Paul Suter

“ That was another of Jarvins' peculiarities; he seldom sat in a chair. Instead, he paced back and forth, incessantly, hands behind his back, hunched shoulders swinging to his stride, head sunk forward and bright eyes glancing up under veiled lids. He stopped, suddenly. His voice took on an odd pathos, which, somehow, stirred unaccustomed sympathy in John Bamber's heart.
"I've had trouble; one doesn't come to my age without it. Your uncle, too, my boy, had much in his time. And all trouble is much the same in the end. ”

“ The mandate came with unexpected force. Young John Bamber's instinct was to remain; but he could not stand out against his uncle's will. Even while death waited in the shadows, old John remained master of his house.
Young John obeyed. As he opened the door to step into the dark hall, he glanced back and saw the quivering figure sitting in the chair; the face, with its high-arched nose, bent inflexibly toward him; the eyes still returning his gaze.
At the foot of the stairs the young man met Mrs. Murdock, the gaunt Scotch housekeeper. ”

“ Even the converter's ghostly glare, through the windows over the bookcases, was softened by the judicious use of prism glass. At last, all was ready for the wedding.
For that occasion, young John Bamber hired the best firm of decorators in the town, and gave them free rein. Wherever a stair post or a chandelier was open to floral improvement, it was made to blossom. The bookcases in the erstwhile somber library had their part in an elaborate nuptial design. Even the dim light became bright. ”

“ Murdock would have screamed, then pretended she saw nothing—just as Jarvins pretended, when he and I were looking together at the figure. But I heard their footsteps and came out. They must have been standing near me in the darkness at the time. Instead of going crazy on the spot, I fainted."
The doctor, prominent among the guests, nodded gravely.
"Some temperaments go mad when they reach the breaking-point; others faint."
"I'm glad you're the fainting kind, John," Mary smiled into his face, still pale and nervous. ”

“ He would not admit squarely to himself what it was that he had seen. To do so would be disastrous. His mind could not stand it. He must keep his thoughts away from what was upstairs—sitting there in the darkness. ”

“ You know, I promised your uncle to keep an eye on you. He had a long talk with me about you, only a few days before the end."
Once he was inside, with hat and cane deposited in their accustomed places, Jarvins bent his quizzical, uncomfortably keen eyes on the young man.
"You are not yourself, yet; and your trouble is mental, rather than physical. Am I correct?"
John Bamber nodded. He neither welcomed nor resented the suggestion.
"Then I have the right to offer my services," the old man continued.
"There is nothing that anyone can do," John returned, curtly. ”

“ He could scarcely allow himself time to take her hat and coat and hang them in the darkened hallway.
"Shall we go up?" he demanded, breathlessly.
"I think so. We can't make it any easier by putting it off."
He led the way to the rear of the hall. Unconsciously, they tiptoed, though Mrs. Murdock was noisy in the kitchen. A single gas jet, turned low, disclosed the broad stairs, rising to the door at the top. The glare of the converter, reflecting from some bookcase door in the library to right of them, shone on the lower part of the polished baluster. Mary grasped his arm. ”

“ Jarvins pivoted on his heel, and swept the place with his glance. "I see—the room; it has never had much furniture, but what there was is still here. It seems you are making no changes—very properly, my boy, I should say. There is the little bookcase with his favorite volumes; the chess board on the table; his chair before the fireplace. ”

“ He waited, in silence.
"My advice is that you go up to his room again tonight. Have someone else with you—someone more in sympathy with your mind that Mr. Jarvins is. If we can solve the secret of that room, we may be able to explain the coffin you saw, too."
She went on, still working out his plan for him.
"Mrs. Murdock won't do. Mr. Jarvins failed. John, it will have to be—"
He looked up into her face. She was smiling at him.
"It will have to be—Mary Lane!" ”

“ Young John met his eye; and abruptly with the desperation of a man driven to seek the most unlikely aid, his resolve was taken.
"If you will, then, you can help me at this minute, Mr. Jarvins," he said, quietly. "I have just come from the room that was my uncle's. I should like you to go there with me."
"A little thing to do!" Jarvins smiled. "Will you lead or follow?" ”

“ When he returns to his senses, he'll forget all about it. We must not take delirium seriously."
She had had to be content with that. Yet, pondering those delirious words, she had stolen away up the stairs, to peer into the vast room which had been old John Bamber's. She had seen gaunt Mrs. Murdock in there, dusting—that was all; that, and the vacant arm chair before the fireplace. ”