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The Beetle: A Mystery

Chapter 3 THE MAN IN THE BED

Word Count: 1740    |    Released on: 01/12/2017

pected. It startled me, causing a moment's check,

p st

tural, though whether it was a man speaking I could not have positively said; but I had no doubt it was a foreigner. It was the most disagreeable voice I had

n ro

se than undignified, it was galling; I knew that well. I resented it wi

r seen. It caught me full in the eyes, having on me such a blinding effect that for some seconds I could see nothing. Throughout the whole of that strange interview I cannot affirm t

nly his head was visible. He lay on his left side, his head resting on his left hand; motionless, eyeing me as if he sought to read my inmost soul. And, in very truth, I believe he read it. His age I could not guess; such a look of age I had never imagined. Had he asserted that he had been living through the ages, I should have be

so extravagant were its dimensions, and so peculiar its shape, it resembled the beak of some bird of prey. A characteristic of the face-and an uncomfortable one!-was that, practically, it stopped short at the mouth. The mouth, with its blubber lips, came immediately underneath the nose, and chin,

ome internal radiance, for they shone out like lamps in a lighthouse tower. Escape them I could not, while, as I endeavoured to meet them, it was as if I shrivelled into nothingness. Never before had I realised what was meant by the power of the eye.

oke the silence.

down the blind.' I obeyed. 'Turn round again

but in response to his. It was not I who willed that I should speak; it was he. What he willed that I should say, I said. Just that, and no

ert

are

cle

a flame of scorn in his voice which scorched

t of a s

gain the scorn. 'Are you the sort of clerk who

not a

still,-he putting no constraint on me to sp

e it wa

come through a wi

N

y throug

et-and cold-and

he had dragged them one by

you no

N

on

N

ien

N

ort of a cle

rary engagement; the occasion which required my services passed, and I with it. After another, and a longer interval, I again found temporary employment, the pay for which was but a pittance. When that was over I could find nothing. That was nine months ago, and since then I had not earned a penny. It is so easy to grow shabby, when you are on the everlasting tramp, and are living on your stoc

was,-it is conceivable. His eyes had powers of penet

dre

nd. I obeyed, letting my sodden, shabby clothes fall anyhow upon the floor. A look came on his face, as I stood naked in front

n as white as that,-ah yes!' He paused, devouring me with his glances;

ich might have formed the stock-in-trade of a costumier whose speciality was providing costumes for masquerades. A long dark c

will find meat, and bread

s of what tasted like rye bread, and some thin, sour wine, in a straw-covered flask. But I was in no mood to criticise; I crammed myself, I believe, like some famished w

ack what is left.' I put it back,-which seemed an unnecessar

grew larger and larger, till they seemed to fill all space-till I became lost in their immensity. He moved his hand, doing something to me, I know not what,

light

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1 Chapter 1 OUTSIDE2 Chapter 2 INSIDE3 Chapter 3 THE MAN IN THE BED4 Chapter 4 A LONELY VIGIL5 Chapter 5 AN INSTRUCTION TO COMMIT BURGLARY6 Chapter 6 A SINGULAR FELONY7 Chapter 7 THE GREAT PAUL LESSINGHAM8 Chapter 8 THE MAN IN THE STREET9 Chapter 9 THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKET10 Chapter 10 REJECTED11 Chapter 11 A MIDNIGHT EPISODE12 Chapter 12 A MORNING VISITOR13 Chapter 13 THE PICTURE14 Chapter 14 THE DUCHESS' BALL15 Chapter 15 MR LESSINGHAM SPEAKS16 Chapter 16 ATHERTON'S MAGIC VAPOUR17 Chapter 17 MAGIC -OR MIRACLE 18 Chapter 18 THE APOTHEOSIS OF THE BEETLE19 Chapter 19 THE LADY RAGES20 Chapter 20 A HEAVY FATHER21 Chapter 21 THE TERROR IN THE NIGHT22 Chapter 22 THE HAUNTED MAN23 Chapter 23 THE WAY HE TOLD HER24 Chapter 24 THE MAN IN THE STREET 2425 Chapter 25 A FATHER'S NO26 Chapter 26 THE TERROR BY NIGHT27 Chapter 27 THE STRANGE STORY OF THE MAN IN THE STREET28 Chapter 28 THE HOUSE ON THE ROAD FROM THE WORKHOUSE29 Chapter 29 THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT30 Chapter 30 THE TERROR BY DAY31 Chapter 31 A NEW CLIENT32 Chapter 32 WHAT CAME OF LOOKING THROUGH A LATTICE33 Chapter 33 AFTER TWENTY YEARS34 Chapter 34 A BRINGER OF TIDINGS35 Chapter 35 WHAT THE TIDINGS WERE36 Chapter 36 WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR37 Chapter 37 THE REST OF THE FIND38 Chapter 38 MISS LOUISA COLEMAN39 Chapter 39 WHAT MISS COLEMAN SAW THROUGH THE WINDOW40 Chapter 40 THE CONSTABLE,-HIS CLUE,-AND THE CAB41 Chapter 41 THE QUARRY DOUBLES42 Chapter 42 THE MURDER AT MRS 'ENDERSON'S43 Chapter 43 THE MAN WHO WAS MURDERED44 Chapter 44 ALL THAT MRS 'ENDERSON KNEW45 Chapter 45 THE SUDDEN STOPPING46 Chapter 46 THE CONTENTS OF THE THIRD-CLASS CARRIAGE47 Chapter 47 THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER