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Abraham Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912), better known by his pen name Bram Stoker, was an Irish novelist. He was the author of Dracula (1897), an epistolary Gothic horror novel considered a landmark in vampire literature. The work deeply influenced future representations of vampiric characters, and Stoker came to be popularly regarded by many as "the father of vampire fiction."
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00:01The Judge's House by Bram Stoker
00:03When the time for his examination drew near,
00:08Malcolm Malcolmson made up his mind to go somewhere to read by himself.
00:13He feared the attractions of the seaside,
00:15and also he feared completely rural isolation,
00:19for of old he knew its charms,
00:21and so he determined to find some unpretentious little town
00:24where there would be nothing to distract him.
00:27He refrained from asking suggestions from any of his friends,
00:31for he argued that each would recommend some place of which he had knowledge
00:34and where he had already acquaintances.
00:37As Malcolmson wished to avoid friends,
00:39he had no wish to encumber himself with the attention of friends' friends,
00:43and so he determined to look out for a place for himself.
00:47He packed a portmanteau with some clothes and all the books he required,
00:50and then took ticket for the first name on the local timetable,
00:55which he did not know.
00:56When at the end of three hours' journey he alighted at Benchurch,
01:00he felt satisfied that he had so far obliterated his tracks
01:04as to be sure of having a peaceful opportunity of pursuing his studies.
01:09He went straight to the one inn which the sleepy little place contained,
01:13and put up for the night.
01:15Benchurch was a market town,
01:17and once in three weeks was crowded to excess,
01:19but for the remainder of the twenty-one days it was as attractive as a desert.
01:25Malcolmson looked around the day after his arrival
01:27to try to find quarters more isolated than even so quiet an inn as the good traveller afforded.
01:33There was only one place which took his fancy,
01:37and it certainly satisfied his wildest ideas regarding quiet.
01:41In fact, quiet was not the proper word to apply to it.
01:44Desolation was the only term conveying any suitable idea of its isolation.
01:50It was an old, rambling, heavy-built house of the Jacobean style,
01:55with heavy gables and windows,
01:57unusually small,
01:59and set higher than was customary in such houses,
02:01and was surrounded with a high brick wall massively built.
02:05Indeed, on examination,
02:08it looked more like a fortified house than an ordinary dwelling.
02:12But all these things pleased Malcolmson.
02:14Here, he thought,
02:16is the very spot I have been looking for,
02:18and if I can only get opportunity of using it,
02:21I shall be happy.
02:23His joy was increased when he realised beyond doubt
02:25that it was not at present inhabited.
02:28From the post office,
02:30he got the name of the agent,
02:31who was rarely surprised at the application to rent a part of the old house.
02:36Mr. Carnford, the local lawyer and agent,
02:38was a genial old gentleman,
02:40and frankly confessed his delight
02:41at anyone being willing to live in the house.
02:44To tell you the truth, said he,
02:47I shall be only too happy on behalf of the owners
02:49to let anyone have the house rent-free for a term of years,
02:53if only to accustom the people here to see it inhabited.
02:56It's been so long empty
02:57that some kind of absurd prejudice has grown up about it,
03:01and this can be best put down by its occupation,
03:04if only,
03:05he added with a sly glance at Malcolmson,
03:08by a scholar like yourself,
03:10who wants its quiet for a time.
03:14Malcolmson thought it needless to ask the agent
03:16about the absurd prejudice.
03:19He knew he would get more information
03:20if he should require it on that subject from other quarters.
03:23He paid his three months' rent,
03:25got a receipt,
03:27and the name of an old woman
03:28who would probably undertake to do for him,
03:30and came away with the keys in his pocket.
03:34He then went to the landlady of the inn,
03:36who was a cheerful and most kindly person,
03:38and asked her advice
03:39as to such stores and provisions
03:41as he would be likely to require.
03:43She threw up her hands in amazement
03:45when he told her where he was going to settle himself.
03:48Not in a judge's house,
03:50she said,
03:51and grew pale as she spoke.
03:53He explained the locality of the house,
03:55saying that he did not know its name.
03:57When he had finished,
03:59she answered,
03:59Aye, sure enough,
04:01sure enough, the very place.
04:03It's the judge's house, sure enough.
04:05He asked her to tell him about the place,
04:07why so-called,
04:09and what there was against it.
04:10She told him that it was so-called locally,
04:13because it had been many years before,
04:15how long she could not say,
04:16as she was herself from another part of the country,
04:18but she thought it must have been
04:19a hundred years or more,
04:21the abode of a judge
04:22who was held in great terror
04:24on account of his harsh sentences
04:26and his hostility to prisoners at Assizes.
04:29As to what there was against the house itself,
04:31she could not tell.
04:33She had often asked,
04:34but no one could inform her.
04:37But there was a general feeling
04:38that there was something,
04:40and for her own part,
04:41she would not take all the money
04:42in Drinkwater's bank
04:44and stay in the house an hour by herself.
04:46Then she apologised to Malcolmson
04:49for her disturbing talk.
04:51Oh, it's too bad of me, sir,
04:52and you and your young gentleman, too,
04:54if you'll pardon me saying it,
04:56are going to live there all alone.
04:57If you were my boy,
04:59and you'll excuse me for saying it,
05:00you wouldn't sleep there a night,
05:01not if I had to go there myself
05:03and pull the big alarm bell
05:04that's on the roof.
05:05The good creature was so manifestly in earnest
05:08and was so kindly in her intentions
05:10that Malcolmson,
05:12although amused,
05:13was touched.
05:14He told her kindly
05:15how much he appreciated
05:17her interest in him,
05:18and added,
05:18But, my dear Mrs. Witham,
05:20indeed,
05:21you need not be concerned about me.
05:23A man who is reading
05:24for the mathematical tripos
05:25has too much to think of
05:27to be disturbed
05:27by any of these
05:28mysterious somethings,
05:30and his work is of too exact
05:32and prosaic a kind
05:33to allow his having any corner
05:35in his mind
05:35for mysteries of any kind.
05:37Harmonical progression
05:38and permutations
05:39and combinations
05:40and elliptic functions
05:41have sufficient mysteries for me.
05:42Mrs. Witham
05:44kindly undertook
05:45to see after his commissions,
05:47and he went himself
05:48to look for the old woman
05:49who had been recommended to him.
05:52When he returned
05:53to the judge's house
05:54with her
05:54after an interval
05:55of a couple of hours,
05:57he found Mrs. Witham
05:58herself
05:58waiting with several men
06:00and boys
06:00carrying parcels
06:01and an upholsterous man
06:03with a bed
06:04in a cart,
06:05for she said
06:05though tables and chairs
06:06might be all very well,
06:08a bed that hadn't been aired
06:09for mayhap fifty years
06:10was not proper
06:11for young bones to lie on.
06:14She was evidently curious
06:15to see the inside of the house,
06:17and though manifestly
06:18so afraid of the somethings
06:20that at the slightest sound
06:22she clutched on to Malcolmson,
06:24whom she never left for a moment,
06:25went over the whole place.
06:28After his examination of the house,
06:30Malcolmson decided
06:31to take up his abode
06:32in the great dining room,
06:34which was big enough
06:35to serve for all his requirements,
06:36and Mrs. Witham,
06:38with the aid of the charwoman,
06:40Mrs. Dempster,
06:41proceeded to arrange matters.
06:43When the hampers
06:44were brought in
06:44and unpacked,
06:46Malcolmson saw
06:47that with much kind forethought
06:48she had sent
06:49from her own kitchen
06:50sufficient provisions
06:51to last for a few days.
06:54Before going,
06:54she expressed
06:55all sorts of kind wishes,
06:57and at the door
06:58turned and said,
06:59and perhaps, sir,
07:00as the room is big
07:01and draughty,
07:02it might be well
07:03to have one of those
07:04big screens
07:05put round your bed at night.
07:07Truth to tell,
07:07I would die myself
07:08if I were to be so shut in
07:10with all kinds of things
07:12that put their heads
07:13round the sides
07:14or over the top
07:15and look on me.
07:17The image
07:18which she had called up
07:19was too much for her nerves,
07:20and she fled incontinently.
07:23Mrs. Dempster
07:24sniffed in a superior manner
07:26as the landlady disappeared,
07:28and remarked
07:28that for her own part
07:29she wasn't afraid
07:30of all the bogeys
07:32in the kingdom.
07:32I'll tell you
07:33what it is, sir,
07:34she said.
07:35Bogeys is all kinds
07:36and sorts of things,
07:37except bogeys.
07:38Rats and mice
07:39and beetles
07:40and creaky doors
07:41and loose slates
07:42and broken panes
07:42and stiff drawer handles
07:43that stay out
07:44when you pull them
07:45and then fall down
07:46in the middle of the night.
07:47I mean,
07:47look at the way
07:47in skin of the room.
07:48It's old,
07:49hundreds of years old.
07:50Do you think
07:50there's no rats
07:51and beetles there?
07:52And do you imagine, sir,
07:54that you won't see
07:54none of them?
07:55Rats is bogeys,
07:56I tell you,
07:56and bogeys is rats,
07:58and don't you get
07:58to think anything else?
08:00Mrs. Dempster,
08:01said Malcolmson gravely,
08:03making her a polite bow,
08:04you know more
08:05than a senior academic.
08:07And let me say
08:07that as a mark
08:08of esteem
08:09for your indubitable
08:10soundness of head
08:11and heart,
08:11I shall,
08:12when I go,
08:13give you possession
08:13of this house
08:14and let you stay here
08:15by yourself
08:16for the last two months
08:16of my tenancy.
08:18For four weeks
08:19will serve my purpose.
08:21Thank you kindly, sir,
08:22she answered,
08:23but I couldn't sleep
08:24away from home at night.
08:25I'm in Greenhouse Charity,
08:27and if I slept a night
08:28away from my rooms,
08:29I should lose
08:29all I've got to live on.
08:30The rules is very strict,
08:32and there's too many
08:32watching for a vacancy
08:33for me to run
08:34any risks in the matter.
08:36Only for that, sir,
08:36I'd gladly come here
08:37and attend on you
08:38altogether during your stay.
08:40My good woman,
08:41said Malcolmson hastily,
08:42I have come here
08:43on purpose
08:44to obtain solitude,
08:46and believe me
08:47that I am grateful
08:47to the late Greenhouse
08:48for having so organised
08:50his admirable charity,
08:51whatever it is,
08:52that I am perforce
08:53denied the opportunity
08:54of suffering
08:55from such a form
08:56of temptation.
08:56St. Anthony himself
08:58could not be more
08:58rigid on the point.
09:00The old woman
09:01laughed harshly.
09:02Ah, you young gentleman,
09:03she said,
09:04you don't fear for naught,
09:05and, belight,
09:06you'll get all the solitude
09:07you want here.
09:09She set to work
09:09with her cleaning,
09:10and by night four,
09:11when Malcolmson
09:12returned from his walk,
09:13he always had one
09:14of his books to study
09:15as he walked,
09:16he found the room
09:17swept and tidied,
09:18a fire burning
09:19in the old hearth,
09:20the lamp lit,
09:21and the table spread
09:22for supper,
09:23with Mrs. Witham's
09:24excellent fare.
09:25Oh, this is comfort indeed,
09:27he said,
09:28as he rubbed his hands.
09:30When he had finished
09:31his supper
09:32and lifted the tray
09:33to the other end
09:34of the great oak dining table,
09:36he got out his books again,
09:37put fresh wood on the fire,
09:39trimmed his lamp,
09:40and set himself down
09:41to a spell
09:42of real hard work.
09:44He went on without pause
09:45till about eleven o'clock,
09:47when he knocked off
09:48for a bit
09:48to fix his fire and lamp
09:50and to make himself
09:51a cup of tea.
09:52He had always been
09:53a tea drinker,
09:54and during his college life
09:55had sat late at work
09:56and had taken tea late.
09:58The rest was a great luxury
09:59to him,
10:00and he enjoyed it
10:01with a sense of delicious,
10:02voluptuous ease.
10:05The renewed fire
10:06leapt and sparkled,
10:07and threw quaint shadows
10:08through the great old room,
10:10and as he sipped his hot tea,
10:12he revelled in the sense
10:13of isolation from his kind.
10:17Then it was
10:17that he began to notice
10:19for the first time
10:20what a noise
10:21the rats were making.
10:23Oh, surely, he thought,
10:25they cannot have been added
10:26all the time I was reading.
10:28Had they been,
10:28I must have noticed it.
10:30Presently,
10:31when the noise increased,
10:33he satisfied himself
10:34that it was really new.
10:36It was evident
10:36that at first
10:37the rats had been frightened
10:39at the presence of a stranger
10:40and the light of fire
10:41and lamp,
10:43but that as the time went on
10:44they had grown bolder
10:46and were now
10:46disporting themselves,
10:48as was their wont.
10:50How busy they were,
10:52and hark to the strange noises.
10:55Up and down
10:55behind the old wainscot,
10:57over the ceiling
10:57and under the floor,
10:58they raced
10:59and gnawed
11:00and scratched.
11:02Malcolmson smiled to himself
11:03as he recalled to mind
11:04the saying of Mrs. Dempster,
11:06bogeys is rats
11:07and rats is bogeys.
11:10The tea began to have
11:11its effect of intellectual
11:12and nervous stimulus.
11:14He saw with joy
11:15another long spell of work
11:16to be done
11:16before the night was past,
11:18and in the sense of security
11:19which it gave him,
11:21he allowed himself
11:21the luxury
11:22of a good look
11:23round the room.
11:25He took his lamp
11:26in one hand
11:27and went all around,
11:29wondering that
11:29so quaint
11:30and beautiful
11:31an old house
11:31had been so long neglected.
11:33The carving of the oak
11:35on the panels
11:36of the wainscot
11:36was fine,
11:38and on and round
11:39the doors and windows
11:40it was beautiful
11:41and of rare merit.
11:43There were some old pictures
11:44on the walls,
11:45but they were coated
11:46so thick with dust
11:47and dirt
11:47that he could not
11:48distinguish any detail
11:49of them,
11:50though he held his lamp
11:51as high as he could
11:52over his head.
11:54Here and there
11:54as he went round
11:55he saw some crack
11:57or hole
11:58blocked for a moment
11:59by the face
12:00of a rat
12:01with its bright eyes
12:02glittering in the light,
12:04but in an instant
12:05it was gone
12:05and a squeak
12:06and a scamper
12:07followed.
12:09The thing that most
12:10struck him,
12:10however,
12:11was the rope
12:12of the great alarm bell
12:13on the roof
12:14which hung down
12:15in a corner of the room
12:16on the right-hand side
12:17of the fireplace.
12:19He pulled up
12:19close to the hearth
12:20a great high-backed
12:22carved oak chair
12:23and sat down
12:24to his last cup of tea.
12:26When this was done
12:27he made up the fire
12:28and went back
12:29to his work,
12:30sitting at the corner
12:31of the table
12:31having the fire
12:32to his left.
12:34For a little while
12:35the rats disturbed him
12:36somewhat
12:36with their perpetual
12:37scampering,
12:38but he got accustomed
12:39to the noise
12:40as one does
12:41to the ticking of a clock
12:42or to the roar
12:43of moving water
12:44and he became so immersed
12:45in his work
12:46that everything in the world
12:48except the problem
12:49which he was trying to solve
12:50passed away from him.
12:53He suddenly looked up
12:54his problem was still unsolved
12:56and there was in the air
12:58that sense of the hour
13:00before the dawn
13:01which is so dread
13:02to doubtful life.
13:04The noise of the rats
13:06had ceased.
13:07Indeed, it seemed to him
13:08that it must have ceased
13:09but lately
13:10and that it was the sudden cessation
13:12which had disturbed him.
13:14The fire had fallen low
13:15but still it threw out
13:17a deep red glow.
13:19As he looked
13:20he started
13:21in spite of his seeming coolness.
13:24There,
13:25on the great
13:26high-backed
13:27carved oak chair
13:28by the right side
13:29of the fireplace
13:29sat an enormous rat
13:32steadily glaring at him
13:34with baleful eyes.
13:36He made a motion to it
13:37as though to hunt it away
13:38but it did not stir.
13:41Then he made the motion
13:42of throwing something.
13:44Still it did not stir
13:45but showed its great
13:46white teeth
13:47angrily
13:48and its cruel eyes
13:50shone in the lamplight
13:51with an added vindictiveness.
13:55Malcolmson felt amazed
13:56and seizing the poker
13:58from the hearth
13:58ran at it to kill it.
14:00Before however
14:01he could strike it
14:01the rat
14:02with a squeak
14:03that sounded like
14:04the concentration of hate
14:05jumped upon the floor
14:06and running up
14:07the rope of the alarm bell
14:08disappeared in the darkness
14:09beyond the range
14:10of the green-shaded lamp.
14:13Instantly, strange to say
14:14the noisy scampering
14:16of the rats
14:16in the wainscot
14:17began again.
14:18By this time
14:19Malcolmson's mind
14:20was quite off the problem
14:22and as a shrill cock-crow
14:23outside told him
14:24of the approach of morning
14:25he went to bed
14:27and to sleep.
14:30He slept so soundly
14:31that he was not even waked
14:33by Mrs Dempster
14:34coming in
14:34to make up his room.
14:36It was only when
14:36she had tidied up the place
14:38and got his breakfast ready
14:39and tapped on the screen
14:40which closed in his bed
14:41that he woke.
14:43He was a little tired still
14:44after his night's hard work
14:46but a strong cup of tea
14:47soon freshened him up
14:48and taking his book
14:50he went out
14:51for his morning walk
14:52bringing with him
14:53a few sandwiches
14:54lest he should not care
14:54to return till dinner time.
14:57He found a quiet walk
14:58between the high elms
14:59some way outside the town
15:01and here he spent
15:02the greater part of the day
15:03studying his lapless.
15:06On his return
15:07he looked in
15:08to see Mrs Witham
15:09and to thank her
15:09for her kindness.
15:11When she saw him coming
15:12through the diamond-pained
15:13bay window
15:14of her sanctum
15:14she came out
15:16to meet him
15:16and asked him in.
15:18She looked at him
15:19searchingly
15:19and shook her head
15:21as she said
15:21you must not overdo it sir
15:23you are paler this morning
15:25than you should be.
15:26Too late hours
15:27and too hard work
15:28on the brain
15:28isn't good for any man.
15:30But tell me sir
15:31how did you pass the night?
15:34Well I hope
15:35but my heart sir
15:36I was glad
15:37when Mrs Dempster
15:38told me this morning
15:39that you were all right
15:40and sleeping sound
15:40when she went in.
15:41Oh I was all right
15:43he answered smiling.
15:45The somethings
15:45didn't worry me
15:46as yet
15:46only the rats
15:48and they had a circus
15:49I tell you
15:49all over the place.
15:51There was one wicked
15:51looking old devil
15:52that sat up on my own chair
15:54by the fire
15:54and wouldn't go
15:55till I took the poker to him
15:57and then he ran up
15:58the rope of the alarm bell
15:59and got to somewhere
16:00up the wall
16:01or the ceiling
16:01I couldn't see where
16:02it was so dark.
16:04Mercy on us
16:05said Mrs Witham
16:06an old devil
16:07sitting on a chair
16:09by the fireside
16:10take care sir
16:11take care
16:12there's many a true word
16:14spoken in jest.
16:15How do you mean?
16:17My word I don't understand.
16:18An old devil
16:19the old devil perhaps.
16:23Oh there sir
16:23you need a laugh
16:24for Malcolmson
16:26had broken into
16:26a hearty peal
16:27you young folks
16:28think it easy to laugh
16:30at things that makes
16:30older ones shudder.
16:32Never mind sir
16:32never mind
16:33please God
16:34you'll laugh all the time
16:35it's what I wish you myself
16:37and the good lady
16:38beamed all over
16:39in sympathy
16:40with his enjoyment
16:41her fears gone
16:42for a moment.
16:43Oh forgive me
16:44said Malcolmson presently
16:46don't think me rude
16:47but the idea
16:48was too much for me
16:49that the old devil
16:50himself was on the chair
16:51last night
16:51and at the thought
16:53he laughed again.
16:55Then
16:56he went home
16:57to dinner.
16:59This evening
17:00the scampering
17:00of the rats
17:01began earlier
17:02and he had been
17:03going on
17:04before his arrival
17:04and only ceased
17:06whilst his presence
17:07by its freshness
17:07disturbed them.
17:09After dinner
17:10he sat by the fire
17:11for a while
17:11and had a smoke
17:12and then
17:13having cleared his table
17:15began to work
17:15as before.
17:17Tonight
17:18the rats
17:18disturbed him
17:19more than they had
17:20done on the previous night.
17:22How they
17:22scampered up and down
17:23and under and over
17:24how they squeaked
17:26and scratched
17:27and gnawed
17:28how they
17:29getting bolder
17:30by degrees
17:30came to the mouths
17:32of their holes
17:32and to the chinks
17:33and cracks
17:34and crannies
17:34in the wainscoting
17:35till their eyes
17:37shone like tiny lamps
17:38as the firelight
17:39rose and fell.
17:41But to him
17:42now died to succustom
17:43to them
17:44their eyes
17:45were not wicked.
17:46Only their playfulness
17:47touched him.
17:49Sometimes
17:49the boldest of them
17:50made sallies
17:51out on the floor
17:52or along the mouldings
17:53of the wainscot.
17:54Now and again
17:55as they disturbed him
17:56Malcolmson made a sound
17:58to fighten them
17:58smiting the table
18:00with his hand
18:00or giving a fierce
18:01shh-shh
18:02so that they fled
18:03straightway to their holes.
18:06And so the early part
18:07of the night
18:08wore on
18:09and despite the noise
18:11Malcolmson got more
18:12and more immersed
18:13in his work.
18:15All at once
18:16he stopped
18:17as on the previous night
18:19being overcome
18:20by a sudden
18:21sense of silence.
18:24There was not
18:24the faintest sound
18:25of gnaw
18:26or scratch
18:27or scratch
18:27or squeak.
18:29The silence
18:30was as of the grave.
18:32He remembered
18:33the odd occurrence
18:34of the previous night
18:35and instinctively
18:36he looked at the chair
18:37standing close
18:38by the fireside
18:39and then
18:40a very odd sensation
18:42thrilled through him.
18:43There
18:44on the great old
18:45high-backed
18:46carved oak chair
18:46beside the fireplace
18:47sat the same
18:49enormous
18:50rat
18:51steadily glaring at him
18:52with baleful eyes.
18:54Instinctively
18:55he took the nearest
18:56thing to his hand
18:57a book of logarithms
18:58and flung it at it.
19:00The book was badly aimed
19:02and the rat did not stir
19:03so again
19:03the poker performance
19:04of the previous night
19:05was repeated
19:06and again
19:07the rat
19:07being closely pursued
19:08fled up the rope
19:09of the alarm bell.
19:11Strangely too
19:12the departure
19:12of this rat
19:13was instantly followed
19:14by the renewal
19:15of the noise
19:16made by the general
19:17rat community.
19:18On this occasion
19:19as on the previous one
19:20Malcolmson could not see
19:22at what part of the room
19:23the rat disappeared
19:24for the green shade
19:25of his lamp
19:26left the upper part
19:26of the room
19:27in darkness
19:27and the fire
19:28had burned low.
19:31On looking at his watch
19:32he found it was
19:33close on midnight
19:34and not sorry
19:35for the divertissement
19:36he made up his fire
19:37and made himself
19:38his nightly pot of tea.
19:40He had got through
19:41a good spell of work
19:42and thought himself
19:43entitled to a cigarette
19:44and so he sat
19:46on the great
19:47carved oak chair
19:48before the fire
19:49and enjoyed it.
19:50Whilst smoking
19:52he began to think
19:54that he would like
19:54to know
19:55where the rat
19:55disappeared too
19:56therefore he had
19:58certain ideas
19:58for the morrow
19:59not entirely
20:00disconnected
20:00with a rat trap.
20:02Accordingly
20:03he lit another lamp
20:04and placed it
20:05so that it would
20:06shine well
20:06into the right hand
20:07corner of the wall
20:08by the fireplace
20:09and then he got
20:10all the books
20:10he had with him
20:11and placed them
20:12handy to throw
20:13at the vermin.
20:15Finally
20:15he lifted the rope
20:16of the alarm bell
20:17and placed the end
20:18of it on the table
20:20fixing the extreme end
20:22under the lamp.
20:24As he handled it
20:25he could not help
20:26noticing how pliable
20:27it was
20:27especially for so strong
20:29a rope
20:30and one not in use.
20:32You've got to hang
20:33a man with it
20:34he thought to himself.
20:36When his preparations
20:37were made
20:37he looked around
20:38and said complacently
20:39Ah there now my friend
20:41I think we shall learn
20:43something of you
20:43this time.
20:44He began his work again
20:47and though as before
20:48somewhat disturbed
20:49at first by the noise
20:50of the rats
20:51soon lost himself
20:52in his propositions
20:53and problems.
20:56Again
20:56he was called
20:57to his immediate
20:57surroundings suddenly
20:58this time
21:00it might not have been
21:01the sudden silence
21:02only which took
21:03his attention
21:03but there was
21:04a slight movement
21:05of the rope
21:06and the lamp moved.
21:09Without stirring
21:10he looked to see
21:11if his pile of books
21:12was within range
21:13and then cast his eye
21:15along the rope
21:16as he looked
21:17he saw the great rat
21:19drop from the rope
21:21on the oak armchair
21:22and sit there
21:24glaring at him.
21:26He raised the book
21:27in his right hand
21:28and taking careful aim
21:29flung it at the rat.
21:32The latter
21:32with a quick movement
21:33sprang aside
21:34and dodged the missile.
21:36He then took another book
21:37and a third
21:38and flung them
21:38one after another
21:39at the rat
21:40but each time
21:41unsuccessfully.
21:42At last
21:42as he stood
21:43with a book
21:44poised in his hand
21:45to throw
21:45the rat
21:46squeaked
21:47and seemed afraid.
21:49This made
21:50Marklemson
21:51more than ever
21:51eager to strike
21:52and the book
21:53flew
21:53and struck
21:54the rat
21:55a resounding blow.
21:56It gave a
21:57terrified squeak
21:58and turning on
21:59his pursuer
22:00a look of terrible
22:01malevolence
22:02ran up the chair back
22:03and made a great
22:04jump to the rope
22:05of the alarm bell
22:06and ran up it
22:07like lightning.
22:08The lamp
22:09rocked
22:10under the sudden strain
22:11but it was a heavy one
22:13and did not topple over.
22:15The Malcolmson
22:15kept his eyes
22:16on the rat
22:16and saw it
22:17by the light
22:17of the second lamp
22:18leap to a moulding
22:20of the wainscot
22:20and disappear
22:21through a hole
22:22in one of the great pictures
22:23which hung on the wall
22:25obscured and invisible
22:26through its coating
22:27of dirt and dust.
22:28I shall look up
22:29my friend's habitation
22:30in the morning
22:31said the student
22:32as he went over
22:33to collect his books
22:34the third picture
22:36from the fireplace
22:36I shall not forget.
22:40He picked up the books
22:41one by one
22:41commenting on them
22:42as he lifted them.
22:44Conic sections
22:45he does not mind
22:46nor cycloidal oscillations
22:48nor the principia
22:50nor quaternions
22:51nor thermodynamics
22:52now for the book
22:55that fetched him.
22:57Malcolmson took it up
22:58and looked at it.
23:00As he did so
23:00he started
23:01and a sudden pallor
23:03overspread his face.
23:05He looked round
23:06uneasily
23:06and shivered slightly
23:07as he murmured
23:08to himself
23:08the Bible
23:10my mother gave me.
23:12What an odd coincidence.
23:15He sat down
23:15to work again
23:16and the rats
23:17in the wainscot
23:18renewed their gambles.
23:20They did not disturb him
23:21however
23:21somehow
23:22their presence
23:23gave him a sense
23:23of companionship
23:24but he could not
23:25attend to his work
23:26and after striving
23:28to master the subject
23:29on which he was engaged
23:30gave it up in despair
23:31and went to bed
23:33as the first streak
23:34of dawn
23:34stole in
23:35through the eastern window.
23:37He slept heavily
23:38but uneasily
23:39and dreamed much
23:40and when Mrs. Dempster
23:42woke him late
23:43in the morning
23:43he seemed ill at ease
23:45and for a few minutes
23:46did not seem to realise
23:48exactly where he was.
23:50His first request
23:51rather surprised
23:52the servant
23:52Mrs. Dempster
23:55when I'm out today
23:56I wish you would
23:57get the steps
23:58and dust
23:58or wash those pictures
24:00especially that one
24:01the third
24:02from the fireplace
24:02I want to see
24:04what they are.
24:06Later in the afternoon
24:07Malcolmson worked
24:08at his books
24:09in the shaded walk
24:10and the cheerfulness
24:11of the previous day
24:12came back to him
24:12as the day wore on
24:13and he found
24:15that his reading
24:15was progressing well.
24:17He had worked out
24:18to a satisfactory conclusion
24:19all the problems
24:20which had as yet
24:21baffled him
24:22and it was in a state
24:23of jubilation
24:24that he paid a visit
24:25to Mrs. Witham
24:25at the Good Traveller.
24:27He found a stranger
24:28in the cosy sitting room
24:30with the landlady
24:30who was introduced
24:31to him as Dr. Thornhill.
24:33She was not quite at ease
24:35and this combined
24:36with the doctors
24:37plunging at once
24:38into a series of questions
24:39made Marklemson
24:40come to the conclusion
24:41that his presence
24:42was not an accident.
24:44So without preliminary
24:45he said
24:46Dr. Thornhill
24:47I shall with pleasure
24:48answer you
24:49any question
24:49you may choose
24:50to ask me
24:51if you will answer
24:51me one question first.
24:53The doctor seemed surprised
24:54but he smiled
24:55and answered at once.
24:57Done.
24:58What is it?
24:59Did Mrs. Witham
25:00ask you to come here
25:02and see me
25:02and advise me?
25:04Dr. Thornhill
25:05for a moment
25:05was taken aback
25:06and Mrs. Witham
25:07got fiery red
25:09and turned away.
25:10But the doctor
25:11was a frank
25:11and ready man
25:12and he answered
25:13at once and openly.
25:15She did
25:15but she didn't
25:16intend you to know it.
25:18I suppose it was
25:19my clumsy haste
25:20that made you suspect.
25:21She told me
25:21that she did not like
25:22the idea of your being
25:23in that household
25:24by yourself
25:25and that she thought
25:26you took too much
25:27strong tea.
25:28In fact she wants me
25:29to advise you
25:30if possible
25:30to give up the tea
25:31in the very late hours.
25:33I was a keen student
25:34in my time
25:35so I suppose
25:35I may take the liberty
25:36of a college man
25:37and without offence
25:38advise you
25:40not quite as a stranger.
25:41Malcolmson
25:43with a bright smile
25:43held out his hand.
25:45Shake
25:46as they say
25:46in America
25:47he said.
25:48I must thank you
25:48for your kindness
25:49and Mrs. Witham too
25:50and your kindness
25:51deserves a return
25:52on my part.
25:53I promise
25:53to take no more
25:54strong tea
25:55no tea at all
25:57till you let me
25:57and I shall go to bed
25:58tonight
25:59at one o'clock
25:59at latest.
26:00Will that do?
26:02Capital
26:02said the doctor.
26:04Now
26:04tell us all
26:06that you noticed
26:06in the old house.
26:07and so Malcolmson
26:09then and there
26:10told in minute detail
26:11all that had happened
26:12in the last two nights.
26:14He was interrupted
26:15every now and then
26:16by some exclamation
26:17from Mrs. Witham
26:18till finally
26:19when he told
26:19of the episode
26:20of the Bible
26:21the landlady's
26:22pent-up emotions
26:23found vent
26:23in a shriek
26:24and it was not
26:26till a stiff glass
26:26of brandy and water
26:27had been administered
26:28that she grew
26:29composed again.
26:31Dr. Thornhill
26:32listened with a face
26:33of growing gravity
26:34and when the narrative
26:35was complete
26:36and Mrs. Witham
26:37had been restored
26:38he asked
26:38the rat always
26:40went up
26:41the rope
26:42of the alarm bell?
26:43Always?
26:45I suppose you know
26:46said the doctor
26:47after a pause
26:48what the rope is.
26:51No?
26:52It is
26:53said the doctor
26:54slowly
26:54the very rope
26:56which the hangman
26:57used for all the victims
26:58of the judge's
26:59judicial rancor.
27:01Here he was interrupted
27:03by another scream
27:04from Mrs. Witham
27:04and steps
27:05had to be taken
27:06for her recovery.
27:08Malkinson
27:08having looked
27:09at his watch
27:09and found
27:10that it was
27:10close to his dinner hour
27:11had gone home
27:13before her complete recovery.
27:15When Mrs. Witham
27:16was herself again
27:17she almost assailed
27:18the doctor
27:19with angry questions
27:20as to what he meant
27:21by putting such
27:21horrible ideas
27:22into the poor
27:23young man's mind.
27:24He is quite enough
27:25there already
27:26to upset him
27:26she added.
27:28Dr. Thornhill
27:29replied
27:29My dear madam
27:30I had a distinct
27:32purpose in it.
27:33I wanted to draw
27:34his attention
27:34to the bell rope
27:35and to fix it there.
27:37It may be
27:38that he is
27:38in a highly
27:39overwrought state
27:40and has been
27:41studying too much
27:42although I am
27:43bound to say
27:44that he seems
27:44as sound
27:45and healthy
27:45a young man
27:46mentally and bodily
27:47as ever I saw
27:47but then
27:48the rats
27:49and that suggestion
27:51of the devil.
27:52The doctor
27:53shook his head
27:53and went on
27:54I would have offered
27:56to go and stay
27:56the first night
27:57with him
27:57but that I felt
27:58sure it would have
27:59been a cause
28:00of offence.
28:01He may get
28:01in the night
28:02some strange
28:03fright
28:03or hallucination
28:04and if he does
28:06I want him
28:06to pull that rope
28:07all alone
28:08as he is
28:09it will give us
28:09warning
28:10and we may
28:10reach him
28:11in time
28:11to be of service.
28:13I shall be
28:13sitting up
28:13pretty late
28:14tonight
28:14and shall keep
28:15my ears open.
28:16Do not be alarmed
28:17and if Ben Church
28:18gets a surprise
28:19before morning
28:20Oh doctor
28:21what do you mean
28:22what do you mean
28:23I mean this
28:25that possibly
28:26nay more probably
28:28we shall hear
28:29the great alarm bell
28:30from the judge's house
28:31tonight
28:32and the doctor
28:33made about
28:34as effective
28:34an exit
28:35as could be thought of.
28:38When Malcolmson
28:39arrived home
28:39he found
28:40that it was
28:41a little after
28:41his usual time
28:42and Mrs Dempster
28:44had gone away
28:44the rules of
28:46greenhouse charity
28:47were not to be neglected
28:47he was glad to see
28:49that the place
28:50was bright and tidy
28:51with a cheerful fire
28:52and a well-trimmed lamp
28:53the evening was colder
28:55than might have been
28:56expected in April
28:57and a heavy wind
28:58was blowing
28:59with such rapidly
29:00increasing strength
29:01that there was
29:01every promise
29:02of a storm
29:03during the night
29:04for a few minutes
29:05after his entrance
29:06the noise of the rats
29:08ceased
29:08but so soon
29:10as they became
29:10accustomed to his presence
29:11they began again
29:12he was glad to hear them
29:14for he felt once more
29:15the feeling of companionship
29:16in their noise
29:17and his mind ran back
29:19to the strange fact
29:20that they only ceased
29:21to manifest themselves
29:22when that other
29:23the great rat
29:24with the baleful eyes
29:26came upon the scene
29:27the reading lamp only
29:29was lit
29:29and its green shade
29:31kept the ceiling
29:31in the upper part
29:32of the room
29:33in darkness
29:33so that the cheerful light
29:35from the hearth
29:36spreading over the floor
29:37and shining on the white cloth
29:39laid over the end
29:39of the table
29:40was warm and cheery
29:41malcolmson sat down
29:43to his dinner
29:44with a good appetite
29:45and a buoyant spirit
29:46after his dinner
29:47and a cigarette
29:48he sat steadily
29:49down to work
29:50determined
29:51not to let anything
29:52disturb him
29:53for he remembered
29:54his promise to the doctor
29:55and made up his mind
29:57to make the best
29:58of the time
29:58at his disposal
29:59for an hour or so
30:02he worked all right
30:03and then his thoughts
30:04began to wander
30:05from his books
30:06the actual circumstances
30:08around him
30:09the calls
30:10on his physical attention
30:11and his nervous susceptibility
30:12were not to be denied
30:14by this time
30:16the wind
30:16had become a gale
30:18and the gale
30:19a storm
30:21the old house
30:23solid though it was
30:24seemed to shake
30:25to its foundations
30:26and the storm
30:28roared
30:29and raged
30:29through its many chimneys
30:31and its queer old gables
30:32producing strange
30:34unearthly sounds
30:36in the empty rooms
30:37and corridors
30:37even the great alarm bell
30:40on the roof
30:40must have felt
30:41the force of the wind
30:42for the rope
30:43rose and fell slightly
30:45as though the bell
30:46were moved a little
30:47from time to time
30:48and the limber rope
30:49fell on the oak floor
30:51with a hard
30:51and hollow sound
30:52as Malcolmson
30:55listened to it
30:55he bethought himself
30:56of the doctor's words
30:57it is the rope
30:59which the hangman
31:00used for the victims
31:01of the judge's
31:02judicial rancor
31:03and he went over
31:05to the corner
31:05of the fireplace
31:06and took it in his hand
31:08to look at it
31:08there seemed a sort of
31:10deadly interest in it
31:11and as he stood there
31:13he lost himself
31:14for a moment
31:14in speculation
31:15as to who these victims were
31:17and the grim wish
31:19of the judge
31:19to have such a ghastly relic
31:21ever under his eyes
31:22as he stood there
31:24the swaying of the bell
31:26on the roof
31:26still lifted the rope
31:28now and again
31:28but presently
31:30there came a new sensation
31:31a sort of tremor
31:32in the rope
31:33as though something
31:34was moving along it
31:35looking up instinctively
31:37Malcolmson saw
31:38the great rat
31:40coming slowly down
31:41towards him
31:42glaring at him steadily
31:43he dropped the rope
31:45and started back
31:46with a muttered curse
31:47and the rat
31:47turning
31:48ran up the rope again
31:49and disappeared
31:50and at the same instant
31:52Malcolmson
31:53became conscious
31:54that the noise
31:55of the rats
31:55which had ceased
31:56for a while
31:57began again
31:58all this
31:59set him thinking
32:00and it occurred to him
32:01that he had not
32:02investigated the lair
32:04of the rat
32:04or looked at the pictures
32:06as he had intended
32:07he lit the other lamp
32:09without the shade
32:10and holding it up
32:11went and stood
32:12opposite the third picture
32:13from the fireplace
32:14on the right hand side
32:15where he had seen
32:16the rat disappear
32:17on the previous night
32:18at the first glance
32:21he started back
32:22so suddenly
32:22that he almost
32:23dropped the lamp
32:24and a deadly pallor
32:26overspread his face
32:27his knees shook
32:29and heavy drops of sweat
32:31came on his forehead
32:32and he trembled
32:33like an aspen
32:34but he was young
32:36and plucky
32:37and pulled himself together
32:38and after the pause
32:39of a few seconds
32:40stepped forward again
32:41raised the lamp
32:42and examined the picture
32:44which had been dusted
32:45and washed
32:46and now stood out clearly
32:47it was of a judge
32:49dressed in his robes
32:51of scarlet and ermine
32:52his face was strong
32:54and merciless
32:55evil, crafty
32:57and vindictive
32:58with a sensual mouth
32:59hooked nose
33:01of ruddy colour
33:02and shaped like the beak
33:03of a bird of prey
33:04the rest of the face
33:06was of a cadaverous colour
33:08the eyes were of
33:09peculiar brilliance
33:10and with a terribly
33:12malignant expression
33:13as he looked at them
33:15Malcolmson grew cold
33:17for he saw there
33:19the very counterpart
33:20of the eyes
33:22of the great rat
33:23the lamp almost fell
33:25from his hand
33:26he saw the rat
33:27with its baleful eyes
33:29peering out
33:29through the hole
33:30in the corner
33:30of the picture
33:31and noted the sudden cessation
33:33of the noise
33:34of the other rats
33:35however
33:36he pulled himself together
33:37and went on
33:39with his examination
33:39of the picture
33:40the judge
33:41was seated
33:42in a great
33:43high-backed
33:44carved oak chair
33:45on the right-hand side
33:46of a great stone fireplace
33:48where in the corner
33:50a rope hung down
33:52from the ceiling
33:52its end
33:53lying coiled
33:54on the floor
33:55with a feeling
33:57of something like horror
33:58Malcolmson recognised
34:00the scene
34:01of the room
34:01as it stood
34:02and gazed around him
34:04in an awestruck manner
34:06as though he expected
34:07to find some strange
34:09presence behind him
34:10then
34:11he looked over
34:12to the corner
34:13of the fireplace
34:14and with a loud cry
34:16he let the lamp
34:17fall from his hand
34:18there
34:19in the judge's armchair
34:21with the rope
34:21hanging behind
34:22sat the rat
34:25with the judge's
34:26baleful eyes
34:27now intensified
34:29and with a fiendish leer
34:31save for the howling
34:33of the storm
34:34without
34:34there was silence
34:36the fallen lamp
34:38recalled Malcolmson
34:39to himself
34:39fortunately it was
34:41of metro
34:41and so the oil
34:42was not spilt
34:42however
34:43the practical need
34:44of attending to it
34:45settled at once
34:46his nervous apprehensions
34:47when he had turned it out
34:48he wiped his brow
34:50and thought for a moment
34:51this will not do
34:53he said to himself
34:54if I go on like this
34:56I shall become a crazy fool
34:57this must stop
34:58I promised the doctor
35:00I would not take tea
35:01Faithy was pretty right
35:03my nerves must have been
35:04getting into a queer state
35:05funny I did not notice it
35:07I never felt better
35:08in my life
35:09however it is all right now
35:11and I shall not be
35:13such a fool again
35:13then he mixed himself
35:16a good stiff glass
35:17of brandy and water
35:18and resolutely
35:19sat down to his work
35:20it was nearly an hour
35:23when he looked up
35:24from his book
35:24disturbed by the
35:25sudden stillness
35:26without
35:27the wind howled
35:29and roared
35:30louder than ever
35:30and the rain
35:31drove in sheets
35:32against the windows
35:33beating like hail
35:34on the glass
35:35but within
35:37there was no sound
35:38whatever
35:39save the echo
35:40of the wind
35:40as it roared
35:41in the great chimney
35:42and now and then
35:43a hiss
35:44as a few raindrops
35:45found their way
35:46down the chimney
35:47in the lull of the storm
35:48the fire had fallen low
35:50and had ceased to flame
35:51though it threw out
35:53a red glow
35:53Malcolmson listened
35:55attentively
35:56and presently
35:57heard a thin
35:58squeaking noise
36:00very faint
36:00it came from the
36:02corner of the room
36:03where the rope
36:04hung down
36:04and he thought
36:05it was the creaking
36:06of the rope
36:07on the floor
36:07as the swaying
36:08of the bell
36:09raised and lowered it
36:10looking up however
36:12he saw in the dim light
36:13the great rat
36:15clinging to the rope
36:16and gnawing it
36:18the rope
36:19was already
36:20nearly gnawed through
36:21he could see
36:22the lighter colour
36:23where the strands
36:24were laid bare
36:25as he looked
36:26the job was completed
36:27and the severed end
36:28of the rope
36:29fell clattering
36:30on the oaken floor
36:31whilst for an instant
36:32the great rat
36:33remained like a knob
36:35or tassel
36:35at the end of the rope
36:36which now began
36:37to sway
36:38to and fro
36:40Malcolmson fell
36:42for a moment
36:42another pang of terror
36:43as he thought
36:44that now
36:45the possibility
36:45of calling the outer world
36:47to his assistance
36:47was cut off
36:48but an instant anger
36:50took its place
36:50and seizing the book
36:51he was reading
36:52he hurled it
36:53at the rat
36:54the blow was well aimed
36:56but before the missile
36:57could reach him
36:58the rat dropped off
36:59and struck the floor
37:00with a soft thud
37:01Malcolmson instantly
37:03rushed over towards him
37:04but he darted away
37:05and disappeared
37:06in the darkness
37:06of the shadows
37:07of the room
37:08Malcolmson felt
37:09that his work
37:09was over for the night
37:10and determined
37:11then and there
37:12to vary the monotony
37:13of the proceedings
37:14by a hunt
37:15for the rat
37:15and took off
37:16the green shade
37:17of the lamp
37:17so as to ensure
37:18a wider
37:19spreading light
37:20as he did so
37:22the gloom
37:23of the upper part
37:24of the room
37:24was relieved
37:25and in the new
37:26flood of light
37:27great by comparison
37:29with the previous darkness
37:30the pictures on the wall
37:31stood out boldly
37:33from where he stood
37:35Malcolmson saw
37:36right opposite to him
37:37the third picture
37:39on the wall
37:39from the right
37:40of the fireplace
37:40he rubbed his eyes
37:42in surprise
37:43and then a great fear
37:45began to come upon him
37:46in the centre
37:48of the picture
37:49was a great
37:50irregular patch
37:52of brown canvas
37:53as fresh as when
37:54it was stretched
37:55on the frame
37:56the background
37:57was as before
37:58with chair
37:59and chimney corner
38:00and rope
38:00but the figure
38:02of the judge
38:03had disappeared
38:05Malcolmson
38:07almost in a chill
38:09of horror
38:09turned slowly round
38:11and then he began
38:12to shake and tremble
38:13like a man
38:13and a palsy
38:14his strength
38:15seemed to have left him
38:17and he was incapable
38:18of action
38:19or movement
38:20hardly even of thought
38:22he could only see
38:24and hear
38:26there
38:28on the great
38:29high-backed
38:30carved oak chair
38:31sat
38:32the judge
38:33in his robes
38:35of scarlet and ermine
38:36with his baleful eyes
38:38glaring vindictively
38:39and a smile
38:41of triumph
38:41on the resolute
38:42cruel mouth
38:43as he lifted
38:45with his hands
38:46a black cap
38:48Malcolmson felt
38:50as if the blood
38:51was running
38:52from his heart
38:52as one does
38:53in moments
38:54of prolonged suspense
38:55there was a singing
38:56in his ears
38:57without
38:58he could hear
38:59the roar
38:59and howl
39:00of the tempest
39:01and through it
39:02swept on the storm
39:03came the striking
39:05of midnight
39:05by the great chimes
39:07in the marketplace
39:08he stood for a space
39:10of time
39:10that seemed to him
39:11endless
39:12still as a statue
39:13and with wide open
39:15horror-struck eyes
39:16breathless
39:17as the clock struck
39:19so the smile
39:21of triumph
39:21on the judge's face
39:22intensified
39:23and at the last
39:24stroke of midnight
39:25he placed
39:27the black cap
39:28on his head
39:28slowly
39:30and deliberately
39:31the judge
39:32rose from his chair
39:34and picked up
39:35the piece of the rope
39:36of the alarm bell
39:37which lay on the floor
39:38drew it through his hands
39:40as if he enjoyed
39:41its touch
39:42and then deliberately
39:44began to knot
39:45one end of it
39:46fashioning it
39:47into a noose
39:49this he tightened
39:51and tested
39:52with his foot
39:52pulling hard at it
39:54till he was satisfied
39:55and then making
39:56a running noose of it
39:57which he held
39:59in his hand
39:59then he began
40:01to move along
40:01the table
40:02on the opposite side
40:03to Malcolmson
40:04keeping his eyes
40:05on him
40:05until he had
40:06passed him
40:06when with a quick
40:08movement
40:08he stood in front
40:09of the door
40:10Malcolmson then
40:12began to feel
40:13that he was trapped
40:13and tried to think
40:15of what he should do
40:15there was some
40:17fascination
40:17in the judge's eyes
40:18which he never
40:19took off him
40:20and he had
40:20perforce to look
40:21he saw the judge
40:23approach
40:24still keeping
40:25between him
40:25and the door
40:26and raise the noose
40:28and throw it
40:29towards him
40:30as if to entangle him
40:31with a great effort
40:32he made a quick
40:32movement to one side
40:34and saw the rope
40:34fall beside him
40:35and heard it
40:36strike the oaken floor
40:37again the judge
40:38raised the noose
40:39and tried to
40:40ensnare him
40:40ever keeping
40:41his baleful eyes
40:42fixed on him
40:43and each time
40:44by a mighty effort
40:45the student
40:45just managed
40:46to evade it
40:47so this went on
40:49for many times
40:50the judge
40:50seeming never
40:51discouraged
40:52nor discomposed
40:53at failure
40:53but playing
40:54as a cat does
40:55with a mouse
40:56at last
40:57in despair
40:58which had reached
40:59its climax
41:00malcolmson cast
41:01a quick glance
41:02around him
41:03the lamp
41:03seemed to have
41:04blazed up
41:04and there was
41:05a fairly good
41:06light in the room
41:06at the many rat
41:08holes
41:08and in the chinks
41:09and crannies
41:10of the wainscot
41:11he saw
41:12the rat's eyes
41:14and this aspect
41:16that was purely
41:16physical
41:17gave him
41:18a gleam
41:19of comfort
41:19he looked around
41:21and saw
41:21that the rope
41:22of the great
41:22alarm bell
41:23was laden
41:24with rats
41:25every inch
41:26of it
41:26was covered
41:27with them
41:27and more
41:28and more
41:28were pouring
41:29through the
41:30small circular
41:30hole in the
41:31ceiling
41:31whence it
41:31emerged
41:32so that
41:33with their
41:33weight
41:33the bell
41:34was beginning
41:35to sway
41:36hark
41:38it had swayed
41:40till the
41:40clapper
41:40had touched
41:41the bell
41:41the sound
41:42was but a
41:43tiny one
41:43but the bell
41:44was only
41:44beginning
41:44to sway
41:45and it
41:46would increase
41:46at the sound
41:48the judge
41:49who had been
41:49keeping his
41:50eyes fixed
41:50on malcolmson
41:51looked up
41:52and a scowl
41:53of diabolical
41:54anger
41:55overspread his
41:55face
41:56his eyes
41:57fairly glowed
41:58like hot coals
41:59and he stamped
41:59his foot
42:00with a sound
42:00that seemed
42:01to make the
42:01house shake
42:02a dreadful
42:03peal of thunder
42:04broke overhead
42:04as he raised
42:05the rope again
42:06whilst the rats
42:07kept running
42:08up and down
42:08the rope
42:09as though
42:09working against
42:10time
42:10this time
42:11instead of
42:11throwing it
42:12he drew
42:12close to his
42:13victim
42:14and held
42:14open the
42:15noose
42:15as he approached
42:16as he came
42:17closer
42:18there seemed
42:19something
42:19paralyzing
42:20in his
42:21very presence
42:21and malcolmson
42:23stood rigid
42:24as a corpse
42:25he felt
42:26the judge's
42:27icy fingers
42:28touch his
42:29throat
42:29as he adjusted
42:30the rope
42:31the noose
42:32tightened
42:33tightened
42:35then the judge
42:37taking the rigid
42:38form of the
42:39student in his
42:40arms
42:40carried him
42:41over
42:42and placed him
42:43standing in the
42:44oak chair
42:44and stepping up
42:46beside him
42:46put his hand
42:47up
42:48and caught
42:48the end
42:49of the swaying
42:50rope of the
42:50alarm bell
42:51as he raised
42:53his hand
42:53the rats
42:55fled
42:56squeaking
42:57and disappeared
42:58through the
42:58hole in the
42:58ceiling
42:59taking the
43:00end of the
43:01noose
43:01which was
43:02round
43:02malcolmson's
43:02neck
43:03he tied it
43:04to the
43:04hanging
43:04bell rope
43:05and then
43:06descending
43:07pulled away
43:09the chair
43:09when the
43:13alarm bell
43:13of the
43:13judge's
43:14house began
43:14to sound
43:15a crowd
43:16soon assembled
43:17lights and
43:18torches of
43:19various kinds
43:20appeared
43:20and soon
43:21a silent
43:22crowd was
43:23hurrying to
43:23the spot
43:24they knocked
43:25loudly at the
43:26door
43:26but there was
43:26no reply
43:27then they
43:28burst in the
43:29door
43:29and poured
43:30into the
43:31great dining
43:32room
43:32the doctor
43:32at the
43:33head
43:33there
43:35at the
43:35end of
43:35the rope
43:36of the
43:36great
43:36alarm
43:36bell
43:37hung
43:38the body
43:39of the
43:39student
43:40and on
43:41the face
43:42of the
43:42judge
43:42in the
43:42picture
43:43was a
43:44malignant
43:45smile
43:47little
43:49so
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