Heslowlyliftedoneofhishands，andpointedatmewithhislongforefinger。
\"Yoususpectsomebody，\"hesaid。
Thetoneinwhichhespokewaslowandthreatening；itwarnedmetobecareful。Atthesametime，ifInowshuthimoutofmyconfidence，Ishouldlosetherewardthatmightyetbetocome，forallthatIhadsufferedandriskedatthatperilousinterview。
\"Yoususpectsomebody，\"herepeated。
\"Perhaps！\"wasallthatIsaidinreturn。
\"Isthepersonwithinyourreach？\"
\"Notyet。\"
\"Doyouknowwherethepersonis？\"
\"No。\"
Helaidhisheadlanguidlyonthebackofhischair，withatremblinglong—drawnsigh。Washedisappointed？Orwasherelieved？Orwashesimplyexhaustedinmindandbodyalike？Whocouldfathomhim？Whocouldsay？
\"Willyougivemefiveminutes？\"heasked，feeblyandwearily，withoutraisinghishead。\"YouknowalreadyhowanyreferencetoeventsatGleninchexcitesandshakesme。Ishallbefitforitagain，ifyouwillkindlygivemeafewminutestomyself。Therearebooksinthenextroom。Pleaseexcuseme。\"
Iatonceretiredtothecircularantechamber。Hefollowedmeinhischair，andclosedthedoorbetweenus。
CHAPTERXXIX。
INTHELIGHT。
ALITTLEintervalofsolitudewasarelieftome，aswellastoMiserrimusDexter。
StartlingdoubtsbesetmeasIwalkedrestlesslybackwardandforward，nowintheanteroom，andnowinthecorridoroutside。ItwasplainthatIhad（quiteinnocently）disturbedthereposeofsomeformidablesecretsinMiserrimusDexter’smind。Iconfusedandweariedmypoorbrainsintryingtoguesswhatthesecretsmightbe。Allmyingenuity——asafter—eventsshowedme——waswastedonspeculationsnotoneofwhichevenapproachedthetruth。IwasonsurergroundwhenIarrivedattheconclusionthatDexterhadreallykepteverymortalcreatureoutofhisconfidence。HecouldneverhavebetrayedsuchserioussignsofdisturbanceasIhadnoticedinhim，ifhehadpubliclyacknowledgedattheTrial，orifhehadprivatelycommunicatedtoanychosenfriend，allthatheknewofthetragicandterribledramaactedinthebedchamberatGleninch。Whatpowerfulinfluencehadinducedhimtoclosehislips？Hadhebeensilentinmercytoothers？orindreadofconsequencestohimself？Impossibletotell！CouldIhopethathewouldconfidetoMewhathehadkeptsecretfromJusticeandFriendshipalike？WhenheknewwhatIreallywantedofhim，wouldhearmme，outofhisownstoresofknowledge，withtheweaponthatwouldwinmevictoryinthestruggletocome？Thechanceswereagainstit——therewasnodenyingthat。Stilltheendwasworthtryingfor。Thecapriceofthemomentmightyetstandmyfriend，withsuchawaywardbeingasMiserrimusDexter。Myplansandprojectsweresufficientlystrange，sufficientlywideoftheordinarylimitsofawoman’sthoughtsandactions，toattracthissympathies。\"Whoknows，\"Ithoughttomyself，\"ifImaynottakehisconfidencebysurprise，bysimplytellinghimthetruth？\"
Theintervalexpired；thedoorwasthrownopen；thevoiceofmyhostsummonedmeagaintotheinnerroom。
\"Welcomeback！\"saidMiserrimusDexter。
\"DearMrs。Valeria，Iamquitemyselfagain。Howareyou？\"
Helookedandspokewiththeeasycordialityofanoldfriend。
Duringtheperiodofmyabsence，shortasitwas，anotherchangehadpassedoverthismostmultiformoflivingbeings。Hiseyessparkledwithgood—humor；hischeekswereflushingunderanewexcitementofsomesort。EvenhisdresshadundergonealterationsinceIhadseenitlast。Henowworeanextemporizedcapofwhitepaper；hisrufflesweretuckedup；acleanapronwasthrownoverthesea—greencoverlet。Hehackedhischairbeforeme，bowingandsmiling，andwavedmetoaseatwiththegraceofadancingmaster，chastenedbythedignityofalordinwaiting。
\"Iamgoingtocook，\"heannounced，withthemostengagingsimplicity。\"Webothstandinneedofrefreshmentbeforewereturntotheseriousbusinessofourinterview。Youseemeinmycook’sdress；forgiveit。Thereisaforminthesethings。Iamagreatsticklerforforms。Ihavebeentakingsomewine。Pleasesanctionthatproceedingbytakingsomewinetoo。\"
HefilledagobletofancientVenetianglasswithapurple—redliquor，beautifultosee。
\"Burgundy！\"hesaid——\"thekingofwine：AndthisisthekingofBurgundies——ClosVougeot。Idrinktoyourhealthandhappiness！\"
Hefilledasecondgobletforhimself，andhonoredthetoastbydrainingittothebottom。Inowunderstoodthesparkleinhiseyesandtheflushinhischeeks。Itwasmyinterestnottooffendhim。Idrankalittleofhiswine，andIquiteagreedwithhim。Ithoughtitdelicious。
\"Whatshallweeat？\"heasked。\"ItmustbesomethingworthyofourClosVougeot。Arielisgoodatroastingandboilingjoints，poorwretch！butIdon’tinsultyourtastebyofferingyouAriel’scookery。Plainjoints！\"heexclaimed，withanexpressionofrefineddisgust。\"Bah！Amanwhoeatsaplainjointisonlyoneremovefromacannibalorabutcher。Willyouleaveittometodiscoversomethingmoreworthyofus？Letusgotothekitchen。\"
Hewheeledhischairaround，andinvitedmetoaccompanyhimwithacourteouswaveofhishand。
Ifollowedthechairtosomeclosedcurtainsatoneendoftheroom，whichIhadnothithertonoticed。Drawingasidethecurtains，herevealedtoviewanalcove，inwhichstoodaneatlittlegas—stoveforcooking。Drawersandcupboards，plates，dishes，andsaucepans，wererangedaroundthealcove——allonaminiaturescale，allscrupulouslybrightandclean。\"Welcometothekitchen！\"saidMiserrimusDexter。Hedrewoutofarecessinthewallamarbleslab，whichservedasatable，andreflectedprofoundly，withhishandtohishead。\"Ihaveit！\"hecried，andopeningoneofthecupboardsnext，tookfromitablackbottleofaformthatwasnewtome。Soundingthisbottlewithaspike，hepiercedandproducedtoviewsomelittleirregularlyformedblackobjects，whichmighthavebeenfamiliarenoughtoawomanaccustomedtotheluxurioustablesoftherich，butwhichwereanewrevelationtoapersonlikemyself，whohadledasimplecountrylifeinthehouseofaclergymanwithsmallmeans。WhenIsawmyhostcarefullylayouttheseoccultsubstancesofuninvitingappearanceonacleannapkin，andthenplungeoncemoreintoprofoundreflectionatthesightofthem，mycuriositycouldbenolongerrestrained。Iventuredtosay，\"Whatarethosethings，Mr。Dexter，andarewereallygoingtoeatthem？\"
Hestartedattherashquestion，andlookedatmewithhandsoutspreadinirrepressibleastonishment。
\"Whereisourboastedprogress？\"hecried。Whatiseducationbutaname？Hereisacultivatedpersonwhodoesn’tknowTruffleswhensheseesthem！\"
\"Ihaveheardoftruffles，\"Ianswered，humbly，\"butIneversawthembefore。Wehadnosuchforeignluxuriesasthose，Mr。
Dexter，athomeintheNorth。\"
MiserrimusDexterliftedoneofthetrufflestenderlyonhisspike，andheldituptomeinafavorablelight。
\"Makethemostofoneofthefewfirstsensationsinthislifewhichhasnoingredientofdisappointmentlurkingunderthesurface，\"hesaid。\"Lookatit；meditateoverit。Youshalleatit，Mrs。Valeria，stewedinBurgundy！\"
Helightedthegasforcookingwiththeairofamanwhowasabouttooffermeaninestimableproofofhisgood—will。
\"ForgivemeifIobservethemostabsolutesilence，\"hesaid，\"datingfromthemomentwhenItakethisinmyhand。\"Heproducedabrightlittlestew—panfromhiscollectionofculinaryutensilsashespoke。\"Properlypursued，theArtofCookeryallowsofnodividedattention，\"hecontinued，gravely。\"Inthatobservationyouwillfindthereasonwhynowomaneverhasreached，oreverwillreach，thehighestdistinctionasacook。Asarule，womenareincapableofabsolutelyconcentratingtheirattentiononanyoneoccupationforanygiventime。Theirmindswillrunonsomethingelse——say；typically，forthesakeofillustration，theirsweetheartortheirnewbonnet。Theoneobstacle，Mrs。
Valeria，toyourrisingequaltothemeninthevariousindustrialprocessesoflifeisnotraised，asthewomenvainlysuppose，bythedefectiveinstitutionsoftheagetheylivein。
No！theobstacleisinthemselves。Noinstitutionsthatcanbedevisedtoencouragethemwilleverbestrongenoughtocontendsuccessfullywiththesweetheartandthenewbonnet。Alittlewhileago，forinstance，Iwasinstrumentalingettingwomenemployedinourlocalpost—officehere。TheotherdayItookthetrouble——aseriousbusinesstome——ofgettingdownstairs，andwheelingmyselfawaytotheofficetoseehowtheyweregettingon。Itookaletterwithmetoregister。Ithadanunusuallylongaddress。Theregisteringwomanbegancopyingtheaddressonthereceiptform，inabusiness—likemannercheeringanddelightfultosee。Halfwaythrough，alittlechild—sisterofoneoftheotherwomenemployedtrottedintotheoffice，andpoppedunderthecountertogoandspeaktoherrelative。Theregisteringwoman’smindinstantlygaveway。Herpencilstopped；hereyeswanderedofftothechildwithacharmingexpressionofinterest。
’Well，Lucy，’shesaid，’howd’yedo？’Thensherememberedbusinessagain，andreturnedtoherreceipt。WhenItookitacrossthecounter，animportantlineintheaddressofmyletterwasleftoutinthecopy。ThankstoLucy。NowamaninthesamepositionwouldnothaveseenLucy——hewouldhavebeentoocloselyoccupiedwithwhathewasaboutatthemoment。Thereisthewholedifferencebetweenthementalconstitutionofthesexes，whichnolegislationwilleveralteraslongastheworldlasts！Whatdoesitmatter？Womenareinfinitelysuperiortomeninthemoralqualitieswhicharethetrueadornmentsofhumanity。Becontent——oh，mymistakensisters，becontentwiththat！\"
Hetwistedhischairaroundtowardthestove。Itwasuselesstodisputethequestionwithhim，evenifIhadfeltinclinedtodoso。Heabsorbedhimselfinhisstew—pan。
Ilookedaboutmeintheroom。
Thesameinsatiablerelishforhorrorsexhibiteddownstairsbythepicturesinthehallwasdisplayedagainhere。Thephotographshangingonthewallrepresentedthevariousformsofmadnesstakenfromthelife。Theplastercastsrangedontheshelfoppositewerecasts（afterdeath）oftheheadsoffamousmurderers。Afrightfullittleskeletonofawomanhunginacupboard，behindaglazeddoor，withthiscynicalinscriptionplacedabovetheskull：\"Beholdthescaffoldingonwhichbeautyisbuilt！\"Inacorrespondingcupboard，withthedoorwideopen，therehunginloosefoldsashirt（asItookittobe）ofchamoisleather。Touchingit（andfindingittobefarsofterthananychamoisleatherthatmyfingershadeverfeltbefore），I
disarrangedthefolds，anddisclosedaticketpinnedamongthem，describingthethinginthesehorridlines：\"SkinofaFrenchMarquis，tannedintheRevolutionofNinety—three。Whosaysthenobilityarenotgoodforsomething？Theymakegoodleather。\"
Afterthislastspecimenofmyhost’stasteincuriosities，I
pursuedmyinvestigationnofurther。Ireturnedtomychair，andwaitedforthetruffles。
Afterabriefinterval，thevoiceofthepoet—painter—composer—and—cooksummonedmebacktothealcove。
Thegaswasout。Thestew—pananditsaccompanimentshadvanished。Onthemarbleslabweretwoplates，twonapkins，tworollsofbread，andadish，withanothernapkininit，onwhichreposedtwoquaintlittleblackballs。MiserrimusDexter，regardingmewithasmileofbenevolentinterest，putoneoftheballsonmyplate，andtooktheotherhimself。\"Composeyourself，Mrs。Valeria，\"hesaid。\"Thisisanepochinyourlife。YourfirstTruffle！Don’ttouchitwiththeknife。Usetheforkalone。
And——pardonme；thisismostimportant——eatslowly。\"
Ifollowedmyinstructions，andassumedanenthusiasmwhichI
honestlyconfessIdidnotfeel。Iprivatelythoughtthenewvegetableagreatdealtoorich，andinotherrespectsquiteunworthyofthefussthathadbeenmadeaboutit。MiserrimusDexterlingeredandlanguishedoverhistruffles，andsippedhiswonderfulBurgundy，andsanghisownpraisesasacookuntilI
wasreallyalmostmadwithimpatiencetoreturntotherealobjectofmyvisit。Intherecklessstateofmindwhichthisfeelingproduced，Iabruptlyremindedmyhostthathewaswastingourtime，bythemostdangerousquestionthatIcouldpossiblyputtohim。
\"Mr。Dexter，\"Isaid，\"haveyouseenanythinglatelyofMrs。
Beauly？\"
Theeasysenseofenjoymentexpressedinhisfaceleftitatthoserashwords，andwentoutlikeasuddenlyextinguishedlight。ThatfurtivedistrustofmewhichIhadalreadynoticedinstantlymadeitselffeltagaininhismannerandinhisvoice。
\"DoyouknowMrs。Beauly？\"heasked。
\"Ionlyknowher，\"Ianswered，\"bywhatIhavereadofherintheTrial。\"
Hewasnotsatisfiedwiththatreply。
\"YoumusthaveaninterestofsomesortinMrs。Beauly，\"hesaid，\"oryouwouldnothaveaskedmeabouther。Isittheinterestofafriend，ortheinterestofanenemy？\"
RashasImightbe，Iwasnotquiterecklessenoughyettomeetthatplainquestionbyanequallyplainreply。Isawenoughinhisfacetowarnmetobecarefulwithhimbeforeitwastoolate。
\"Icanonlyansweryouinoneway，\"Irejoined。\"Imustreturntoasubjectwhichisverypainfultoyou——thesubjectoftheTrial。\"
\"Goon，\"hesaid，withoneofhisgrimoutburstsofhumor。\"HereIamatyourmercy——amartyratthestake。Pokethefire！pokethefire！\"
\"Iamonlyanignorantwoman，\"Iresumed，\"andIdaresayIamquitewrong；butthereisonepartofmyhusband’strialwhichdoesn’tatallsatisfyme。Thedefensesetupforhimseemstometohavebeenacompletemistake。\"
\"Acompletemistake？\"herepeated。\"Strangelanguage，Mrs。
Valeria，tosaytheleastofit！\"Hetriedtospeaklightly；hetookuphisgobletofwine；butIcouldseethatIhadproducedaneffectonhim。Hishandtrembledasitcarriedthewinetohislips。
\"Idon’tdoubtthatEustace’sfirstwifereallyaskedhimtobuythearsenic，\"Icontinued。\"Idon’tdoubtthatsheuseditsecretlytoimprovehercomplexion。ButwhatIdo_not_believeisthatshediedofanoverdoseofthepoison，takenbymistake。\"
Heputbackthegobletofwineonthetablenearhimsounsteadilythathespilledthegreaterpartofit。Foramomenthiseyesmetmine，thenlookeddownagain。
\"Howdoyoubelieveshedied？\"heinquired，intonessolowthatIcouldbarelyhearthem。
\"Bythehandofapoisoner，\"Ianswered。
Hemadeamovementasifhewereabouttostartupinthechair，andsankbackagain，seized，apparently，withasuddenfaintness。
\"Notmyhusband！\"Ihastenedtoadd。\"YouknowthatIamsatisfiedof_his_innocence。\"
Isawhimshudder。Isawhishandsfastentheirholdconvulsivelyonthearmsofhischair。
\"Whopoisonedher？\"heasked，stilllyinghelplesslybackinthechair。
Atthecriticalmomentmycouragefailedme。Iwasafraidtotellhiminwhatdirectionmysuspicionspointed。
\"Can’tyouguess？\"Isaid。
Therewasapause。Isupposedhimtobeseceretlyfollowinghisowntrainofthought。Itwasnotforlong。Onasuddenhestartedupinhischair。Theprostrationwhichhadpossessedhimappearedtovanishinaninstant。Hiseyesrecoveredtheirwildlight；hishandsweresteadyagain；hiscolorwasbrighterthanever。HadhebeenponderingoverthesecretofmyinterestinMrs。Beauly？andhadheguessed？Hehad！
\"Answeronyourwordofhonor！\"hecried。\"Don’tattempttodeceiveme！Isitawoman？\"
\"Itis。\"
\"Whatisthefirstletterofhername？Isitoneofthefirstthreelettersofthealphabet？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"B？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Beauly？\"
\"Beauly。\"
Hethrewhishandsupabovehishead，andburstintoafranticfitoflaughter。
\"Ihavelivedlongenough！\"hebrokeout，wildly。\"AtlastIhavediscoveredoneotherpersonintheworldwhoseesitasplainlyasIdo。CruelMrs。Valeria！whydidyoutortureme？Whydidn’tyouownitbefore？\"
\"What！\"Iexclaimed，catchingtheinfectionofhisexcitement。
\"Are_your_ideas_my_ideas？Isitpossiblethat_you_suspectMrs。Beaulytoo？\"
Hemadethisremarkablereply：
\"Suspect？\"herepeated，contemptuously。\"Thereisn’ttheshadowofadoubtaboutit。Mrs。Beaulypoisonedher。\"
CHAPTERXXX。
THEINDICTMENTOFMRS。BEAULY。
ISTARTEDtomyfeet，andlookedatMiserrimusDexter。Iwastoomuchagitatedtobeabletospeaktohim。
Myutmostexpectationshadnotpreparedmeforthetoneofabsoluteconvictioninwhichhehadspoken。Atthebest，Ihadanticipatedthathemight，bythebarestchance，agreewithmeinsuspectingMrs。Beauly。Andnowhisownlipshadsaidit，withouthesitationorreserve！\"Thereisn’ttheshadowofadoubt：Mrs。
Beaulypoisonedher。\"
\"Sitdown，\"hesaid，quietly。\"There’snothingtobeafraidof。
Nobodycanhearusinthisroom。\"
Isatdownagain，andrecoveredmyselfalittle。
\"Haveyounevertoldanyoneelsewhatyouhavejusttoldme？\"
wasthefirstquestionthatIputtohim。
\"Never。Nooneelsesuspectedher。\"
\"Noteventhelawyers？\"
\"Noteventhelawyers。ThereisnolegalevidenceagainstMrs。
Beauly。Thereisnothingbutmoralcertainty。\"
\"Surelyyoumighthavefoundtheevidenceifyouhadtried？\"
Helaughedattheidea。
\"Lookatme！\"hesaid。\"Howisamantohuntupevidencewhoistiedtothischair？Besides，therewereotherdifficultiesinmyway。Iamnotgenerallyinthehabitofneedlesslybetrayingmyself——Iamacautiousman，thoughyoumaynothavenoticedit。
ButmyimmeasurablehatredofMrs。Beaulywasnottobeconcealed。Ifeyescantellsecrets，shemusthavediscovered，inmyeyes，thatIhungeredandthirstedtoseeherinthehangman’shands。Fromfirsttolast，Itellyou，Mrs。Borgia—Beaulywasonherguardagainstme。CanIdescribehercunning？Allmyresourcesoflanguagearenotequaltothetask。Takethedegreesofcomparisontogiveyouafaintideaofit：Iampositivelycunning；thedeviliscomparativelycunning；Mrs。Beaulyissuperlativelycunning。No！no！Ifsheiseverdiscovered，atthisdistanceoftime，itwillnotbedonebyaman——itwillbedonebyawoman：awomanwhomshedoesn’tsuspect；awomanwhocanwatchherwiththepatienceofatigressinastateofstarvation——\"
\"SayawomanlikeMe！\"Ibrokeout。\"Iamreadytotry。\"
Hiseyesglittered；histeethshowedthemselvesviciouslyunderhismustache；hedrummedfiercelywithbothhandsonthearmsofhischair。
\"Doyoureallymeanit？\"heasked。
\"Putmeinyourposition，\"Ianswered。\"Enlightenmewithyourmoralcertainty（asyoucallit）——andyoushallsee！\"
\"I’lldoit！\"hesaid。\"Tellmeonethingfirst。Howdidanoutsidestranger，likeyou，cometosuspecther？\"
Isetbeforehim，tothebestofmyability，thevariouselementsofsuspicionwhichIhadcollectedfromtheevidenceattheTrial；andIlaidespecialstressonthefact（sworntobythenurse）thatMrs。BeaulywasmissingexactlyathetimewhenChristinaOrmsayhadleftMrs。EustaceMacallanaloneinherroom。
\"Youhavehitit！\"criedMiserrimusDexter。\"Youareawonderfulwoman！WhatwasshedoingonthemorningofthedaywhenMrs。
EustaceMacallandiedpoisoned？Andwherewassheduringthedarkhoursofthenight？Icantellyouwhereshewas_not_——shewasnotinherownroom。\"
\"Notinherownroom？\"Irepeated。\"Areyoureallysureofthat？\"
\"IamsureofeverythingthatIsay，whenIamspeakingofMrs。
Beauly。Mindthat：andnowlisten！Thisisadrama；andIexcelindramaticnarrative。Youshalljudgeforyourself。Date，thetwentiethofOctober。ScenetheCorridor，calledtheGuests’
Corridor，atGleninch。Ononeside，arowofwindowslookingoutintothegarden。Ontheother，arowoffourbedrooms，withdressing—roomsattached。Firstbedroom（beginningfromthestaircase），occupiedbyMrs。Beauly。Secondbedroom，empty。Thirdbedroom，occupiedbyMiserrimusDexter。Fourthbedroom，empty。SomuchfortheScene！Thetimecomesnext——thetimeiselevenatnight。Dexterdiscoveredinhisbedroom，reading。EntertohimEustaceMacallan。Eustacespeaks：’Mydearfellow，beparticularlycarefulnottomakeanynoise；don’tbowlyourchairupanddownthecorridorto—night。’Dexterinquires，’Why？’
Eustaceanswers：’Mrs。BeaulyhasbeendiningwithsomefriendsinEdinburgh，andhascomebackterriblyfatigued：shehasgoneuptoherroomtorest。’Dextermakesanotherinquiry（satiricalinquiry，thistime）：’Howdoesshelookwhensheisterriblyfatigued？Asbeautifulasever？’Answer：’Idontknow；Ihavenotseenher；sheslippedupstairs，withoutspeakingtoanybody。’
ThirdinquirybyDexter（logicalinquiry，onthisoccasion）：’Ifshespoketonobody，howdoyouknowsheisfatigued？’EustacehandsDexteramorselofpaper，andanswers：’Dontbeafool！I
foundthisonthehalltable。RememberwhatIhavetoldyouaboutkeepingquiet；good—night！’Eustaceretires。Dexterlooksatthepaper，andreadstheselinesinpencil：’Justreturned。Pleaseforgivemeforgoingtobedwithoutsayinggood—night。Ihaveoverexertedmyself；Iamdreadfullyfatigued。（Signed）Helena。’
Dexterisbynaturesuspicious。DextersuspectsMrs。Beauly。
Nevermindhisreasons；thereisnotimetoenterintohisreasonsnow。Heputstheeasetohimselfthus：’Awearywomanwouldneverhavegivenherselfthetroubletowritethis。Shewouldhavefounditmuchlessfatiguingtoknockatthedrawing—roomdoorasshepassed，andtomakeherapologiesbywordofmouth。Iseesomethinghereoutoftheordinaryway；I
shallmakeanightofitinmychair。Verygood。Dexterproceedstomakeanightofit。Heopenshisdoor；wheelshimselfsoftlyintothecorridor；locksthedoorsofthetwoemptybedrooms，andreturns（withthekeysinhispocket）tohisownroom。’Now，’
saysD。tohimself，’ifIhearadoorsoftlyopenedinthispartofthehouse，IshallknowforcertainitisMrs。Beauly’sdoor！’
Uponthathecloseshisowndoor，leavingthetiniestlittlechinktolookthrough；putsouthislight；andwaitsandwatchesathistinylittlechink，likeacatatamouse—hole。Thecorridoristheonlyplacehewantstosee；andalampburnsthereallnight。Twelveo’clockstrikes；hehearsthedoorsbelowboltedandlocked，andnothinghappens。Half—pasttwelve——andnothingstill。Thehouseisassilentasthegrave。
Oneo’clock；twoo’clock——samesilence。Half—pasttwo——andsomethinghappensatlast。Dexterhearsasoundcloseby，inthecorridor。Itisthesoundofahandleturningverysoftlyinadoor——intheonlydoorthatcanbeopened，thedoorofMrs。
Beauly’sroom。Dexterdropsnoiselesslyfromhischairontohishands；liesflatonthefloorathischink，andlistens。Hehearsthehandleclosedagain；heseesadarkobjectflitbyhim；hepopshisheadoutofhisdoor，downonthefloorwherenobodywouldthinkoflookingforhim。Andwhatdoeshesee？Mrs。
Beauly！Thereshegoes，withthelongbrowncloakoverhershoulders，whichshewearswhensheisdriving，floatingbehindher。Inamomentmoreshedisappears，pastthefourthbedroom，andturnsatarightangle，intoasecondcorridor，calledtheSouthCorridor。WhatroomsareintheSouthCorridor？Therearethreerooms。Firstroom，thelittlestudy，mentionedinthenurse’sevidence。Secondroom，Mrs。EustaceMacallan’sbedchamber。Thirdroom，herhusband’sbedchamber。WhatdoesMrs。
Beauly（supposedtobewornoutbyfatigue）wantinthatpartofthehouseathalf—pasttwointhemorning？Dexterdecidesonrunningtheriskofbeingseen——andsetsoffonavoyageofdiscovery。Doyouknowhowhegetsfromplacetoplacewithouthischair？Haveyouseenthepoordeformedcreaturehoponhishands？Shallheshowyouhowhedoesit，beforehegoesonwithhisstory？\"
Ihastenedtostoptheproposedexhibition。
\"Isawyouhoplastnight，\"Isaid。\"Goon！——praygoonwithyourstory！
\"Doyoulikemydramaticstyleofnarrative？\"heasked。\"AmI
interesting？\"
\"Indescribablyinteresting，Mr。Dexter。Iameagertohearmore。\"
Hesmiledinhighapprovalofhisownabilities。
\"Iamequallygoodattheautobiographicalstyle，\"hesaid。
\"Shallwetrythatnext，bywayofvariety？\"
\"Anythingyoulike，\"Icried，losingallpatiencewithhim，\"ifyouwillonlygoon！\"