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ItrustthatmyreaderswillnotsetmedownasaninquisitivebusybodywhenIsaythatasthedaysandweekswentbyIfoundmyattentionandmythoughtsmoreandmoreattractedtoGeneralHeatherstoneandthemysterywhichsurroundedhim.
ItwasinvainthatIendeavouredbyhardworkandastrictattentiontothelaird’saffairstodirectmymindintosomemorehealthychannel.
DowhatIwould,onlandoronthewater,Iwouldstillfindmyselfpuzzlingoverthisonequestion,untilitobtainedsuchaholduponmethatIfeltitwasuselessformetoattempttoapplymyselftoanythinguntilIhadcometosomesatisfactorysolutionofit.
Icouldneverpassthedarklineoffive-footfencing,andthegreatirongate,withitsmassivelock,withoutpausingandrackingmybrainastowhatthesecretmightbewhichwasshutinbythatinscrutablebarrier.
Yet,withallmyconjecturesandallmyobservations,Icouldnevercometoanyconclusionwhichcouldforamomentbeacceptedasanexplanationofthefacts.
Mysisterhadbeenoutforastrollonenight,visitingasickpeasantorperformingsomeotherofthenumerousactsofcharitybywhichshehadmadeherselfbelovedbythewholecountryside.
“John,”shesaidwhenshereturned,“haveyouseenCloomberHallatnight?”
“No,”Ianswered,layingdownthebookwhichIwasreading.“NotsincethatmemorableeveningwhenthegeneralandMr.McNeilcameovertomakeaninspection.”
“Well,John,willyouputyourhatonandcomealittlewalkwithme?”
Icouldseebyhermannerthatsomethinghadagitatedorfrightenedher.
“Why,blessthegirl!”criedIboisterously.“Whatisthematter?TheoldHallisnotonfire,surely?YoulookasgraveasifallWigtownwereinablaze.”
“Notquitesobadasthat,”shesaid,smiling.“Butdocomeout,Jack.Ishouldverymuchlikeyoutoseeit.”
Ihadalwaysrefrainedfromsayinganythingwhichmightalarmmysister,sothatsheknewnothingoftheinterestwhichourneighbours’doingshadforme.
AtherrequestItookmyhatandfollowedheroutintothedarkness.
Sheledthewayalongalittlefootpathoverthemoor,whichbroughtustosomerisingground,fromwhichwecouldlookdownupontheHallwithoutourviewbeingobstructedbyanyofthefir-treeswhichhadbeenplantedroundit.
“Lookatthat!”saidmysister,pausingatthesummitofthislittleeminence.
Cloomberlaybeneathusinablazeoflight.
Inthelowerfloorstheshuttersobscuredtheillumination,butabove,fromthebroadwindowsofthesecondstoreytothethinslitsatthesummitofthetower,therewasnotachinkoranaperturewhichdidnotsendforthastreamofradiance.
SodazzlingwastheeffectthatforamomentIwaspersuadedthatthehousewasonfire,butthesteadinessandclearnessofthelightsoonfreedmefromthatapprehension.
Itwasclearlytheresultofmanylampsplacedsystematicallyalloverthebuilding.
Itaddedtothestrangeeffectthatallthesebrilliantlyilluminatedroomswereapparentlyuntenanted,andsomeofthem,sofaraswecouldjudge,werenotevenfurnished.
Throughthewholegreathousetherewasnosignofmovementoroflife—nothingbuttheclear,unwinkingfloodofyellowlight.
IwasstilllostinwonderatthesightwhenIheardashort,quicksobatmyside.
“Whatisit,Esther,dear?”Iasked,lookingdownatmycompanion.
“Ifeelsofrightened.Oh,John,John,takemehome,Ifeelsofrightened!”
Sheclungtomyarm,andpulledatmycoatinaperfectfrenzyoffear.
“It’sallsafe,darling,”Isaidsoothingly.“Thereisnothingtofear.Whathasupsetyouso?”
“Iamafraidofthem,John;IamafraidoftheHeatherstones.
Whyistheirhouselituplikethiseverynight?
Ihaveheardfromothersthatitisalwaysso.
Andwhydoestheoldmanrunlikeafrightenedhareifanyonecomesuponhim.
Thereissomethingwrongaboutit,John,anditfrightensme.”
IpacifiedheraswellasIcould,andledherhomewithme,whereItookcarethatsheshouldhavesomehotportnegusbeforegoingtobed.
IavoidedthesubjectoftheHeatherstonesforfearofexcitingher,andshedidnotrecurtoitofherownaccord.
Iwasconvinced,however,fromwhatIhadheardfromher,thatshehadforsometimebackbeenmakingherownobservationsuponourneighbours,andthatindoingsoshehadputaconsiderablestrainuponhernerves.
IcouldseethatthemerefactoftheHallbeingilluminatedatnightwasnotenoughtoaccountforherextremeagitation,andthatitmusthavederiveditsimportanceinhereyesfrombeingoneinachainofincidents,allofwhichhadleftaweirdorunpleasantimpressionuponhermind.
ThatwastheconclusionwhichIcametoatthetime,andIhavereasontoknownowthatIwasright,andthatmysisterhadevenmorecausethanIhadmyselfforbelievingthattherewassomethinguncannyaboutthetenantsofCloomber.
Ourinterestinthemattermayhavearisenatfirstfromnothinghigherthancuriosity,buteventssoonlookaturnwhichassociatedusmorecloselywiththefortunesoftheHeatherstonefamily.
Mordaunthadtakenadvantageofmyinvitationtocomedowntothelaird’shouse,andonseveraloccasionshebroughtwithhimhisbeautifulsister.
Thefourofuswouldwanderoverthemoorstogether,orperhapsifthedaywerefinesetsailuponourlittleskiffandstandoffintotheIrishSea.
Onsuchexcursionsthebrotherandsisterwouldbeasmerryandashappyastwochildren.
Itwasakeenpleasuretothemtoescapefromtheirdullfortress,andtosee,ifonlyforafewhours,friendlyandsympatheticfacesroundthem.
Therecouldbebutoneresultwhenfouryoungpeoplewerebroughttogetherinsweet,forbiddenintercourse.Acquaintance-shipwarmedintofriendship,andfriendshipflamedsuddenlyintolove.
GabrielsitsbesidemenowasIwrite,andsheagreeswithmethat,dearasisthesubjecttoourselves,thewholestoryofourmutualaffectionisoftoopersonalanaturetobemorethantoucheduponinthisstatement.
Sufficeittosaythat,withinafewweeksofourfirstmeetingMordauntHeatherstonehadwontheheartofmyclearsister,andGabrielhadgivenmethatpledgewhichdeathitselfwillnotbeabletobreak.
Ihavealludedinthisbriefwaytothedoubletiewhichsprangupbetweenthetwofamilies,becauseIhavenowishthatthisnarrativeshoulddegenerateintoanythingapproachingtoromance,orthatIshouldlosethethreadofthefactswhichIhavesetmyselftochronicle.
TheseareconnectedwithGeneralHeatherstone,andonlyindirectlywithmyownpersonalhistory.
ItisenoughifIsaythatafterourengagementthevisitstoBranksomebecamemorefrequent,andthatourfriendswereablesometimestospendawholedaywithuswhenbusinesshadcalledthegeneraltoWigtown,orwhenhisgoutconfinedhimtohisroom.
Astoourgoodfather,hewaseverreadytogreetuswithmanysmalljestsandtagsofOrientalpoemsappropriatetotheoccasion,forwehadnosecretsfromhim,andhealreadylookeduponusallashischildren.
Thereweretimeswhenonaccountofsomepeculiarlydarkorrestlessfitofthegeneral’sitwasimpossibleforweeksonendforeitherGabrielorMordaunttogetawayfromthegrounds.
Theoldmanwouldevenstandonguard,agloomyandsilentsentinel,attheavenuegate,orpaceupanddownthedriveasthoughhesuspectedthatattemptshadbeenmadetopenetratehisseclusion.
portraitofSirArthurConanDoyle
PassingofaneveningIhaveseenhisdark,grimfigureflittingaboutintheshadowofthetrees,orcaughtaglimpseofhishard,angular,swarthyfacepeeringoutsuspiciouslyatmefrombehindthebars.
MyheartwouldoftensaddenforhimasInoticedhisuncouth,nervousmovements,hisfurtiveglancesandtwitchingfeatures.
Whowouldhavebelievedthatthisslinking,coweringcreaturehadoncebeenadashingofficer,whohadfoughtthebattlesofhiscountryandhadwonthepalmofbraveryamongthehostofbravemenaroundhim?
Inspiteoftheoldsoldier’svigilance,wemanagedtoholdcommunicationwithourfriends.
ImmediatelybehindtheHalltherewasaspotwherethefencinghadbeensocarelesslyerectedthattwooftherailscouldberemovedwithoutdifficulty,leavingabroadgap,whichgaveustheopportunityformanyastoleninterview,thoughtheywerenecessarilyshort,forthegeneral’smovementswereerratic,andnopartofthegroundswassecurefromhisvisitations.
Howvividlyoneofthesehurriedmeetingsrisesbeforeme!
Itstandsoutclear,peaceful,anddistinctamidthewild,mysteriousincidentswhichweredestinedtoleaduptotheterriblecatastrophewhichhascastashadeoverourlives.
IcanrememberthatasIwalkedthroughthefieldsthegrasswasdampwiththerainofthemorning,andtheairwasheavywiththesmellofthefresh-turnedearth.
Gabrielwaswaitingformeunderthehawthorntreeoutsidethegap,andwestoodhand-in-handlookingdownatthelongsweepofmoorlandandatthebroadbluechannelwhichencircleditwithitsfringeoffoam.
Farawayinthenorth-westthesunglinteduponthehighpeakofMountThroston.
Fromwherewestoodwecouldseethesmokeofthesteamersastheyploughedalongthebusywater-waywhichleadstoBelfast.
“Isitnotmagnificent?”Gabrielcried,claspingherhandsroundmyarm.“Ah,John,whyarewenotfreetosailawayoverthesewavestogether,andleaveallourtroublesbehindusontheshore?”
“Andwhatarethetroubleswhichyouwouldleavebehindyou,dearone?”Iasked.“MayInotknowthem,andhelpyoutobearthem?”
“Ihavenosecretsfromyou,John,”sheanswered,“Ourchieftroubleis,asyoumayguess,ourpoorfather’sstrangebehaviour.
Isitnotasadthingforallofusthatamanwhohasplayedsuchadistinguishedpartintheworldshouldskulkfromoneobscurecornerofthecountrytoanother,andshoulddefendhimselfwithlocksandbarriersasthoughhewereacommonthiefflyingfromjustice?
Thisisatrouble,John,whichitisoutofyourpowertoalleviate.”
“Butwhydoeshedoit,Gabriel?”Iasked.
“Icannottell,”sheansweredfrankly.“Ionlyknowthatheimaginessomedeadlydangertobehangingoverhishead,andthatthisdangerwasincurredbyhimduringhisstayinIndia.
WhatitsnaturemaybeIhavenomoreideathanyouhave.”
“Thenyourbrotherhas,”Iremarked.“Iamsurefromthewayinwhichhespoketomeaboutitonedaythatheknowswhatitis,andthathelooksuponitasreal.”
“Yes,heknows,andsodoesmymother,”sheanswered,“buttheyhavealwayskeptitsecretfromme.
Mypoorfatherisveryexcitedatpresent.
Dayandnightheisinanagonyofapprehension,butitwillsoonbethefifthofOctober,andafterthathewillbeatpeace.”
“Howdoyouknowthat?”Iaskedinsurprise.
“Byexperience,”sheansweredgravely.“OnthefifthofOctoberthesefearsofhiscometoacrisis.
ForyearsbackhehasbeeninthehabitoflockingMordauntandmyselfupinourroomsonthatdate,sothatwehavenoideawhatoccurs,butwehavealwaysfoundthathehasbeenmuchrelievedafterwards,andhascontinuedtobecomparativelyinpeaceuntilthatdaybeginstodrawroundagain.”
“Thenyouhaveonlytendaysorsotowait,”Iremarked,forSeptemberwasdrawingtoaclose.“Bytheway,dearest,whyisitthatyoulightupallyourroomsatnight?”
“Youhavenoticedit,then?”shesaid.“Itcomesalsofrommyfather’sfears.
Hedoesnotliketohaveonedarkcornerinthewholehouse.
Hewalksaboutagooddealatnight,andinspectseverything,fromtheatticsrightdowntothecellars.
Hehaslargelampsineveryroomandcorridor,eventheemptyones,andheorderstheservantstolightthemallatdusk.”
“Iamrathersurprisedthatyoumanagetokeepyourservants,”Isaid,laughing.
“Themaidsinthesepartsareasuperstitiousclass,andtheirimaginationsareeasilyexcitedbyanythingwhichtheydon’tunderstand.”
“ThecookandbothhousemaidsarefromLondon,andareusedtoourways.
Wepaythemonaveryhighscaletomakeupforanyinconveniencetowhichtheymaybeput.
IsraelStakes,thecoachman,istheonlyonewhocomesfromthispartofthecountry,andheseemstobeastolid,honestfellow,whoisnoteasilyscared.”
“Poorlittlegirl,”Iexclaimed,lookingdownattheslim,gracefulfigurebymyside.
“Thisisnoatmosphereforyoutolivein.
Whywillyounotletmerescueyoufromit?
Whywon’tyouallowmetogostraightandaskthegeneralforyourhand?Attheworsthecouldonlyrefuse.”
Sheturnedquitehaggardandpaleattheverythought.
“ForHeaven’ssake,John,”shecriedearnestly,“donothingofthekind.
Hewouldwhipusallawayinthedeadofthenight,andwithinaweekweshouldbesettlingdownagaininsomewildernesswherewemightneverhaveachanceofseeingorhearingfromyouagain.
Besides,heneverwouldforgiveusforventuringoutofthegrounds.”
“Idon’tthinkthatheisahard-heartedman,”Iremarked.“Ihaveseenakindlylookinhiseyes,forallhissternface.”
“Hecanbethekindestoffathers,”sheanswered.
“Butheisterriblewhenopposedorthwarted.
Youhaveneverseenhimso,andItrustyouneverwill.
Itwasthatstrengthofwillandimpatienceofoppositionwhichmadehimsuchasplendidofficer.
IassureyouthatinIndiaeveryonethoughtagreatdealofhim.
Thesoldierswereafraidofhim,buttheywouldhavefollowedhimanywhere.”
“Andhadhethesenervousattacksthen?”
“Occasionally,butnotnearlysoacutely.
Heseemstothinkthatthedanger—whateveritmaybe—becomesmoreimminenteveryyear.
Oh,John,itisterribletobewaitinglikethiswithaswordoverourheads—andallthemoreterribletomesinceIhavenoideawheretheblowistocomefrom.”
“DearGabriel,”Isaid,takingherhandanddrawinghertomyside,“lookoverallthispleasantcountrysideandthebroadbluesea.Isitnotallpeacefulandbeautiful?
Inthesecottages,withtheirred-tiledroofspeepingoutfromthegreymoor,therelivenonebutsimple,God-fearingmen,whotoilhardattheircraftsandbearenmitytonoman.
Withinsevenmilesofusisalargetown,witheverycivilizedapplianceforthepreservationoforder.
Tenmilesfartherthereisagarrisonquartered,andatelegramwouldatanytimebringdownacompanyofsoldiers.
Now,Iaskyou,dear,inthenameofcommon-sense,whatconceivabledangercouldthreatenyouinthissecludedneighbourhood,withthemeansofhelpsonear?
Youassuremethattheperilisnotconnectedwithyourfather’shealth?”
“No,Iamsureofthat.ItistruethatDr.Easterling,ofStranraer.
hasbeenovertoseehimonceortwice,butthatwasmerelyforsomesmallindisposition.
Icanassureyouthatthedangerisnottobelookedforinthatdirection.”
“ThenIcanassureyou,”saidI,laughing,“thatthereisnodangeratall.Itmustbesomestrangemonomaniaorhallucination.Nootherhypothesiswillcoverthefacts.”
“Wouldmyfather’smonomaniaaccountforthefactofmybrother’shairturninggreyandmymotherwastingawaytoamereshadow?”
“Undoubtedly,”Ianswered,“Thelongcontinuedworryofthegeneral’srestlessnessandirritabilitywouldproducethoseeffectsonsensitivenatures.”
“No,no!”saidshe,shakingherheadsadly,“Ihavebeenexposedtohisrestlessnessandirritability,buttheyhavehadnosucheffectuponme.
ThedifferencebetweenusliesinthefactthattheyknowthisawfulsecretandIdonot.”
“Mydeargirl,”saidI,“thedaysoffamilyapparitionsandthatkindofthingaregone.
Nobodyishauntednowadays,sowecanputthatsuppositionoutofthequestion.Havingdoneso,whatremains?
Thereisabsolutelynoothertheorywhichcouldevenbesuggested.
Believeme,thewholemysteryisthattheheatofIndiahasbeentoomuchforyourpoorfather’sbrain.”
WhatshewouldhaveansweredIcannottell,foratthatmomentshegaveastartasifsomesoundhadfallenuponherear.
Asshelookedroundapprehensively,Isuddenlysawherfeaturesbecomerigidandhereyesfixedanddilated.
Followingthedirectionofhergaze,IfeltasuddenthrilloffearpassthroughmeasIperceivedahumanfacesurveyingusfrombehindoneofthetrees—aman’sface,everyfeatureofwhichwasdistortedbythemostmalignanthatredandanger.
Findinghimselfobserved,hesteppedoutandadvancedtowardsus,whenIsawthatitwasnoneotherthanthegeneralhimself.
Hisbeardwasalla-bristlewithfury,andhisdeepseteyesglowedfromundertheirheavilyveinedlidswithamostsinisteranddemoniacalbrightness.
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