The Argosy — page 49: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE PHANTOM ARMY. 241 It was dark upon the staircase, but a great stained glass window shim- mered at the first touch of day, and the gas jet, which we turned up as we ascended, shone white and feeble before the light of dawn. ‘Ihe woman had not waited while I fumbled with the gas, and stood already upon the second landing when I was ready to follow her. I hastened up the remaining stairs, fearing for her to go alone ; but three steps still lay between us when she ut- tered a cry of distress, and I saw her drop upon one knee and cover her eyes as though to shut from them the secret which was a secret no more. And then I knew that the whole of her story was true, for a man lay full length upon the floor, and whether he were alive or dead I had yet to learn. He was a young man, short in stature as I imagined, and wearing the pointed beard beloved of the old Spanish painters. I noticed that he wore a great white bow in the place of our narrow English neckties; but his dress clothes seemed to be very new and his embroidered shirt front was scarcely ruffled. ‘That he had been struck down in that place, was my first thought, so that I feared to move him lest some gaping wound should show itself to the woman. But when I bent down and felt the young man’s wrist, warm and pulsing with an even beat of the heart, I knew that I was mistaken. He lived ; what was more, and this was the surpassing mystery, he breathed like a hale man. ‘‘ Monsieur,’’ said the woman, ignoring my astonishment, ‘‘ will you carry him to my boudoir—oh, I thank God that it is no worse ; he is only sleeping.’’ It was not a moment for argument, but as I lifted the unknown in my arms, two unanswerable questions flashed upon my mind—the first, how came it that this man lay asleep in such a place; the second, what instinct guided the woman so that she knew he was sleeping. Just as I had feared the secret of the house when it was not discovered, so did this discovery of it SCE CO tite lie euE Wondel L Mad beard or read of L began to fave a dread of the house which nothing could shake off. Who were these people, I asked myself? Whence came their riches, what was the meaning of the ‘work of that night? And where was that ‘‘ other ’’ of whom she had made mention ? God knows, the mystery perplexed me—the unbroken silence was as a harbinger of death ; I could feel the sweat rolling down my face when I carried the sleeping man to the boudoir she had named and there laid him upon a sofa. But the mistress of the house was herself again. Fear had fallen from her like a cloak. Her new manner was imperious, almost com- manding. ‘‘ Monsieur,’”’ she said, ‘‘I thank you from my heart. My brother only sleeps, as you See. He is subject to these attacks. They leave him weak. and ill, but we can do nothing for him while they last. I shall watch with him until he wakes.”’ She stood at the door hesitating as though she had the wish that I should leave her. But my astonishment at her desire and at the spectacle of the mau, lying in a trance upon her sofa, kept me rooted to the spot. I was about to mutter some question, some desire for a further word upon it, when I heard a door shut very softly in the hall below; and so unexpected was the sound that I drew back as though a hand had touched me. (v) . Eomichook (Eo)