March 31, 2025 • 41 mins
Tales of Terror and Mystery is a spine-tingling collection of short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, masterfully blending suspense, horror, and the unexplained. Divided into two parts—Tales of Terror and Tales of Mystery—the book explores eerie encounters, unsettling twists, and haunting atmospheres. From psychological thrills to scientific enigmas, Doyle steps beyond his famous detective tales to deliver chilling narratives that captivate and disturb. Perfect for fans of classic gothic fiction and supernatural suspense, this collection reveals a darker, more mysterious side of Doyle’s literary genius. For more thrilling content and engaging podcasts, visit https://www.quietperiodplease.com/.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Tales of Terror and Mystery The Beetle Hunter. This is
a libervox recording. All libervox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information ought to volunteer, please visit libervox dot org.
Recording by Coy Samuel Tales of Terror and Mystery by
(00:23):
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Beetle Hunter. A curious experience,
said the doctor. Yes, my friends, I have had one
very curious experience. I never expect to have another, for
it is against all doctrines of chances that two such
events would befall any one man in a single lifetime.
(00:46):
You may believe me or not, but the thing happened
exactly as I tell it. I had just become a
medical man, but I had not started in practice, and
I lived in rooms in Gower Street. The street has
been renumbered since then. But it was in the only
house which has a bow window upon the left hand
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side as you go down from the Metropolitan station. A
widow named Murchison kept the house at that time, and
she had three medical students and one engineer as lodgers.
I occupied the top room, which was the cheapest, but
cheap as it was, it was more than I could afford.
My small resources were dwindling away, and every week it
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became more necessary that I should find something to do.
Yet I was very unwilling to go into general practice,
for my tastes were all in the direction of science,
and especially of zoology, towards which I had always a
strong leaning. I had almost given the fight up and
resigned myself to being a medical drudge for life, when
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the turning point of my struggles came in a very
extraordinary way. One morning, I had picked up the Standard
and was glancing over its contents. There was a complete
absence of news, and I was about to toss the
paper down again when my eyes were caught by an
advertisement at the head of the personal column. It was
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worded in this way, wanted for one or more days
the services of a medical man. It is essential that
he should be a man of strong physique, of steady nerves,
and of a resolute nature. Must be an entomologist coleopterist preferred.
Apply in person at seventy seven B Brook Street. Application
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must be made before twelve o'clock to day. Now I
have already said that I was devoted to zoology. Of
all branches of zoology, the study of insects was the
most attractive to me, and of all insects, beetles for
the species with which I was most familiar. Butterfly collectors
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and numerous, but beetles are far more varied and more
accessible in these islands than are butterflies. It was this
fact which had attracted my attention to them, and I
had myself made a collection which numbered some hundred varieties.
As to the other requisites of the advertisement, I knew
that my nerves could be depended upon, and I had
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won the weight throwing competition at the inter Hospital Sports.
Clearly I was the very man for the vacancy. Within
five minutes of my having read the advertisement, I was
in a cab and on my way to Brook Street.
As I drove, I kept turning the matter over in
my head and trying to make a guess as to
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what sort of employment it could be which needed such
curious qualifications a strong physique, a resolute nature, a medical training,
and a knowledge of beetles. What connection could there be
between these various requisites. And then there was the disheartening
fact that the situation was not a permanent one, but
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terminable from day to day. According to the terms of
the advertisement. The more I pondered over it, the more
unintelligible did it become. But at the end of my
meditations I always came back to the ground fact that
come what might, I had nothing to lose, that I
was completely at the end of my resources, and that
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I was ready for any adventure, however desperate, which would
put a few honest sovereigns into my pocket. The man
fears to fail who has to pay for his failure.
But there was no penalty which fortune could exact from me.
I was like the gambler with empty pockets, who was
still allowed to try his luck with the others. Number
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seventy seven B. Brook Street was one of those dingy
and yet imposing houses, dun colored and flat faced, with
the intensely respectable and solid air which marks the Georgian builder.
As I alighted from the cab, a young man came
out of the door and walked swiftly down the street.
In passing me, I noticed that he cast an inquisitive
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and somewhat malevolent glance at me, and I took the
incident as a good omen for his appearance was that
of a rejected candidate, and if he resented my application.
It meant that the vacancy was not yet filled up.
Full of hope, I ascended the broad steps and rapped
with a heavy knocker. A footman in powder and livery
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opened the door. Clearly I was in touch with the
people of wealth and fashion. Yes, sir, said the footman.
I came in answer to. Quite so, sir, said the footman,
Lord Lynchmere, will see you at once in the library.
Lord Lynchmere. I had vaguely heard the name, but could not,
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for the instant recall anything about him. Following the footman,
I was shown into a large book lined room in
which there was seated behind a writing desk, a small
man with a pleasant, clean, shaven, mobile face and long
hair shot with gray brushed back from his forehead. He
looked me up and down with a very shrewd, penetrating glance,
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holding the card which the footman had given him in
his right hand. Then he smiled pleasantly, and I felt
that externally, at any rate I possessed the qualifications which
he desired. You have come in answer to my advertisement,
Doctor Hamilton. He asked, yes, sir, do you fulfill the
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conditions which there are laid down? I believe that I do.
You are a powerful man, or so I should judge
from your appearance. I think that I am fairly strong
and resolute, I believe. So. Have you ever known what
it was to be exposed to imminent danger? No? I
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don't know that I ever have. But you think you
would be prompt and cool at such a time, I
hope so well. I believe that you would. I have
the more confidence in you because you do not pretend
to be certain as to what you would do in
a position that was new to you. My impression is that,
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so far as personal qualities go, you are the very
man of whom I am in search. That being settled,
we may pass on to the next point, which is
to talk to me about beetles. I looked across to
see if he was joking, but on the contrary, he
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was leaning eagerly forward across his desk, and there was
an expression of something like anxiety in his eyes. I
am afraid that you do not know about beetles, he cried.
On the contrary, sir, it is the one scientific subject
about which I feel that I I really do know something.
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I am overjoyed to hear it. Please talk to me
about beetles. I talked. I do not profess to have
said anything original upon the subject, but I gave a
short sketch of the characteristics of the beetle, and ran
over the more common species, with some allusions to the
specimens in my own little collection, and to the article
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upon burying beetles which I had contributed to the Journal
of Entomological Science. What not a collector, cried Lord Lynchmere.
You don't mean that you are yourself a collector. His
eyes danced with pleasure at the thought. You are certainly
the very man in London for my purpose. I thought
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that among five millions of people, they must be such
a man. But the difficulty is to lay one's hands
upon him. I have been extraordinarily fortunate in finding you.
He rang a gold upon the table, and the footman entered.
Ask Lady Rossita to have the goodness to step this way,
said his lordship, and a few moments later the lady
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was ushered into the room. She was a small, middle
aged woman, very like Lord Lynchmere in appearance, with the
same quick, alert features and gray black hair. The expression
of anxiety, however, which I had observed upon his face,
was very much more marked upon hers. Some great grief
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seemed to have cast its shadow over her features. As
Lord Lynchmere presented me, she turned her face full upon me,
and I was shocked to observe a half healed scar
extending for two inches over her right eyebrow. It was
partly concealed by plaster, but none the less I could
see that it had been a serious wound, and not
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long inflicted. Doctor Hamilton is the very man for our purpose, Evelyn,
said Lord Lynchmere. He is actually a collector of beatles,
and he has written articles upon the subject. Really, said
Lady Rossita. Then you must have heard of my husband.
Every One who knows anything about beatles must have heard
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of Sir Thomas Rossiter. For the first time, a thin
little ray of light began to break into the obscure business. Here,
at last was a connection between these people and beetles.
Sir Thomas Rossiter, he was the greatest authority upon the
subject in the world. He had made it his life
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long study, and had written a most exhaustive work upon it.
I hastened to assure her that I had read and
appreciated it. Have you met my husband? She asked? No,
I have not, but you shall, said Lord Lynchmere with decision.
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The lady was standing beside the de and she put
her hand upon his shoulder. It was obvious to me
as I saw their faces together that they were brother
and sister. Are you really prepared for this, Charles? It
is noble of you, but you fill me with fears.
Her voice quavered with apprehension, and he appeared to me
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to be equally moved, though he was making strong efforts
to conceal his agitation. Yes, yes, dear, it is all settled.
It is all di hided. In fact, there is no
other possible way that I can see. There is one
obvious way. No, no, Evelyn, I shall never abandon you. Never.
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It will come right, depend upon it. It will come right.
And surely it looks like the interference of providence that
so perfect an instrument should be put into our hands.
My position was embarrassing, for I felt that for the
instant they had forgotten my presence. But Lord lynch Maya
came back suddenly to me and to my engagement. The
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business for which I want you, Doctor Hamilton, is that
you should put yourself absolutely at my disposal. I wish
you'd come for a short journey with me, to remain
always at my side, and to promise to do without
question whatever I may ask you, however unreasonable it may
appear to you to be. That is a good deal
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to ask, said I. Unfortunately I cannot put it more plainly,
for I do not myself know what turn matters may take.
You may be sure, however, that you will not be
asked to do anything which your conscience does not approve.
And I promise you that when all is over, you
will be proud to have been concerned in so good
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a work. If it ends happily, said the lady. Exactly
if it ends happily, his lordship repeated, and terms I
asked twenty pounds a day. I was amazed at the sum,
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and must have showed my surprise upon my features. It
is a rare combination of qualities, as must have struck
you when you first read the advertisement, said Lord Lynchmere.
Such varied gifts may well command a high return, and
I do not conceal from you that your duties may
be arduous or even dangerous. Besides, it is possible that
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one or two days may bring the matter to an end.
Please God, sighed his sister. So now, doctor Hamilton, may
I rely upon your aid, most undoubtedly said I. You
have only to tell me what my duties are. Your
first duty will be to return to your home. You
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will pack up whatever you may need for a short
visit to the country. We start together from Paddington Station
at three forty the afternoon. Do we go far as
far as Pangborn. Meet me at the bookstall at three thirty.
I shall have the tickets. Goodbye, Doctor Hamilton. And by
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the way, there are two things which I should be
very glad if you would bring with you in case
you have them. One is your case for collecting beetles,
and the other is a stick. And the thicker and
heavier the better. You may imagine that I had plenty
to think of from the time that I left brook
Street until I set out to meet Lord Lynchmere at Paddington.
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The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in
kaleidoscope forms inside my brain until I had thought out
a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely and probable
than the last. And yet I felt that the truth
must be something grotesquely and probable also at last I
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got gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and
contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I
had received. With a hand valise, specimen case and a
loaded cane. I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when
Lord Lynchmere arrived. He was an even smaller man than
I had thought, frail and piquey, with a manner which
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was more nervous than it had been in the morning.
He wore a long, thick traveling ulster, and I observed
that he carried a heavy blackthorn cudgel in his hand.
I have the tickets, said he leading the way up
the platform. This is our train. I have engaged a carriage,
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for I am particularly anxious to impress one or two
things upon you while we traveled down. And yet all
that he had to impress upon me might have been
said in a sentence, For it was that I was
to remember that I was there as a protection to himself,
and that I was not on any consideration to leave
him for an instant. This he repeated again and again
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as our journey drew to a close, with an insistence
which showed that his nerves were thoroughly shaken. Yes, he
said at last, in answer to my looks rather than
to my words. I am nervous, doctor Hamilton. I have
always been a timid man, and my timidity depends upon
my frail physical health. But my soul is firm, and
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I can bring myself up to face a danger which
a less nervous man might shrink from. What I am
doing now is done from no compulsion, but entirely from
a sense of duty. And yet it is beyond doubt
a desperate risk. If things should go wrong, I will
have some claims to the title of martyr. This eternal
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reading of riddles was too much for me. I felt
that I must put a term to it. I think
it would be very much better, sir, if you were
to trust me entirely, said I. It is impossible for
me to act effectively when I do not know what
are the objects which we have in view, or even
where we are going. Oh as to where we are going,
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there need be no mystery about that, said he. We
are going to Delamere Court, the residence of Sir Thomas Rossita,
with whose work you are so conversant as to the
exact object of our visit. I do not know that
at this stage of the proceedings anything would be gained,
Doctor Hamilton, by taking you into my complete confidence. I
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may tell you that we are acting. I say we
because my sister Lady Rossita takes the same view as myself,
with the one object of preventing anything in the nature
of a family scandal. That being so, you can understand
that I am loathed to give any explanations which are
not absolutely necessary. It would be a different matter, Doctor
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hamiltonton if I were asking your advice. As matters stand.
It is only your active help which I need, and
I will indicate to you from time to time how
you can best give it. There was nothing more to
be said, and a poor man can put up with
a good deal for twenty pounds a day. But I
felt none the less that Lord Lynchmere was acting rather
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scurvily towards me. He wished to convert me into a
passive tool like the blackthorn in his hand. With his
sensitive disposition, I could imagine, however, that scandal would be
abhorrent to him, and I realized that he would not
take me into his confidence until no other course was
open to him. I must trust to my own eyes
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and ears to solve the mystery. But I had every
confidence that I should not trust to them in vain.
Delamere Court lies a good five miles from Pangbourne Station,
and we drove for that distance in an open fly.
Lord Lynchmere sat in deep thought during the time, and
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he never opened his mouth until we were close to
our destination. When he did speak, it was to give
me a piece of information which surprised me. Perhaps you
are not aware, said he that I am a medical
man like yourself. No, sir, I did not know it. Yes,
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I qualified in my younger days, when there were several
lives between me and the peerage. I have not had
occasion to practice, but I have found it a useful
education all the same. I never regretted the years which
I devoted to medical study. These are the gates of
Delamere Court. We had come to two high pillars, crowned
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with heraldic monsters, which flanked the opening of a winding avenue.
Over the laurel bushes and rhododendrons, I could see a long,
many gabled mansion, girdled with eyes and toned to the warm, cheery,
mellow glow of old brickwork. My eyes were still fixed
in admiration upon this delightful house when my companion plucked
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nervously at my sleeve. Here's sir Thomas, he whispered, Please talk,
beetle all you can. A tall, thin figure, curiously angular
and bony, had emerged through a gap in the hedge
of laurels. In his hand he held a spud, and
he wore gauntleted gardener's gloves. A broad brimmed gray hat
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cast his face into shadow, but it struck me as
exceedingly austere, with an ill nourished beard and harsh, irregular features.
The fly pulled up and Lord Lynchmere sprang out, My
dear Thomas, how are you? Said he heartily, But the
heartiness was by no means reciprocal. The owner of the
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grounds glared at me over his brother in law's shoulder,
and I caught broken scraps of sentences, well known wishes,
hatred of strangers, unjustifiable intrusion, perfectly inexcusable. Then there was
a muttered explanation, and the two of them came over
together to the side of the fly. Let me present
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you to Sir Thomas. Rossiter. Doctor Hamilton said, Lord Lynchmere,
you will find that you have a strong community of tastes.
I bowed. Sir Thomas stood very stiffly, looking at me
severely from under the broad brim of his hat. Lord
Lynchmere tells me that you know something about beetles, said he.
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What do you know about beetles? I know what I
have learned from your work upon the Coleoptera, Sir Thomas,
I answered, give me the names of the better known
species of the British Scarabi, said he. I had not
expected an examination, but fortunately I was ready for one.
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My answers seemed to please him, for his stern features relaxed.
You appear to have read my book with some prophets,
Sir said he. It is a rare thing for me
to meet any one who takes an intelligent interest in
such matters. People can find time for such trivialities as
sport or society, and yet the beatles are overlooked. I
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can assure you that the greater part of the idiots
in this part of the country are unaware that I
have ever written a book at all. I the first
man who ever described the true function of the Ella Tria.
I am glad to see you, sir, and I have
no doubt that I can show you some specimens that
will interest you. He stepped into the fly and drove
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with us up to the house, expounding to me as
we went some recent researches which he had made into
the anatomy of the Lady Bird. I have said that
Sir Thomas Rossita wore a large hat drawn down over
his brows. As he entered the hall. He uncovered himself,
and I was at once aware of a singular characteristic
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which the hat had concealed. His forehead, which was naturally high,
and higher still on account of receding hair, was in
a continual state of movement. Some nervous weakness kept the
muscles in a constant spasm, which sometimes produced a mere
twitching and sometimes a curious rotary movement, unlike anything which
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I had seen before. It was strikingly visible as he
turned towards us after entering the study, and seemed the
more singular from the contrast with the hard, steady gray
eyes which looked out from underneath those palpitating brows. I
am sorry, said he, that Lady Rossita is not here
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to help me. Welcome you. By the way, Charles, did
Evelyn say anything about the date of her return. She
wished to stay in town for a few more days,
said Lord Lynchmere. You know how ladies social duties accumulate
if they have been for some time in the country.
My sister has many old friends in London at present well.
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She is her own mistress, and I should not wish
to alter her plans. But I shall be glad when
I see her again. It is very lonely here without
her company. I was afraid that you might find it so,
and that was partly why I ran down. My young friend,
doctor Hamilton, is so much interested in the subject which
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you have made your own, that I thought you would
not mind his accompanying me. I lead a retired life,
doctor Hamilton, and my aversion to strangers grows upon me,
said our host. I have sometimes thought that my nerves
are not as good as they were. My travels in
search of Beatles in my younger days took me into
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many malarious and unhealthy places. But a rather coleopteris, like yourself,
is always a welcome guest, and I shall be delighted
if you will look over my collection, which I think
that I may, without exaggeration describe as the best in Europe,
and so no doubt it was. He had a huge
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oaken cabinet arranged in shallow drawers, and here neatly ticketed
and classified were beetles from every corner of the earth,
black brown, blue, green, and mottled. Every now and then,
as he swept his hand over the lines and lines
of impaled insects, he would catch up some rare specimen,
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and handling it with as much delicacy and reverence as
if it were a precious relic. He would hold forth
upon its peculiarities and the circumstances under which it came
into his possession. It was evidently an unusual thing for
him to meet with a sympathetic listener, and he talked
and talked till the spring evening had deepened into night,
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and the gong announced that it was time to dress
for dinner. All the time Lord Lynchmere said nothing, but
he stood at his brother in law's elbow, and I
caught him continually shooting curious, little questioning glances into his face,
and his own features expressed some strong emotion, apprehension, sympathy, expectation.
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I seemed to read them all. I was sure that
Lord Lynchmere was fearing something and awaiting something, But what
that something might be I could not imagine. The evening
passed quietly but pleasantly, and I should have been entirely
at my ease if it had not been for that
continual sense of tension upon the part of Lord Lynchmere.
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As to our host, I found that he improved upon acquaintance.
He spoke constantly with affection of his absent wife and
also of his little son, who had recently been sent
to school. The house, he said, was not the same
without them. If it were not for his scientific studies,
he did not know how he could get through the days.
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After dinner, we smoked for some time in the billiard room,
and finally went early to bed. And then it was that,
for the first time, the suspicion that Lord Lynchmere was
a lunatic crossed my mind. He followed me into my
bedroom when our host had retired. Doctor said, he, speaking
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in a low, hurried voice, you must come with me.
You must spend the night in my bedroom. What do
you mean. I prefer not to explain, but this is
part of your duties. My room is close by, and
you can return to your own before the servant calls
you in the morning. But why, I asked, Because I
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am nervous of being alone, said he. That's the reason.
Since you must have a reason. It seemed rank lunacy,
but the argument of those twenty pounds would overcome many objections.
I followed him to his room. Well, said I. There's
only room for one in that bed. Only one shall
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occupy it, said he, and the other must remain on watch. Why,
said I. One would think you expected to be attacked.
Perhaps I do. In that case, why not lock your door?
Perhaps I want to be attacked. It looked more and
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more like lunacy. However, there was nothing for it but
to submit. I shrugged my shoulders and sat down in
the arm chair beside the empty fireplace. I am to
remain on watch, then said I ruefully. We will divide
the night. If you will watch until two, I will
watch the remainder. Very good. Call me at two o'clock
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then I will do. So. Keep your ears open, and
if you hear any sounds, wake me instantly. Instantly you hear,
you can rely upon it. I tried to look a
solemn as heeded, and for God's sake, don't go to sleep,
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said he, and so, taking off only his coat, he
threw the coverlet over him and settled down for the night.
It was a melancholy vigil, and made more so by
my own sense of its folly. Supposing that by any
chance Lord Lynchmere had caused to suspect that he was
subject to danger in the house of Sir Thomas Roussita,
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why on earth could he not lock his door and
so protect himself. His own answer that he might wish
to be attacked was absurd. Why should he possibly wish
to be attacked? And who would wish to attack him? Clearly,
Lord Lynchmey was suffering from some singular delusion, and the
result was that, on an imbecile pretext, I was to
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be deprived of my night's rest. Still, however absurd, I
was determined to carry out his injunctions to the letter
as long as I was in his employment. I sat
therefore beside the empty fireplace and listened to a sonorous
chiming clock somewhere down the passage, which gurgled and struck
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every quarter of an hour. It was an endless vigil,
save for that single clock. An absolute silence reigned throughout
the great house. A small lamp stood on a table
at my elbow, throwing a circle of light round my chair,
but leaving the corners of the room draped in shadow.
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On the bed, Lord Lynchmere was breathing peacefully. I envied
him his quiet sleep, and again and again my own
eyelids drooped. But every time my sense of duty came
to my help, and I sat up, rubbing my eyes
and pinching myself, with a determination to see my irrational
watch to an end. And I did so. From down
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the passage came the chimes of two o'clock, and I
laid my hand upon the shoulder of the sleeper. Instantly
he was sitting up, with an expression of the keenest
interest upon his face. You have heard something, no, sir,
it is two o'clock. Very good, I will watch. You
can go to sleep. I lay down under the coverlet
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as he had done, and was soon unconscious. My last
recollection was of that circle of lamplight, and of the small,
hunched up figure and strained anxious face of Lord Lynchmere
in the center of it. How long I slept I
do not know, but I was suddenly aroused by a
sharp tug at my sleeve. The room was in darkness,
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but a hot smell of oil told me that the
lamp had only that instant been extinguished. Quick, quick, said
Lord Lynchmere's voice in my ear. I sprang out of bed.
He's still dragging at my arm. Over here, he whispered,
and pulled me into a corner of the room. Hush, listen.
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In the silence of the night, I could distinctly hear
that someone was coming down the corridor. It was a
stealthy step, faint and intermittent, as of a man who
paused cautiously after every stride, sometimes for half a minute.
There was no sound, and then came the shuffle and creak,
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which told of a fresh advance. My companion was trembling
with excitement. His hand, which still held my sleeve, twitched
like a branch in the wind. What is it, I whispered,
It's he, sir Thomas, Yes, what does he want? Hush,
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do nothing until I tell you. I was conscious now
that someone was trying the door. There was the faintest
little rattle from the handle, and then I dimly saw
a thin slit of subdued light. There was a lamp
burning somewhere far down the passage, and it just sufficed
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to make the outside visible from the darkness of our room.
The grayish slit grew broader and broader, very gradually, very gently,
and then outlined against it, I saw the dark figure
of a man. He was squat and crouching with the
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silhouette of a bulky and misshapened d wharf. Slowly the
door swung open, with this ominous shape framed in the
center of it, and then in an instant the crouching
figure shot up. There was a tiger spring across the room,
and thud, thud, thud, came three tremendous blows from some
(34:25):
heavy object upon the bed. I was so paralyzed with
amazement that I stood motionless and staring, until I was
aroused by a yell for help from my companion. The
open light shed enough light for me to see the
outline of things, and there was little Lord Lynchmere with
his arms around the neck of his brother in law,
holding bravely on to him like a game bull terrier
(34:47):
with its teeth into a gaunt deerhound. The tall, bony
man dashed himself about, writhing round and round to get
a grip upon his assailant, but the other, clutching on
from behind, still kept his hold, though his shrill, frightened
cries showed how unequal he felt the contest to be.
(35:08):
I sprang to the rescue, and the two of us
managed to throw Sir Thomas to the ground, though he
made his teeth meet in my shoulder. With all my
youth and weight and strength. It was a desperate struggle
before we could master his frenzied struggles, but at last
we secured his arms with the waistcoord of the dressing
gown which he was wearing. I was holding his legs,
(35:31):
while Lord Lynchmere was endeavoring to relight the lamp. When
there came the pattering of many feet in the passage,
and the butler and two footmen, who had been alarmed
by the cries, rushed into the room. With their aid.
We had no further difficulty in securing our prisoner, who
lay foaming and glaring upon the ground. One glance at
(35:53):
his face was enough to prove that he was a
dangerous maniac, while the short, heavy hammer which lay beside
the bed showed how murderous had been his intentions. Do
not use any violence, said Lord Lynchmere, as we raised
the struggling man to his feet. He will have a
period of stupor after this excitement. I believe that it
(36:16):
is coming on already. As he spoke, the convulsions became
less violent, and the madman's head fell forward upon his breast,
as if you were overcome by sleep. We led him
down the passage and stretched him upon his own bed,
where he lay unconscious, breathing heavily. Two of you will
(36:37):
watch him, said Lord Lynchmere. And now doctor Hamilton, if
you will return with me to my room, I will
give you the explanation which my horror of scandal has
perhaps caused me to delay too long. Come what may.
You will never have cause to regret your share in
this night's work. The case may be made clear in
(36:59):
a very words, he continued, when we were alone. My
poor brother in law is one of the best fellows
upon earth, a loving husband and an esteemable father. But
he comes from a stock which is deeply tainted with insanity.
He has more than once had homicidal outbreaks, which are
the more painful because his inclination is always to attack
(37:22):
the very person, to whom he is most attached. His
son was sent away to school to avoid this danger,
and then came an attempt upon my sister, his wife,
from which he escaped with injuries that you may have
observed when you met her in London. You understand that
he knows nothing of the matter when he is in
his sound senses, and would ridicule the suggestion that he could,
(37:45):
under any circumstances, injure those whom he loves so dearly.
It is often, as you know, a characteristic of such
maladies that it is absolutely impossible to convince the man
who suffers from them of their existence. Our great object was,
of course, to get him under restraint before he could
(38:07):
stain his hands with blood, but the matter was full
of difficulty. He is a recluse in his habits and
would not see any medical man. Besides, it was necessary
for our purpose that the medical man should convince himself
of his insanity. And he is as sane as you are,
I save on these very rare occasions. But fortunately, before
(38:31):
he has these attacks, he always shows certain premonitionary symptoms
which are providential danger signals, warning us to be upon
our guard. The chief of these is that nervous contortion
of the forehead, which you must have observed. This is
a phenomenon which always appears from three to four days
before his attacks of frenzy. The moment it showed itself,
(38:55):
his wife came into town on some pretext and took
refuge in my house in brook Street. It remained for
me to convince a medical man of Sir Thomas's insanity,
without which it was impossible to put him where he
could do no harm. The first problem was how to
get a medical man into his house. I bethought me
(39:15):
of his interest in beetles and his love for any
one who shared his tastes. I advertised therefore, and was
fortunate enough to find anew the very man I wanted.
A stout companion was necessary, for I knew that the
lunacy could only be proved by a murderous assault, and
I had every reason to believe that that assault would
be made upon myself, since he had the warmest regard
(39:38):
for me in his moments of sanity. I think your
intelligence will supply all the rest. I did not know
that the attack would come by night, but I thought
it very probable. For the crises of such cases do
usually occur in the early hours of the morning. I
am a very nervous man myself, but I saw no
(39:59):
other way in which I could remove this terrible danger
from my sister's life. I need not ask you whether
you are willing to sign the lunacy papers. Undoubtedly, but
two signatures are necessary. You forget that I am myself
a holder of a medical degree. I have the papers
on a side table here, so if you will be
(40:21):
good enough to sign them now, we can have the
patient removed in the morning. So that was my visit
to Sir Thomas Rossita, the famous beetle hunter, and that
was also my first step upon the ladder of success.
For Lady Rossita and Lord Lynchmere have proved to be
staunch friends, and they have never forgotten my association with
(40:42):
them in their time of need. Sir Thomas is out
and said to be cured. But I still think that
if I spent another night at Delamere Court, I should
be inclined to lock my door upon the inside end
of the beatle unter
Tales of Terror and Mystery The Beetle Hunter. This is
a libervox recording. All libervox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information ought to volunteer, please visit libervox dot org.
Recording by Coy Samuel Tales of Terror and Mystery by
(00:23):
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Beetle Hunter. A curious experience,
said the doctor. Yes, my friends, I have had one
very curious experience. I never expect to have another, for
it is against all doctrines of chances that two such
events would befall any one man in a single lifetime.
(00:46):
You may believe me or not, but the thing happened
exactly as I tell it. I had just become a
medical man, but I had not started in practice, and
I lived in rooms in Gower Street. The street has
been renumbered since then. But it was in the only
house which has a bow window upon the left hand
(01:08):
side as you go down from the Metropolitan station. A
widow named Murchison kept the house at that time, and
she had three medical students and one engineer as lodgers.
I occupied the top room, which was the cheapest, but
cheap as it was, it was more than I could afford.
My small resources were dwindling away, and every week it
(01:31):
became more necessary that I should find something to do.
Yet I was very unwilling to go into general practice,
for my tastes were all in the direction of science,
and especially of zoology, towards which I had always a
strong leaning. I had almost given the fight up and
resigned myself to being a medical drudge for life, when
(01:54):
the turning point of my struggles came in a very
extraordinary way. One morning, I had picked up the Standard
and was glancing over its contents. There was a complete
absence of news, and I was about to toss the
paper down again when my eyes were caught by an
advertisement at the head of the personal column. It was
(02:15):
worded in this way, wanted for one or more days
the services of a medical man. It is essential that
he should be a man of strong physique, of steady nerves,
and of a resolute nature. Must be an entomologist coleopterist preferred.
Apply in person at seventy seven B Brook Street. Application
(02:40):
must be made before twelve o'clock to day. Now I
have already said that I was devoted to zoology. Of
all branches of zoology, the study of insects was the
most attractive to me, and of all insects, beetles for
the species with which I was most familiar. Butterfly collectors
(03:01):
and numerous, but beetles are far more varied and more
accessible in these islands than are butterflies. It was this
fact which had attracted my attention to them, and I
had myself made a collection which numbered some hundred varieties.
As to the other requisites of the advertisement, I knew
that my nerves could be depended upon, and I had
(03:22):
won the weight throwing competition at the inter Hospital Sports.
Clearly I was the very man for the vacancy. Within
five minutes of my having read the advertisement, I was
in a cab and on my way to Brook Street.
As I drove, I kept turning the matter over in
my head and trying to make a guess as to
(03:43):
what sort of employment it could be which needed such
curious qualifications a strong physique, a resolute nature, a medical training,
and a knowledge of beetles. What connection could there be
between these various requisites. And then there was the disheartening
fact that the situation was not a permanent one, but
(04:04):
terminable from day to day. According to the terms of
the advertisement. The more I pondered over it, the more
unintelligible did it become. But at the end of my
meditations I always came back to the ground fact that
come what might, I had nothing to lose, that I
was completely at the end of my resources, and that
(04:24):
I was ready for any adventure, however desperate, which would
put a few honest sovereigns into my pocket. The man
fears to fail who has to pay for his failure.
But there was no penalty which fortune could exact from me.
I was like the gambler with empty pockets, who was
still allowed to try his luck with the others. Number
(04:45):
seventy seven B. Brook Street was one of those dingy
and yet imposing houses, dun colored and flat faced, with
the intensely respectable and solid air which marks the Georgian builder.
As I alighted from the cab, a young man came
out of the door and walked swiftly down the street.
In passing me, I noticed that he cast an inquisitive
(05:08):
and somewhat malevolent glance at me, and I took the
incident as a good omen for his appearance was that
of a rejected candidate, and if he resented my application.
It meant that the vacancy was not yet filled up.
Full of hope, I ascended the broad steps and rapped
with a heavy knocker. A footman in powder and livery
(05:30):
opened the door. Clearly I was in touch with the
people of wealth and fashion. Yes, sir, said the footman.
I came in answer to. Quite so, sir, said the footman,
Lord Lynchmere, will see you at once in the library.
Lord Lynchmere. I had vaguely heard the name, but could not,
(05:51):
for the instant recall anything about him. Following the footman,
I was shown into a large book lined room in
which there was seated behind a writing desk, a small
man with a pleasant, clean, shaven, mobile face and long
hair shot with gray brushed back from his forehead. He
looked me up and down with a very shrewd, penetrating glance,
(06:13):
holding the card which the footman had given him in
his right hand. Then he smiled pleasantly, and I felt
that externally, at any rate I possessed the qualifications which
he desired. You have come in answer to my advertisement,
Doctor Hamilton. He asked, yes, sir, do you fulfill the
(06:34):
conditions which there are laid down? I believe that I do.
You are a powerful man, or so I should judge
from your appearance. I think that I am fairly strong
and resolute, I believe. So. Have you ever known what
it was to be exposed to imminent danger? No? I
(06:58):
don't know that I ever have. But you think you
would be prompt and cool at such a time, I
hope so well. I believe that you would. I have
the more confidence in you because you do not pretend
to be certain as to what you would do in
a position that was new to you. My impression is that,
(07:20):
so far as personal qualities go, you are the very
man of whom I am in search. That being settled,
we may pass on to the next point, which is
to talk to me about beetles. I looked across to
see if he was joking, but on the contrary, he
(07:42):
was leaning eagerly forward across his desk, and there was
an expression of something like anxiety in his eyes. I
am afraid that you do not know about beetles, he cried.
On the contrary, sir, it is the one scientific subject
about which I feel that I I really do know something.
(08:03):
I am overjoyed to hear it. Please talk to me
about beetles. I talked. I do not profess to have
said anything original upon the subject, but I gave a
short sketch of the characteristics of the beetle, and ran
over the more common species, with some allusions to the
specimens in my own little collection, and to the article
(08:25):
upon burying beetles which I had contributed to the Journal
of Entomological Science. What not a collector, cried Lord Lynchmere.
You don't mean that you are yourself a collector. His
eyes danced with pleasure at the thought. You are certainly
the very man in London for my purpose. I thought
(08:47):
that among five millions of people, they must be such
a man. But the difficulty is to lay one's hands
upon him. I have been extraordinarily fortunate in finding you.
He rang a gold upon the table, and the footman entered.
Ask Lady Rossita to have the goodness to step this way,
said his lordship, and a few moments later the lady
(09:10):
was ushered into the room. She was a small, middle
aged woman, very like Lord Lynchmere in appearance, with the
same quick, alert features and gray black hair. The expression
of anxiety, however, which I had observed upon his face,
was very much more marked upon hers. Some great grief
(09:31):
seemed to have cast its shadow over her features. As
Lord Lynchmere presented me, she turned her face full upon me,
and I was shocked to observe a half healed scar
extending for two inches over her right eyebrow. It was
partly concealed by plaster, but none the less I could
see that it had been a serious wound, and not
(09:53):
long inflicted. Doctor Hamilton is the very man for our purpose, Evelyn,
said Lord Lynchmere. He is actually a collector of beatles,
and he has written articles upon the subject. Really, said
Lady Rossita. Then you must have heard of my husband.
Every One who knows anything about beatles must have heard
(10:16):
of Sir Thomas Rossiter. For the first time, a thin
little ray of light began to break into the obscure business. Here,
at last was a connection between these people and beetles.
Sir Thomas Rossiter, he was the greatest authority upon the
subject in the world. He had made it his life
(10:37):
long study, and had written a most exhaustive work upon it.
I hastened to assure her that I had read and
appreciated it. Have you met my husband? She asked? No,
I have not, but you shall, said Lord Lynchmere with decision.
(10:58):
The lady was standing beside the de and she put
her hand upon his shoulder. It was obvious to me
as I saw their faces together that they were brother
and sister. Are you really prepared for this, Charles? It
is noble of you, but you fill me with fears.
Her voice quavered with apprehension, and he appeared to me
(11:20):
to be equally moved, though he was making strong efforts
to conceal his agitation. Yes, yes, dear, it is all settled.
It is all di hided. In fact, there is no
other possible way that I can see. There is one
obvious way. No, no, Evelyn, I shall never abandon you. Never.
(11:41):
It will come right, depend upon it. It will come right.
And surely it looks like the interference of providence that
so perfect an instrument should be put into our hands.
My position was embarrassing, for I felt that for the
instant they had forgotten my presence. But Lord lynch Maya
came back suddenly to me and to my engagement. The
(12:05):
business for which I want you, Doctor Hamilton, is that
you should put yourself absolutely at my disposal. I wish
you'd come for a short journey with me, to remain
always at my side, and to promise to do without
question whatever I may ask you, however unreasonable it may
appear to you to be. That is a good deal
(12:26):
to ask, said I. Unfortunately I cannot put it more plainly,
for I do not myself know what turn matters may take.
You may be sure, however, that you will not be
asked to do anything which your conscience does not approve.
And I promise you that when all is over, you
will be proud to have been concerned in so good
(12:47):
a work. If it ends happily, said the lady. Exactly
if it ends happily, his lordship repeated, and terms I
asked twenty pounds a day. I was amazed at the sum,
(13:08):
and must have showed my surprise upon my features. It
is a rare combination of qualities, as must have struck
you when you first read the advertisement, said Lord Lynchmere.
Such varied gifts may well command a high return, and
I do not conceal from you that your duties may
be arduous or even dangerous. Besides, it is possible that
(13:31):
one or two days may bring the matter to an end.
Please God, sighed his sister. So now, doctor Hamilton, may
I rely upon your aid, most undoubtedly said I. You
have only to tell me what my duties are. Your
first duty will be to return to your home. You
(13:53):
will pack up whatever you may need for a short
visit to the country. We start together from Paddington Station
at three forty the afternoon. Do we go far as
far as Pangborn. Meet me at the bookstall at three thirty.
I shall have the tickets. Goodbye, Doctor Hamilton. And by
(14:14):
the way, there are two things which I should be
very glad if you would bring with you in case
you have them. One is your case for collecting beetles,
and the other is a stick. And the thicker and
heavier the better. You may imagine that I had plenty
to think of from the time that I left brook
Street until I set out to meet Lord Lynchmere at Paddington.
(14:38):
The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in
kaleidoscope forms inside my brain until I had thought out
a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely and probable
than the last. And yet I felt that the truth
must be something grotesquely and probable also at last I
(14:59):
got gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and
contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I
had received. With a hand valise, specimen case and a
loaded cane. I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when
Lord Lynchmere arrived. He was an even smaller man than
I had thought, frail and piquey, with a manner which
(15:22):
was more nervous than it had been in the morning.
He wore a long, thick traveling ulster, and I observed
that he carried a heavy blackthorn cudgel in his hand.
I have the tickets, said he leading the way up
the platform. This is our train. I have engaged a carriage,
(15:43):
for I am particularly anxious to impress one or two
things upon you while we traveled down. And yet all
that he had to impress upon me might have been
said in a sentence, For it was that I was
to remember that I was there as a protection to himself,
and that I was not on any consideration to leave
him for an instant. This he repeated again and again
(16:08):
as our journey drew to a close, with an insistence
which showed that his nerves were thoroughly shaken. Yes, he
said at last, in answer to my looks rather than
to my words. I am nervous, doctor Hamilton. I have
always been a timid man, and my timidity depends upon
my frail physical health. But my soul is firm, and
(16:31):
I can bring myself up to face a danger which
a less nervous man might shrink from. What I am
doing now is done from no compulsion, but entirely from
a sense of duty. And yet it is beyond doubt
a desperate risk. If things should go wrong, I will
have some claims to the title of martyr. This eternal
(16:52):
reading of riddles was too much for me. I felt
that I must put a term to it. I think
it would be very much better, sir, if you were
to trust me entirely, said I. It is impossible for
me to act effectively when I do not know what
are the objects which we have in view, or even
where we are going. Oh as to where we are going,
(17:15):
there need be no mystery about that, said he. We
are going to Delamere Court, the residence of Sir Thomas Rossita,
with whose work you are so conversant as to the
exact object of our visit. I do not know that
at this stage of the proceedings anything would be gained,
Doctor Hamilton, by taking you into my complete confidence. I
(17:36):
may tell you that we are acting. I say we
because my sister Lady Rossita takes the same view as myself,
with the one object of preventing anything in the nature
of a family scandal. That being so, you can understand
that I am loathed to give any explanations which are
not absolutely necessary. It would be a different matter, Doctor
(17:59):
hamiltonton if I were asking your advice. As matters stand.
It is only your active help which I need, and
I will indicate to you from time to time how
you can best give it. There was nothing more to
be said, and a poor man can put up with
a good deal for twenty pounds a day. But I
felt none the less that Lord Lynchmere was acting rather
(18:22):
scurvily towards me. He wished to convert me into a
passive tool like the blackthorn in his hand. With his
sensitive disposition, I could imagine, however, that scandal would be
abhorrent to him, and I realized that he would not
take me into his confidence until no other course was
open to him. I must trust to my own eyes
(18:43):
and ears to solve the mystery. But I had every
confidence that I should not trust to them in vain.
Delamere Court lies a good five miles from Pangbourne Station,
and we drove for that distance in an open fly.
Lord Lynchmere sat in deep thought during the time, and
(19:04):
he never opened his mouth until we were close to
our destination. When he did speak, it was to give
me a piece of information which surprised me. Perhaps you
are not aware, said he that I am a medical
man like yourself. No, sir, I did not know it. Yes,
(19:26):
I qualified in my younger days, when there were several
lives between me and the peerage. I have not had
occasion to practice, but I have found it a useful
education all the same. I never regretted the years which
I devoted to medical study. These are the gates of
Delamere Court. We had come to two high pillars, crowned
(19:48):
with heraldic monsters, which flanked the opening of a winding avenue.
Over the laurel bushes and rhododendrons, I could see a long,
many gabled mansion, girdled with eyes and toned to the warm, cheery,
mellow glow of old brickwork. My eyes were still fixed
in admiration upon this delightful house when my companion plucked
(20:11):
nervously at my sleeve. Here's sir Thomas, he whispered, Please talk,
beetle all you can. A tall, thin figure, curiously angular
and bony, had emerged through a gap in the hedge
of laurels. In his hand he held a spud, and
he wore gauntleted gardener's gloves. A broad brimmed gray hat
(20:36):
cast his face into shadow, but it struck me as
exceedingly austere, with an ill nourished beard and harsh, irregular features.
The fly pulled up and Lord Lynchmere sprang out, My
dear Thomas, how are you? Said he heartily, But the
heartiness was by no means reciprocal. The owner of the
(20:58):
grounds glared at me over his brother in law's shoulder,
and I caught broken scraps of sentences, well known wishes,
hatred of strangers, unjustifiable intrusion, perfectly inexcusable. Then there was
a muttered explanation, and the two of them came over
together to the side of the fly. Let me present
(21:20):
you to Sir Thomas. Rossiter. Doctor Hamilton said, Lord Lynchmere,
you will find that you have a strong community of tastes.
I bowed. Sir Thomas stood very stiffly, looking at me
severely from under the broad brim of his hat. Lord
Lynchmere tells me that you know something about beetles, said he.
(21:42):
What do you know about beetles? I know what I
have learned from your work upon the Coleoptera, Sir Thomas,
I answered, give me the names of the better known
species of the British Scarabi, said he. I had not
expected an examination, but fortunately I was ready for one.
(22:03):
My answers seemed to please him, for his stern features relaxed.
You appear to have read my book with some prophets,
Sir said he. It is a rare thing for me
to meet any one who takes an intelligent interest in
such matters. People can find time for such trivialities as
sport or society, and yet the beatles are overlooked. I
(22:26):
can assure you that the greater part of the idiots
in this part of the country are unaware that I
have ever written a book at all. I the first
man who ever described the true function of the Ella Tria.
I am glad to see you, sir, and I have
no doubt that I can show you some specimens that
will interest you. He stepped into the fly and drove
(22:48):
with us up to the house, expounding to me as
we went some recent researches which he had made into
the anatomy of the Lady Bird. I have said that
Sir Thomas Rossita wore a large hat drawn down over
his brows. As he entered the hall. He uncovered himself,
and I was at once aware of a singular characteristic
(23:09):
which the hat had concealed. His forehead, which was naturally high,
and higher still on account of receding hair, was in
a continual state of movement. Some nervous weakness kept the
muscles in a constant spasm, which sometimes produced a mere
twitching and sometimes a curious rotary movement, unlike anything which
(23:31):
I had seen before. It was strikingly visible as he
turned towards us after entering the study, and seemed the
more singular from the contrast with the hard, steady gray
eyes which looked out from underneath those palpitating brows. I
am sorry, said he, that Lady Rossita is not here
(23:53):
to help me. Welcome you. By the way, Charles, did
Evelyn say anything about the date of her return. She
wished to stay in town for a few more days,
said Lord Lynchmere. You know how ladies social duties accumulate
if they have been for some time in the country.
My sister has many old friends in London at present well.
(24:15):
She is her own mistress, and I should not wish
to alter her plans. But I shall be glad when
I see her again. It is very lonely here without
her company. I was afraid that you might find it so,
and that was partly why I ran down. My young friend,
doctor Hamilton, is so much interested in the subject which
(24:36):
you have made your own, that I thought you would
not mind his accompanying me. I lead a retired life,
doctor Hamilton, and my aversion to strangers grows upon me,
said our host. I have sometimes thought that my nerves
are not as good as they were. My travels in
search of Beatles in my younger days took me into
(24:56):
many malarious and unhealthy places. But a rather coleopteris, like yourself,
is always a welcome guest, and I shall be delighted
if you will look over my collection, which I think
that I may, without exaggeration describe as the best in Europe,
and so no doubt it was. He had a huge
(25:18):
oaken cabinet arranged in shallow drawers, and here neatly ticketed
and classified were beetles from every corner of the earth,
black brown, blue, green, and mottled. Every now and then,
as he swept his hand over the lines and lines
of impaled insects, he would catch up some rare specimen,
(25:42):
and handling it with as much delicacy and reverence as
if it were a precious relic. He would hold forth
upon its peculiarities and the circumstances under which it came
into his possession. It was evidently an unusual thing for
him to meet with a sympathetic listener, and he talked
and talked till the spring evening had deepened into night,
(26:06):
and the gong announced that it was time to dress
for dinner. All the time Lord Lynchmere said nothing, but
he stood at his brother in law's elbow, and I
caught him continually shooting curious, little questioning glances into his face,
and his own features expressed some strong emotion, apprehension, sympathy, expectation.
(26:29):
I seemed to read them all. I was sure that
Lord Lynchmere was fearing something and awaiting something, But what
that something might be I could not imagine. The evening
passed quietly but pleasantly, and I should have been entirely
at my ease if it had not been for that
continual sense of tension upon the part of Lord Lynchmere.
(26:55):
As to our host, I found that he improved upon acquaintance.
He spoke constantly with affection of his absent wife and
also of his little son, who had recently been sent
to school. The house, he said, was not the same
without them. If it were not for his scientific studies,
he did not know how he could get through the days.
(27:16):
After dinner, we smoked for some time in the billiard room,
and finally went early to bed. And then it was that,
for the first time, the suspicion that Lord Lynchmere was
a lunatic crossed my mind. He followed me into my
bedroom when our host had retired. Doctor said, he, speaking
(27:38):
in a low, hurried voice, you must come with me.
You must spend the night in my bedroom. What do
you mean. I prefer not to explain, but this is
part of your duties. My room is close by, and
you can return to your own before the servant calls
you in the morning. But why, I asked, Because I
(28:01):
am nervous of being alone, said he. That's the reason.
Since you must have a reason. It seemed rank lunacy,
but the argument of those twenty pounds would overcome many objections.
I followed him to his room. Well, said I. There's
only room for one in that bed. Only one shall
(28:24):
occupy it, said he, and the other must remain on watch. Why,
said I. One would think you expected to be attacked.
Perhaps I do. In that case, why not lock your door?
Perhaps I want to be attacked. It looked more and
(28:47):
more like lunacy. However, there was nothing for it but
to submit. I shrugged my shoulders and sat down in
the arm chair beside the empty fireplace. I am to
remain on watch, then said I ruefully. We will divide
the night. If you will watch until two, I will
watch the remainder. Very good. Call me at two o'clock
(29:12):
then I will do. So. Keep your ears open, and
if you hear any sounds, wake me instantly. Instantly you hear,
you can rely upon it. I tried to look a
solemn as heeded, and for God's sake, don't go to sleep,
(29:32):
said he, and so, taking off only his coat, he
threw the coverlet over him and settled down for the night.
It was a melancholy vigil, and made more so by
my own sense of its folly. Supposing that by any
chance Lord Lynchmere had caused to suspect that he was
subject to danger in the house of Sir Thomas Roussita,
(29:55):
why on earth could he not lock his door and
so protect himself. His own answer that he might wish
to be attacked was absurd. Why should he possibly wish
to be attacked? And who would wish to attack him? Clearly,
Lord Lynchmey was suffering from some singular delusion, and the
result was that, on an imbecile pretext, I was to
(30:17):
be deprived of my night's rest. Still, however absurd, I
was determined to carry out his injunctions to the letter
as long as I was in his employment. I sat
therefore beside the empty fireplace and listened to a sonorous
chiming clock somewhere down the passage, which gurgled and struck
(30:38):
every quarter of an hour. It was an endless vigil,
save for that single clock. An absolute silence reigned throughout
the great house. A small lamp stood on a table
at my elbow, throwing a circle of light round my chair,
but leaving the corners of the room draped in shadow.
(31:00):
On the bed, Lord Lynchmere was breathing peacefully. I envied
him his quiet sleep, and again and again my own
eyelids drooped. But every time my sense of duty came
to my help, and I sat up, rubbing my eyes
and pinching myself, with a determination to see my irrational
watch to an end. And I did so. From down
(31:23):
the passage came the chimes of two o'clock, and I
laid my hand upon the shoulder of the sleeper. Instantly
he was sitting up, with an expression of the keenest
interest upon his face. You have heard something, no, sir,
it is two o'clock. Very good, I will watch. You
can go to sleep. I lay down under the coverlet
(31:48):
as he had done, and was soon unconscious. My last
recollection was of that circle of lamplight, and of the small,
hunched up figure and strained anxious face of Lord Lynchmere
in the center of it. How long I slept I
do not know, but I was suddenly aroused by a
sharp tug at my sleeve. The room was in darkness,
(32:10):
but a hot smell of oil told me that the
lamp had only that instant been extinguished. Quick, quick, said
Lord Lynchmere's voice in my ear. I sprang out of bed.
He's still dragging at my arm. Over here, he whispered,
and pulled me into a corner of the room. Hush, listen.
(32:33):
In the silence of the night, I could distinctly hear
that someone was coming down the corridor. It was a
stealthy step, faint and intermittent, as of a man who
paused cautiously after every stride, sometimes for half a minute.
There was no sound, and then came the shuffle and creak,
(32:55):
which told of a fresh advance. My companion was trembling
with excitement. His hand, which still held my sleeve, twitched
like a branch in the wind. What is it, I whispered,
It's he, sir Thomas, Yes, what does he want? Hush,
(33:19):
do nothing until I tell you. I was conscious now
that someone was trying the door. There was the faintest
little rattle from the handle, and then I dimly saw
a thin slit of subdued light. There was a lamp
burning somewhere far down the passage, and it just sufficed
(33:40):
to make the outside visible from the darkness of our room.
The grayish slit grew broader and broader, very gradually, very gently,
and then outlined against it, I saw the dark figure
of a man. He was squat and crouching with the
(34:02):
silhouette of a bulky and misshapened d wharf. Slowly the
door swung open, with this ominous shape framed in the
center of it, and then in an instant the crouching
figure shot up. There was a tiger spring across the room,
and thud, thud, thud, came three tremendous blows from some
(34:25):
heavy object upon the bed. I was so paralyzed with
amazement that I stood motionless and staring, until I was
aroused by a yell for help from my companion. The
open light shed enough light for me to see the
outline of things, and there was little Lord Lynchmere with
his arms around the neck of his brother in law,
holding bravely on to him like a game bull terrier
(34:47):
with its teeth into a gaunt deerhound. The tall, bony
man dashed himself about, writhing round and round to get
a grip upon his assailant, but the other, clutching on
from behind, still kept his hold, though his shrill, frightened
cries showed how unequal he felt the contest to be.
(35:08):
I sprang to the rescue, and the two of us
managed to throw Sir Thomas to the ground, though he
made his teeth meet in my shoulder. With all my
youth and weight and strength. It was a desperate struggle
before we could master his frenzied struggles, but at last
we secured his arms with the waistcoord of the dressing
gown which he was wearing. I was holding his legs,
(35:31):
while Lord Lynchmere was endeavoring to relight the lamp. When
there came the pattering of many feet in the passage,
and the butler and two footmen, who had been alarmed
by the cries, rushed into the room. With their aid.
We had no further difficulty in securing our prisoner, who
lay foaming and glaring upon the ground. One glance at
(35:53):
his face was enough to prove that he was a
dangerous maniac, while the short, heavy hammer which lay beside
the bed showed how murderous had been his intentions. Do
not use any violence, said Lord Lynchmere, as we raised
the struggling man to his feet. He will have a
period of stupor after this excitement. I believe that it
(36:16):
is coming on already. As he spoke, the convulsions became
less violent, and the madman's head fell forward upon his breast,
as if you were overcome by sleep. We led him
down the passage and stretched him upon his own bed,
where he lay unconscious, breathing heavily. Two of you will
(36:37):
watch him, said Lord Lynchmere. And now doctor Hamilton, if
you will return with me to my room, I will
give you the explanation which my horror of scandal has
perhaps caused me to delay too long. Come what may.
You will never have cause to regret your share in
this night's work. The case may be made clear in
(36:59):
a very words, he continued, when we were alone. My
poor brother in law is one of the best fellows
upon earth, a loving husband and an esteemable father. But
he comes from a stock which is deeply tainted with insanity.
He has more than once had homicidal outbreaks, which are
the more painful because his inclination is always to attack
(37:22):
the very person, to whom he is most attached. His
son was sent away to school to avoid this danger,
and then came an attempt upon my sister, his wife,
from which he escaped with injuries that you may have
observed when you met her in London. You understand that
he knows nothing of the matter when he is in
his sound senses, and would ridicule the suggestion that he could,
(37:45):
under any circumstances, injure those whom he loves so dearly.
It is often, as you know, a characteristic of such
maladies that it is absolutely impossible to convince the man
who suffers from them of their existence. Our great object was,
of course, to get him under restraint before he could
(38:07):
stain his hands with blood, but the matter was full
of difficulty. He is a recluse in his habits and
would not see any medical man. Besides, it was necessary
for our purpose that the medical man should convince himself
of his insanity. And he is as sane as you are,
I save on these very rare occasions. But fortunately, before
(38:31):
he has these attacks, he always shows certain premonitionary symptoms
which are providential danger signals, warning us to be upon
our guard. The chief of these is that nervous contortion
of the forehead, which you must have observed. This is
a phenomenon which always appears from three to four days
before his attacks of frenzy. The moment it showed itself,
(38:55):
his wife came into town on some pretext and took
refuge in my house in brook Street. It remained for
me to convince a medical man of Sir Thomas's insanity,
without which it was impossible to put him where he
could do no harm. The first problem was how to
get a medical man into his house. I bethought me
(39:15):
of his interest in beetles and his love for any
one who shared his tastes. I advertised therefore, and was
fortunate enough to find anew the very man I wanted.
A stout companion was necessary, for I knew that the
lunacy could only be proved by a murderous assault, and
I had every reason to believe that that assault would
be made upon myself, since he had the warmest regard
(39:38):
for me in his moments of sanity. I think your
intelligence will supply all the rest. I did not know
that the attack would come by night, but I thought
it very probable. For the crises of such cases do
usually occur in the early hours of the morning. I
am a very nervous man myself, but I saw no
(39:59):
other way in which I could remove this terrible danger
from my sister's life. I need not ask you whether
you are willing to sign the lunacy papers. Undoubtedly, but
two signatures are necessary. You forget that I am myself
a holder of a medical degree. I have the papers
on a side table here, so if you will be
(40:21):
good enough to sign them now, we can have the
patient removed in the morning. So that was my visit
to Sir Thomas Rossita, the famous beetle hunter, and that
was also my first step upon the ladder of success.
For Lady Rossita and Lord Lynchmere have proved to be
staunch friends, and they have never forgotten my association with
(40:42):
them in their time of need. Sir Thomas is out
and said to be cured. But I still think that
if I spent another night at Delamere Court, I should
be inclined to lock my door upon the inside end
of the beatle unter
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