The Dweller on the Threshold

d to London, he received the f

ardens,

Mr. M

ight, I now beg you not to speak to the professor. I have, of course, the very highest regard for his discretion; nevertheless, one must not be selfish. One must not think only of one's self. I have

sinc

s Har

He was aware of Chichester's reserve in the letter of the rector. He was aware, too, of the latter's situation as he had never been aware of it before. Oft

g, with an unusual softness. "

asion he stooped to it. He had not only the fear of Stepton upon him; he had also

Square

Mr. H

fessor Stepton. He is, as you say, a man of the highest discretion, and should you feel inc

sinc

n Mal

into an envelope, Ma

ceived him; I'll let him know I

the professor having been at a party in P

e old scientific men are quite as bad as any of the boys who only want to have a good ti

rn women had pocket

course; but you

t the professor was be

t next to Blandford Sikes, one of the most noted physicians

pton going to set u

," said Malling. "W

me for over half an hour pumping me unmercifully on the subject of nervous dyspepsia. The patient

r way. And Malling thought again of that "approach." Evidently the professor must be describing the curve he had spoken of. When would he arrive at Henry Chichester? There were moments when Malling felt irritated by Stepton's silence. That it was emulated by Marcus Harding

wai

emarkable sermons," now and then in society some feminine gossip murmuring that "Sophia Harding seems to be perfectly sick of that husb

ood was over, and Malli

en he made a walking-t

and returned to Engla

mn were streami

ten to him or sought him. He preferred to possess his soul in patience. Stepton was an

n advice and studied the link. This done, the intricate and fascinating subject of nervous dyspepsia had claimed his undivided attention. When he had finished his prolonged interview with Blandford Sikes, sidling back to the waiting-room to gather up various impedimenta, he had encountered the unfortunate clergyman whom he

ation, by Jove! Never! There's something in it. Malling w

ow for Henr

n, were, in his view, specially subject to the inroads of the cloudy complaint, which causes the mind to see mountains where only mole-hills exist, and to appreciate anything more readily and accurately than the naked truth.

aside convention, and to make Chichester's acquaintance witho

from the daily service at St. Joseph's to his rooms in Hornton Street. In this walk Chichester passed th

cendo. The curate noticed it, as of course the professor intended. He did not know who Stepton was, but he began to wonder about this birdlike, sharp-

The two men passed each other, and immediately, like one irresistibly compelled, the professor looked back. As he did so, Chichester also turned ro

went homewar

test, he'll have spoken to me. He'll have to speak

iday afternoon, coming suddenly upon Stepton

you want any

Stepton. "Mr

name?" said

ou know mine-Pr

dently intense dawned

Stepton! You are Mr

ly. Go

rofessor

pavement not far from the museum, he stopped once mo

y," said

"and I have heard so much of you, I hope yo

tain

which has attracte

w," returned

w! Do you mean th

t know

ing sure that you were-that somethin

; but 'something'

is the

in you rouses my atten

t thin

. Harding's curate the

ce when I came to hear your rector preach. You d

n silence for a mi

way back with you, if

f these two men was begun. Their first conversation was a de

time we have met how your at

ined Stepton, m

h a sort of pressure-"I really think I am entit

inly y

hen said again, "Wel

ing to tell you, I li

sk you fo

the man. My attention was riveted at once. I said to myself, 'I must see that man agai

ome from St

ned on several days. And th

you can in

uite inexplicable by me, if I had come upon you in a c

d Chichester, in a low voi

t very often it isn't found." At this point the professor thrust his hea

d much startled

oh,

ong in the dark and

e could be almost charming. He chose on this occasion. And when at last he hailed a bus, declaring that he was du

sented, and was

useum. Then the curate wrote and invited him to tea. Despite a pretence at indifference in the phraseology of the note

ery politely refu

to call on him, and

tch parlor-maid who claimed to have second sight, opened the door to Chicheste

sir, but h

u take hi

own surprise, and carried i

tleman

d you,

t say no t

ere!" he to

peated, when he

't in me

e to see him. Show him

the proud name

Agnes, the professor yie

ay, was always ready to let 'em in. It was when they wanted t

no," said

t d

aid I dis

you do. But what

way to Hornton Street, I

you. This is

. There was in his face a sort of still and abject misery which Stepton thought exceedingly promising. As he turned round, lean

t to know why your attention was first attracted to me. I f

ish I could," r

admonition, "Play for hysteri

it's a mystery to m

d his hea

lowed him about, couldn't get away from him. That same evening he was killed on the

e some special facul

you haven't been killed

intment and of contempt passed across Chichester's

ay be a more intellect

ave been preaching some

ill, others who have may

n's fame, you know, are

e prey of that, I fancy-not

with no explanation at

before, you ca

t raising his eyes he presentl

e you one you mig

e I've been offered a great many explanations, an

quickly, and with the

tific men very often seem to have a great contempt fo

th a touch of exultation, as he dropped

y man should be able to be a clergyman, genuinely

gs seem to me

e skeptical of so much

be it. Qui

ds man far away from God, a great deal of science brings man bac

terrupting his visitor, but without heat. "Let me tell you that I pass the greater part of my ti

if he were about to "square up" to him. A dry aggressiveness in

tioned a well-known man of science-"and I decline to reject

name evidently excited

has he rejected

t about by supernormal means. Unfortunately, or fortunately, Westcott had seen the trickery which produced them. When the séance was over he explained what it was to --. What did this so-called man of science do? Refused to accept Westcott's evidence, clung to his own ridiculous belief,-savage's fetish belief, nothing more,-and will include the Gr

ed out C

here,-very glad to see you!-and say, 'I feel sure you must be able to give me a reason. What is it?' You clamor for a lie. And that's what men are perpetuall

his forefinger and flung

he spoke with some hesitation-"and suppose I were

pau

said the

e? You say men accept lies. I say

ruth at all. It might be hysteria, it might be nervous dys

f science delight in nothing so much as in find

t truths in the possessi

ible that a clergyman should kn

nd that, taken together, are convincing to all men of reasonable intellect. Very dull, no doubt; but there you have it. Clergymen, as a rule, mo

ief of the investigators in th

e,-there's a loss!-and a dozen others? Psychic matters have got to be lifted ou

s, Professor Stepton, you may often keep back evidence that might be of inestimable value to your cause. A

that he's a coward-an

, the sadness of his aspect seemed more profound. It dignified his rather insignificant features. It even seemed, in some mysterious way, to i

s very good of you to see me at all." He held out his hand

D

ses a man to keep a secret-a secret

r said

d one not very long ago which I have typed myself. If I se

tain

d it, then.

me down

n torrents. Shrouded in his mackintosh, protected by his umbre

covered up and umbrella-roofed, seems to have something-he'

post. Having read it, the professor promptly r

House, We

. Chich

urs, and a sermon, I should have said "a posthumous work of Robert Louis Stevenson." It does credit to yo

fait

. Ste

sor to visit Chichester's rooms in Hornton Street, "to continue

to accept, "What my man wants is for me to

are truth with one's fellow-men. Chichester was scourged by this desire. But whether what he wished to share was truth, or only what he believed to be truth, was the que

on High Street on his homeward way until darkness had fallen, having pass

the curate's sitting-ro

eresting story to '

te understand, Profess

a view to sending it in

th me, I hope? Her

nk y

Ell

n heard the words, "Nobody, you underst

sir?" said the mai

t come to-day. Th

s descending. His host s

or your own use

I wished to keep it

and poured

ed experience. Exactly

not f

it isn'

tea, looking at his ho

ience as that described i

ay it is

say so would y

and personally satisfy myself that what you said wa

othing on the mere

an investigator.

one hand, your note

, for it sounded like the sarcasm of knowledge addressed to ignorance. Stepton had a te

verend gentleman of St.

imself. Afterward, in thinking matters over, he off

onder, how long the average doctor would keep together his practice if he worked with no more precision than the average clergyman. The contempt of the pencil and note-book! The contempt of proper care in getting together and coordinating facts! The contempt of proof-the appeal to reason

is not the

u think i

d

ou put it

is chair, and began to sidl

s bread, depends upon it, as much as the body, and the church that is free with the loaves is the church to get a real hold on real men. Flummery is no good to anybody. Rhetoric's no good to anybody. Claptrap and slipslop only make heads swim and

ow on what the true life of the soul depends," sa

ssor sat

e good enough to do me the ho

ar honored me," r

aculated

of his egoism, but he by no

outside the ranks of

nd outside the ranks

, no. And

ing up his head, and gazing at the professor wit

that in a crowd of a thousand you m

had been a lie invented to make an impression on Chichester. But he resisted the

d," h

I were like other m

tween you and your reverend brethren-between

kily the professor th

nexpectedly struck, then seemed to recover himself, and to nerve himself for some

o you know

ll. Not in

en him since

her day when I was at

re

ecial

vous dys

ntempt flickered ove

ion in Mr. Harding may be

maladies that so sap the

ster l

d the little room the professor felt a

don't agree wi

and I know very litt

y I don't know what y

e in psychical research you seem to

Har

that he r

aid the professor, grittily. "He is

o you consider Mr.

g before the fall into the a

t respects was Mr.

hich he proclaimed as facts, things th

Chichester, almost as one

ossibly Mr. Harding had none

thing to give men faith

d, if you can! And that, by the way, is the l

or with a strange expression, almost fiery, yet meditative, as i

your passion for facts has led men to put

ies some weight. I reall

odd hint of somet

lling first," almost

hat about

ems to me something in him which stretches out arms toward those things in which mystics

quiescent. I neither seek

Chichester. "His readiness stopp

self on being sever

on being

ait f

ge facts, the strangest perh

smiled

e such remark has been the

gme

imagin

ansformed Chichester's face. It was as a fine wrath which loo

me. You are a man of note-book and pencil. Will you promise me one thing? Will you give me your wo

es!" said th

yed by conflicting emotions, and felt sure that a flick of the whip to his e

mething was crying his ware. In his voice was a sound of fier

night," he sa

or jerked o

late," he observed.

n abrupt

Chichester. "

up to th

and dread nothing as they hate and dread fact

en you in your own room." The professor got up. "By

ago I was talking to a lady who pronounced that-" he extended his finger toward the Hunt-"the greatest work of ar

door. Perhaps it was that movement whi

aid, "I don't wan

t Stepton, with one

re a skeptic: you say men should be brought to fai

ing dry and cold, and sat down by th

dy for fact