the lost house-第5部分

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breakdown。　I　haven't　been　five　years　in　the　newspaper　business
without　knowing　all　there　is　to　know　about　nerves。　That's　it！〃　he
cried。　〃I　will　do　that！　And　if　Mr。　Bluebeard　Svengali；　the
Strangler　of　Paris　person；　won't　take　me　in　as　a　patient；　we'll
come　back　with　a　couple　of　axes　and　BREAK　in。　But　we'll　try　the
nervous　breakdown　first；　and　we'll　try　it　now。　I　will　be　a　naval
officer；〃　declared　Ford。　〃I　made　the　round…the…world　cruise　with
our　fleet　as　a　correspondent；　and　I　know　enough　sea　slang　to　fool
a　medical　man。　I　am　a　naval　officer　whose　nerves　have　gone　wrong。
I　have　heard　of　his　sanatorium　through〃　〃How；〃　asked　Ford
sharply；　〃have　I　heard　of　his　sanatorium？〃

〃You　saw　his　advertisement　in　the　DAILY　WORLD；〃　prompted　Cuthbert。
〃'Home　of　convalescents；　mental　and　nervous　troubles　cured。'〃

〃And；〃　continued　Ford；　〃I　have　come　to　him　for　rest　and　treatment。
My　name　is　Lieutenant　Henry　Grant。　I　arrived　in　London　two　weeks
ago　on　the　MAURETANIA。　But　my　name　was　not　on　the　passenger…list；
because　I　did　not　want　the　Navy　Department　to　know　I　was　taking　my
leave　abroad。　I　have　been　stopping　at　my　own　address　in　Jermyn
Street；　and　my　references　are　yourself；　the　Embassy；　and　my
landlord。　You　will　telephone　him　at　once　that；　if　any　one　asks
after　Henry　Grant；　he　is　to　say　what　you　tell　him　to　say。　And　if
any　one　sends　for　Henry　Grant's　clothes；　he　is　to　send　MY　clothes。〃

〃But　you　don't　expect　to　be　in　there　as　long　as　that？〃　exclaimed
Cuthbert。

〃I　do　not；〃　said　Ford。　〃But；　if　he　takes　me　in；　I　must　make　a　bluff
of　sending　for　my　things。　No；　either　I　will　be　turned　out　in　five
minutes；　or　if　he　accepts　me　as　a　patient　I　will　be　there　until
midnight。　If　I　cannot　get　the　girl　out　of　the　house　by　midnight；　it
will　mean　that　I　can't　get　out　myself；　and　you　had　better　bring　the
police　and　the　coroner。〃

〃Do　you　mean　it？〃　asked　Cuthbert。

〃I　most　certainly　do！〃　exclaimed　Ford。

Until　twelve　I　want　a　chance　to　get　this　story　exclusively　for　our
paper。　If　she　is　not　free　by　then　it　means　I　have　fallen　down　on
it；　and　you　and　the　police　are　to　begin　to　batter　in　the　doors。〃

The　two　young　men　left　the　cab；　and　at　some　distance　from　each
other　walked　to　Sowell　Street。　At　the　house　of　Dr。　Prothero；　Ford
stopped　and　rang　the　bell。　From　across　the　street　Cuthbert　saw　the
door　open　and　the　figure　of　a　man　of　almost　gigantic　stature　block
the　doorway。　For　a　moment　he　stood　there；　and　then　Cuthbert　saw　him
step　to　one　side；　saw　Ford　enter　the　house　and　the　door　close　upon
him。　Cuthbert　at　once　ran　to　a　telephone；　and；　having　instructed
Ford's　landlord　as　to　the　part　he　was　to　play；　returned　to　Sowell
Street。　There；　in　a　state　nearly　approaching　a　genuine　nervous
breakdown；　he　continued　his　vigil。

Even　without　his　criminal　record　to　cast　a　glamour　over　him；　Ford
would　have　found　Dr。　Prothero；　a　disturbing　person。　His　size　was
enormous；　his　eyes　piercing；　sinister；　unblinking；　and　the　hands
that　could　strangle　a　bull；　and　with　which　as　though　to　control
himself；　he　continually　pulled　at　his　black　beard；　were　gigantic；
of　a　deadly　white；　with　fingers　long　and　prehensile。　In　his　manner
he　had　all　the　suave　insolence　of　the　Oriental　and　the　suspicious
alertness　of　one　constantly　on　guard；　but　also；　as　Ford　at　once
noted；　of　one　wholly　without　fear。　He　had　not　been　over　a　moment　in
his　presence　before　the　reporter　felt　that　to　successfully　lie　to
such　a　man　might　be　counted　as　a　triumph。

Prothero　opened　the　door　into　a　little　office　leading　off　the　hall；
and　switched　on　the　electric　lights。　For　some　short　time；　without
any　effort　to　conceal　his　suspicion；　he　stared　at　Ford　in　silence。

〃Well？〃　he　said；　at　last。　His　tone　was　a　challenge。

Ford　had　already　given　his　assumed　name　and　profession；　and　he　now
ran　glibly　into　the　story　he　had　planned。　He　opened　his　card…case
and　looked　into　it　doubtfully。　〃I　find　I　have　no　card　with　me；〃　he
said；　but　I　am；　as　I　told　you；　Lieutenant　Grant；　of　the　United
States　Navy。　I　am　all　right　physically；　except　for　my　nerves。
They've　played　me　a　queer　trick。　If　the　facts　get　out　at　home；　it
might　cost　me　my　commission。　So　I've　come　over　here　for　treatment。〃

〃Why　to　ME？〃　asked　Prothero。

〃I　saw　by　your　advertisement；〃　said　the　reporter；　〃that　you　treated
for　nervous　mental　troubles。　Mine　is　an　illusion；〃　he　went　on。　〃I
see　things；　or；　rather；　always　one　thing…a　battle…ship　coming　at　us
head　on。　For　the　last　year　I've　been　executive　officer　of　the
KEARSARGE；　and　the　responsibility　has　been　too　much　for　me。〃

〃You　see　a　battle…ship？〃　inquired　the　Jew。

〃A　phantom　battle…ship；〃　Ford　explained；　〃a　sort　OF　FLYING
DUTCHMAN。　The　time　I　saw　it　I　was　on　the　bridge；　and　I　yelled　and
telegraphed　the　engine…room。　I　brought　the　ship　to　a　full　stop；　and
backed　her。　But　it　was　dirty　weather；　and　the　error　was　passed
over。　After　that；　when　I　saw　the　thing　coming　I　did　nothing。　But
each　time　I　think　it　is　real。〃　Ford　shivered　slightly　and　glanced
about　him。　〃Some　day；〃　he　added　fatefully；　it　WILL　be　real；　and　I
will　NOT　signal；　and　the　ship　will　sink！〃

In　silence；　Prothero　observed　his　visitor　closely。　The　young　man
seemed　sincere；　genuine。　His　manner　was　direct　and　frank。　He　looked
the　part　he　had　assumed；　as　one　used　to　authority。

〃My　fees　are　large；〃　said　the　Russian。

At　this　point；　had　Ford；　regardless　of　terms；　exhibited　a　hopeful
eagerness　to　at　once　close　with　him；　the　Jew　would　have　shown　him
the　door。　But　Ford　was　on　guard；　and　well　aware　that　a　lieutenant
in　the　navy　had　but　few　guineas　to　throw　away　on　medicines。　He　made
a　movement　as　though　to　withdraw。

〃Then　I　am　afraid；〃　he　said；　〃I　must　go　somewhere　else。〃

His　reluctance　apparently　only　partially　satisfied　the　Jew。

Ford　adopted　opposite　tactics。　He　was　never　without　ready　money。
His　paper　saw　to　it　that　in　its　interests　he　was　always　able　at　any
moment　to　pay　for　a　special　train　across　Europe；　or　to　bribe　the
entire　working　staff　of　a　cable　office。　From　his　breast…pocket　he
took　a　blue　linen　envelope；　and　allowed　the　Jew　to　see　that　it　was
filled　with　twenty…　pound　notes。　〃I　have　means　outside　my　pay；〃
said　Ford。

I　would　give　almost　any　price　to　the　man　who　can　cure　me。〃　The　eyes
of　the　Russian　flashed　avariciously。

〃I　will　arrange　the　terms　to　suit　you；〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Your　case
interests　me。　Do　you　See　this…mirage　only　at　sea？〃

〃In　any　open　place；〃　Ford　assured　him。　〃In　a　park　or　public　square；
but　of　course　most　frequently　at　sea。〃

The　quack　waved　his　great　hands　as　though　brushing　aside　a　curtain。

〃I　will　remove　the　illusion；〃　he　said；　〃and　give　you　others　more
pretty。〃　He　smiled　meaningfullyan　evil；　leering　smile。　〃When　will
you　come？〃　he　asked。　Ford　glanced　about　him　nervously。

〃I　shall　stay　now；〃　he　said。　〃　I　confess；　in　the　streets　and　in　my
lodgings　I　am　frightened。　You　give　me　confidence。　I　want　to　stay
near　you。　I　feel　safe　with　you。　If　you　will　give　me　writing…paper；
I　will　send　for　my　things。〃

For　a　moment　the　Jew　hesitated；　and　then　motioned　to　a　desk。　As
Ford　wrote；　Prothero　stood　near　him；　and　the　reporter　knew　that
over　his　shoulder　the　Jew　was　reading　what　he　wrote。　Ford　gave　him
the　note；　unsealed；　and　asked　that　it　be　forwarded　at　once　to　his
lodgings。

〃To…morrow；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　call　up　our　Embassy；　and　give　my
address　to　our　Naval　Attache。

〃I　will　attend　to　that；〃　said　Prothero。

From　now　you　are　in　my　hands；　and　you　can　communicate　with　the
outside　only　through　me。　You　are　to　have　absolute　rest　no　books；
no　letters；　no　papers。　And　you　will　be　fed　from　a　spoon。　I　will
explain　my　treatment　later。　You　will　now　go　to　your　room；　and　you
will　remain　there　until　you　are　a　well　man。〃

Ford　had　no　wish　to　be　at　once　shut　off　from　the　rest　of　the　house。
The　odor　of　cooking　came　through　the　hall；　and　seemed　to　offer　an
excuse　for　delay。

〃I　smell　food；〃　he　laughed。　〃And　I'm　terrifically　hungry。　Can't　I
have　a　farewell　dinner　before　you　begin　feeding　me　from　a　spoon？〃

The　Jew　was　about　to　refuse；　but；　with　his　guilty　knowledge　of　what
was　going　forward　in　the　house；　he　could　not　be　too　sure　of　those
he　allowed　to　enter　it。　He　wanted　more　time　to　spend　in　studying
this　new　patient；　and　the　dinner…table　seemed　to　offer　a　place
where　he　could　do　so　without　the　other　suspecting　he　was　under
observation。

〃My　associate　and　I　were　just　about　to　dine；〃　he　said。　〃You　will
wait　here　until　I　have　another　place　laid；　and　you　can　join　us。〃

He　departed；　walking　heavily　down　the　hall；　but　almost　at　once
Ford；　whose　ears　were　alert　for　any　sound；　heard　him　returning；
approaching　stealthily　on　tiptoe。　If　by　this　maneuver　the　Jew　had
hoped　to　discover　his　patient　in　some　indiscretion；　he　was
unsuccessful；　for　he　found　Ford　standing　just　where　he　had　left
him；　with　his　back　turned　to　the　door；　and　gazing　with　apparent
interest　at　a　picture　on　the　wall。　The　significance　of　the　incident
was　not　lost　upon　the　intruder。　It　taught　him　he　was　still　under
surveillance；　and　that　he　must　bear　himself　warily。　Murmuring　some
excuse　for　having　returned；　the　Jew　again　departed；　and　in　a　few
minutes　Ford　heard　his　voice；　and　that　of　another　man；　engaged　in
low　tones　in　what　was　apparently　an　eager　argument。

Only　once　was　the　voice　of　the　other　man　raised　sufficiently　for
Ford　to　distinguish　his　words。　〃He　is　an　American；〃　protested　the
voice；　〃that　makes　it　worse。〃

Ford　guessed　that　the　speaker　was　Pearsall；　and　that　against　his
admittance　to　the　house　he　was　making　earnest　protest。　A　door；
closing　with　a　bang；　shut　off　the　argument；　but　within　a　few
minutes　it　was　evident　the　Jew　had　carried　his　point；　for　he
reappeared　to　announce　that　dinner　was　waiting。　It　was　served　in　a
room　at　the　farther　end　of　the　hall；　and　at　the　table；　which　was
laid　for　three；　Ford　found　a　man　already　seated。　Prothero
introduced　him　as　〃my　associate；〃　but　from　his　presence　in　the
house；　and　from　the　fact　that　he　was　an　American；　Ford　knew　that　he
was　Pearsall。

Pearsall　was　a　man　of　fifty。　He　was　tall；　spare；　with　closely
shaven　face　and　gray　hair；　worn　rather　long。　He　spoke　with　the
accent　of　a　Southerner；　and　although　to　Ford　he　was　studiously
polite；　he　was　obviously　greatly　ill　at　ease。　He　had　th