against the glass as he gazed out into the darkness。 It was a blessing to
be away from all contact with him； but if for a few hours； and Smith
stepped out briskly； and breathed the soft spring air into his lungs。 The
half…moon lay in the west between two Gothic pinnacles； and threw upon
the silvered street a dark tracery from the stone…work above。 There was a
brisk breeze； and light； fleecy clouds drifted swiftly across the sky。 Old's
was on the very border of the town； and in five minutes Smith found
himself beyond the houses and between the hedges of a May…scented
Oxfordshire lane。
It was a lonely and little frequented road which led to his friend's
house。 Early as it was； Smith did not meet a single soul upon his way。
He walked briskly along until he came to the avenue gate； which opened
into the long gravel drive leading up to Farlingford。 In front of him he
could see the cosy red light of the windows glimmering through the
foliage。 He stood with his hand upon the iron latch of the swinging gate；
and he glanced back at the road along which he had come。 Something
was coming swiftly down it。
It moved in the shadow of the hedge； silently and furtively； a dark；
151
… Page 152…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
crouching figure； dimly visible against the black background。 Even as he
gazed back at it； it had lessened its distance by twenty paces； and was fast
closing upon him。 Out of the darkness he had a glimpse of a scraggy
neck； and of two eyes that will ever haunt him in his dreams。 He turned；
and with a cry of terror he ran for his life up the avenue。 There were the
red lights； the signals of safety； almost within a stone's throw of him。 He
was a famous runner； but never had he run as he ran that night。
The heavy gate had swung into place behind him； but he heard it dash
open again before his pursuer。 As he rushed madly and wildly through
the night； he could hear a swift； dry patter behind him； and could see； as he
threw back a glance； that this horror was bounding like a tiger at his heels；
with blazing eyes and one stringy arm outthrown。 Thank God； the door
was ajar。 He could see the thin bar of light which shot from the lamp in
the hall。 Nearer yet sounded the clatter from behind。 He heard a hoarse
gurgling at his very shoulder。 With a shriek he flung himself against the
door； slammed and bolted it behind him； and sank half…fainting on to the
hall chair。
〃My goodness； Smith； what's the matter？〃 asked Peterson； appearing at
the door of his study。
〃Give me some brandy！〃
Peterson disappeared； and came rushing out again with a glass and a
decanter。
〃You need it；〃 he said； as his visitor drank off what he poured out for
him。 〃Why； man； you are as white as a cheese。〃
Smith laid down his glass； rose up； and took a deep breath。
〃I am my own man again now；〃 said he。 〃I was never so unmanned
before。 But； with your leave； Peterson； I will sleep here to…night； for I
don't think I could face that road again except by daylight。 It's weak； I
know； but I can't help it。〃
Peter