He put the candle on the table and laid back the covers of the
bed. And suddenly I determined to have the matter out with him.
"Andrew," I said, "why did you add that significant word to my
uncle's letter?"
He turned sharply with a little whimpering cry.
"The master, sir!" he said, and then he stopped as though
uncertain in what manner to go on. He made a hopeless sort of
gesture with his extended hands.
"I thought your coming might interrupt the thing . . . . You are
of his family and would be silent."
"What threatens my uncle?" I cried, "What is the thing?"
He hesitated, his eyes moving about the floor.
"Oh, sir," he said, "the master is in some wicked and dangerous
business. You heard his talk, sir; that would not be the talk of
a man at peace . . . . He has strange visitors, sir, and the
place is watched. I cannot tell you any more than that, except
that something is going to happen and I am shaken with the fear
of it."
I looked out through the musty curtains before I went to bed.
But the whole world was dark, packed down in the thick mist.
Once, in the direction of the open sea, I thought I saw the
flicker of a light.
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