"Most considerate of you," I murmured, "most considerate." But the man only chuckled by way of answer, and, swinging round, continued to stare into the gloomy, filthy hall. Outside the storm was increasing in fury. Flash followed flash with such rapidity that the whole sky westwards formed into a dancing sheet of flame, while the roll of the thunder seemed like the continuous roar of a bombardment with heavy guns. But I was aware of it only subconsciously; my attention was concentrated on the gaunt man standing so motionless in the centre of the room. So occupied was I with him that I never heard his wife’s approach until suddenly, looking up, I saw that by the door there stood a woman—a woman who paid no attention to me, but only stared fearfully at her husband, with a look of dreadful terror in her eyes. She was young, far younger than the man—and pretty in a homely, countrified way. And as she stared at the gaunt, cadaverous husband she seemed to be trying to speak, while ceaselessly she twisted a wisp of a pocket-handkerchief in her hands. "I didn’t expect you home so soon, Rupert," she stammered at length. "Have you had a good day?" "Excellent," he answered, and his eyes seemed to glow more fiendishly than ever. "And now I have come home to my little wife, and her loving welcome." She laughed a forced, unnatural laugh, and came a few steps into the room. "There is no oil in the lamp, my dear," he continued, suavely. "Have you been too busy to remember to fill it?" "I will go and get some," she said, quickly turning towards the door. But the man’s hand shot out and caught her arm, and at his touch she shrank away, cowering. "I think not," he cried, harshly. "We will sit in the darkness, my dear, and—wait." "How mysterious you are, Rupert!" She forced herself to speak lightly. "What are we going to wait for?" But the man only laughed—a low, mocking chuckle—and pulled the girl nearer to him. "Aren’t you going to kiss me, Mary? It’s such a long time since you kissed me—a whole twelve hours." The girl’s free hand clenched tight, but she made no other protest as her husband took her in his arms and kissed her. Only it seemed to me that her whole body was strained and rigid, as if to brace herself to meet a caress she loathed.... In fact the whole situation was becoming distinctly embarrassing. The man seemed to have completely forgotten my existence, and the girl so far had not even looked at me. Undoubtedly a peculiar couple, and a peculiar house. Those cobwebs: I couldn’t get them out of my mind. "Hadn’t I better go and fill the lamp now?" she asked after a time. "Those candles give a very poor light, don’t they?" "Quite enough for my purpose, my dear wife," replied the man. "Come and sit down and talk to me."