J. J. Bell

Name: The Curtain
Author: J. J. Bell

The Curtain (1912)

Summary

“The Curtain”, published in 1912, is a work by J. J. Bell. It explores elements such as Drack, Inglis and curtain.

Quotes from The Curtain (J. J. Bell)

J. J. Bell, The Curtain (1912)

“ A laugh came from the cab. “My dear chap, I'm going to interview the ghost to-night—or may I go to—sleep. Shouldn't wonder if I do the latter.”
“Sh! Quietly, man!” whispered Drack, gripping the elbow of the tall, heavily-built man who came not quite steadily from the cab.
Captain Inglis stared about him with eyes rather bleared. “I say, where are we?” he asked.
“At our destination.”
“Are there no other houses?”
“It's a dark night. You'd see others in daylight at no great distance.” Drack took a key from his pocket, and pointed to a large iron gate. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Curtain (1912)

“ It was rather a queer place. Save for the blank walls, mantelpiece, and ceiling, which were a dead white, everything was a dead black—carpet, hangings, the few pieces of furniture, and even the rugs. And it was cold. Inglis got up and put a second rug round his shoulders. He was in evening dress with a light overcoat. Settling himself in the easy-chair again he made a bid for sleep. But he had taken either a drink too many or a drink too few—he declared for the latter—and though his eyes closed his brain remained stupidly restless. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Curtain (1912)

“ As he replaced it in his pocket he fancied that the great curtain bulged. Sitting straight, he glanced sidelong at the hearth. There were no fire-irons. Ere long he realised that there was nothing in the room available as a weapon—not even a light chair. He wished he had had the wit to provide himself with something in that way. He began to feel that the old man, had not treated him fairly in leaving him utterly defenceless. He regretted that he had not taken one drink less—or, rather, one drink more. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Curtain (1912)

“ THE CURTAIN.
The Story of a Ghostly House
BY J. J. BELL
“IT is certainly an amazing collection of photographs,” said the visitor, and closed the portfolio with something like a sigh of relief. “As studies of human emotions as reflected on the human countenance they are, I should imagine, unique. But I must confess that some of them were almost too much for me. Candidly, I don't know how you had the nerve—or the heart—to take some of them. The lunatic laughing, for instance—ugh! And yet that was less horrible than the woman weeping.” ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Curtain (1912)

“ Inglis sidled to the door, and twisted and tugged at the handle. Then, with teeth set and fingers working, he stole on tiptoe to the window. He grunted softly as he strove to burst the padlock without creating noise. He could make nothing of it. Desperate, he looked about him. He was a strong man. By using the couch as a battering-ram he might break down the door. But the noise. He knew there was something behind the curtain.... A dog? ... Why not peep cautiously? ... ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Curtain (1912)

“ He rubbed his hands, making a dryish sound. “Equally true to life!” He bent forward and stirred the fire, for the night was cold.
“Some of these photographs cost me considerable sums of money,” he continued; “but I grudge nothing in the interests of truth. The thing has grown on me, I admit—fascinated me, if you like. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Curtain (1912)

“ It is quite possible that a negative may yet cost me my life. But your adjective 'morbid' is quite out of place, apart from being commonplace. I simply want to make a collection of examples of every conceivable human emotion as betrayed by the human countenance. And, as I said, I do not exhibit the results. As regards the photographs which | have taken of you——”
“Of me!”
“——I promise to destroy prints as well as negatives after I have analysed them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Curtain (1912)

“ Your expression was one, to put it conventionally, of mingled emotions. I shall analyse it, and let you know the percentages of pity, anger, disgust, etcetera.”
“But how?”
“The clock on the mantelpiece contains a camera, electrically controlled from a point on the arm of the chair I am sitting in. You can, of course, rise up and destroy the clock, but I beg you to spare it. You have the promise that none save ourselves shall handle the negatives. Besides, I am trusting you.”
Wilson, dropping his eyes, helped himself to a little more brandy. ”

J. J. Bell

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Quotes from The Curtain (J. J. Bell)

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