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！"