England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Married people -- Fiction; Mystery fiction
“Part Two; Autobiographical Style,” he announced, with a wave of his
hand. “I hopped along the Guests’ Corridor, and turned into the South
Corridor. I stopped at the little study. Door open; nobody there. I
crossed the study to the second door, communicating with Mrs. Macallan’s
bedchamber. Locked! I looked through the keyhole Was there something
hanging over it, on the other side? I can’t say--I only know there was
nothing to be seen but blank darkness. I listened. Nothing to be heard.
Same blank darkness, same absolute silence, inside the locked second
door of Mrs. Eustace’s room, opening on the corridor. I went on to her
husband’s bedchamber. I had the worst possible opinion of Mrs. Beauly--I
should not have been in the least surprised if I had caught her in
Eustace’s room. I looked through the keyhole. In this case, the key
was out of it--or was turned the right way for me--I don’t know which.
Eustace’s bed was opposite the door. No discovery. I could see him, all
by himself, innocently asleep. I reflected a little. The back staircase
was at the end of the corridor, beyond me. I slid down the stairs, and
looked about me on the lower floor, by the light of the night-lamp.
Doors all fast locked and keys outside, so that I could try them myself.
House door barred and bolted. Door leading into the servants’ offices
barred and bolted. I got back to my own room, and thought it out
quietly. Where could she be? Certainly _in_ the house, somewhere. Where?
I had made sure of the other rooms; the field of search was exhausted.
She could only be in Mrs. Macallan’s room--the _one_ room which had
baffled my investigations; the _only_ room which had not lent itself
to examination. Add to this that the key of the door in the study,
communicating with Mrs. Macallan’s room, was stated in the nurse’s
evidence to be missing; and don’t forget that the dearest object of Mrs.
Beauly’s life (on the showing of her own letter, read at the Trial) was
to be Eustace Macallan’s happy wife. Put these things together in your
own mind, and you will know what my thoughts were, as I sat waiting for
events in my chair, without my telling you. Toward four o’clock, strong
as I am, fatigue got the better of me. I fell asleep. Not for long.
I awoke with a start and looked at my watch. Twenty-five minutes past
four. Had she got back to her room while I was asleep? I hopped to her
door and listened. Not a sound. I softly opened the door. The room was
empty. I went back again to my own room to wait and watch. It was hard
work to keep my eyes open. I drew up the window to let the cool air
refresh me; I fought hard with exhausted nature, and exhausted nature
won. I fell asleep again. This time it was eight in the morning when
I awoke. I have goodish ears, as you may have noticed. I heard women’s
voices talking under my open window. I peeped out. Mrs. Beauly and her
maid in close confabulation! Mrs. Beauly and her maid looking guiltily
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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