Detective and mystery stories, English; Horror tales, English
"When he came into the glare of the lamp, I saw at once that he had
fallen upon very evil days. He had walked from Liverpool, and he was
tired and ill. I was quite shocked by the expression upon his face.
My medical knowledge told me that there was some serious internal
malady. He had been drinking also, and his face was bruised as the
result of a scuffle which he had had with some sailors. It was to
cover his injured eye that he wore this patch, which he removed when he
entered the room. He was himself dressed in a pea-jacket and flannel
shirt, and his feet were bursting through his boots. But his poverty
had only made him more savagely vindictive towards me. His hatred rose
to the height of a mania. I had been rolling in money in England,
according to his account, while he had been starving in South America.
I cannot describe to you the threats which he uttered or the insults
which he poured upon me. My impression is, that hardships and
debauchery had unhinged his reason. He paced about the room like a
wild beast, demanding drink, demanding money, and all in the foulest
language. I am a hot-tempered man, but I thank God that I am able to
say that I remained master of myself, and that I never raised a hand
against him. My coolness only irritated him the more. He raved, he
cursed, he shook his fists in my face, and then suddenly a horrible
spasm passed over his features, he clapped his hand to his side, and
with a loud cry he fell in a heap at my feet. I raised him up and
stretched him upon the sofa, but no answer came to my exclamations, and
the hand which I held in mine was cold and clammy. His diseased heart
had broken down. His own violence had killed him.
"For a long time I sat as if I were in some dreadful dream, staring at
the body of my brother. I was aroused by the knocking of Mrs. Woods,
who had been disturbed by that dying cry. I sent her away to bed.
Shortly afterwards a patient tapped at the surgery door, but as I took
no notice, he or she went off again. Slowly and gradually as I sat
there a plan was forming itself in my head in the curious automatic way
in which plans do form. When I rose from my chair my future movements
were finally decided upon without my having been conscious of any
process of thought. It was an instinct which irresistibly inclined me
towards one course.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account