第24章 法官的房子〔9〕

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偄Judgewasseatedinagreathigh-backedcarvedoakchair,ontheright-handsideofagreatstonefirelacewhere,inthecorner,aroehungdownfromtheceiling,itsendlyingcoiledonthefloor.Withafeelingofsomethinglikehorror,Malcolmsonrecognizedthesceneoftheroomasitstood,andgazedaroundhiminanawestruckmannerasthoughheexectedtofindsomestrangeresencebehindhim.Thenhelookedovertothecornerofthefirelace—andwithaloudcryheletthelamfallfromhishand.

There,intheJudge'sarm-chair,withtheroehangingbehind,sattheratwiththeJudge'sbalefuleyes,nowintensifiedandwithafiendishleer.Saveforthehowlingofthestormwithouttherewassilence.

ThefallenlamrecalledMalcolmsontohimself.Fortunatelyitwasofmetal,andsotheoilwasnotsilt.However,theracticalneedofattendingtoitsettledatoncehisnervousarehension.Whenhehadturneditout,hewiedhisbrowandthoughtforamoment.

"Thiswillnotdo,

"hesaidtohimself.

"IfIgoonlikethisIshallbecomeacrazyfool.Thismuststo!IromisedthedoctorIwouldnottaketea.Faith,hewasrettyright!Mynervesmusthavebeengettingintoaqueerstate.FunnyIdidnotnoticeit.Ineverfeltbetterinmylife.However,itisallrightnow,andIshallnotbesuchafoolagain.

"

Thenhemixedhimselfagoodstiffglassofbrandyandwaterandresolutelysatdowntohiswork.

Itwasnearlyanhourwhenhelookedufromhisbook,disturbedbythesuddenstillness.Without,thewindhowledandroaredlouderthanever,andtheraindroveinsheetsagainstthewindows,beatinglikehailontheglass;butwithintherewasnosoundwhateversavetheechoofthewindasitroaredinthegreatchimney,andnowandthenahissasafewraindrosfoundtheirwaydownthechimneyinalullofthestorm.Thefirehadfallenlowandhadceasedtoflame,thoughitthrewoutaredglow.Malcolmsonlistenedattentively,andresentlyheardathin,squeakingnoise,veryfaint.Itcamefromthecorneroftheroomwheretheroehungdown,andhethoughtitwasthecreakingoftheroeonthefloorastheswayingofthebellraisedandloweredit.Lookingu,however,hesawinthedimlightthegreatratclingingtotheroeandgnawingit.Theroewasalreadynearlygnawedthrough—hecouldseethelightercolourwherethestrandswerelaidbare.Ashelookedthejobwascomleted,andtheseveredendoftheroefellclatteringontheoakenfloor,whilstforaninstantthegreatratremainedlikeaknobortasselattheendoftheroe,whichnowbegantoswaytoandfro.Malcolmsonfeltforamomentanotherangofterrorashethoughtthatnowtheossibilityofcallingtheouterworldtohisassistancewascutoff,butanintenseangertookitslace,andseizingthebookhewasreadinghehurleditattherat.Theblowwaswellaimed,butbeforethemissilecouldreachhimtheratdroedoffandstruckthefloorwithasoftthud.Malcolmsoninstantlyrushedovertowardshim,butitdartedawayanddisaearedinthedarknessoftheshadowsoftheroom.Malcolmsonfeltthathisworkwasoverforthenight,anddeterminedthenandtheretovarythemonotonyoftheroceedingsbyahuntfortherat,andtookoffthegreenshadeofthelamsoastoinsureawidersreadinglight.Ashedidsothegloomoftheuerartoftheroomwasrelieved,andinthenewfloodoflight,greatbycomarisonwiththereviousdarkness,theicturesonthewallstoodoutboldly.Fromwherehestood,Malcolmsonsawrightoositetohimthethirdictureonthewallfromtherightofthefirelace.Herubbedhiseyesinsurrise,andthenagreatfearbegantocomeuonhim.

Inthecentreoftheicturewasagreatirregularatchofbrowncanvas,asfreshaswhenitwasstretchedontheframe.Thebackgroundwasasbefore,withchairandchimney-cornerandroe,butthefigureoftheJudgehaddisaeared.

Malcolmson,almostinachillofhorror,turnedslowlyround,andthenhebegantoshakeandtremblelikeamaninaalsy.Hisstrengthseemedtohavelefthim,andhewasincaableofactionormovement,hardlyevenofthought.Hecouldonlyseeandhear.