the lost house(ʧ×ٵķ¿×Ó)-µÚ6½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
medicine¡¡to¡¡cure¡¡the¡¡cocaine¡¡habit¡£¡¡Needham¡¡found¡¡the¡¡cure¡¡was¡¡no¡¡cure£»¡¡
but¡¡¡¡¡¡cocaine¡¡¡¡¡¡disguised¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡sued¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡money£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡during¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡trial¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
police¡¡brought¡¡in¡¡Prothero's¡¡record¡£¡¡Needham¡¡let¡¡me¡¡copy¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡
to¡¡embrace¡¡every¡¡crime¡¡except¡¡treason¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡is¡¡a¡¡Russian¡¡Jew¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡
arrested¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡prosecuted¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡Warsaw£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Vienna£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Berlin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Belgrade£»¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡
Europe£»¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡¡¡finally¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡police¡¡¡¡¡¡drove¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡America¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡
editor¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡anarchist¡¡¡¡¡¡paper£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡blackmailer£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡'doctor'¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡hypnotism£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
clairvoyant£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡professional¡¡bigamist¡£¡¡His¡¡game¡¡was¡¡to¡¡open¡¡rooms¡¡as¡¡a¡¡
clairvoyant£»¡¡and¡¡advise¡¡silly¡¡women¡¡how¡¡to¡¡invest¡¡their¡¡money¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡
found¡¡out¡¡which¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡the¡¡most¡¡money£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡marry¡¡her£»¡¡take¡¡
over¡¡her¡¡fortune£»¡¡and¡¡skip¡£¡¡In¡¡Chicago£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡tried¡¡for¡¡poisoning¡¡one¡¡wife£»¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡trial¡¡brought¡¡out¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡two¡¡others¡¡had¡¡died¡¡under¡¡suspicious¡¡
circumstances£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡three¡¡more¡¡unpoisoned¡¡but¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡
get¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡money¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡sentenced¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡ten¡¡¡¡¡¡years¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡bigamy£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡
pardoned¡¡¡¡¡¡because¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡supposed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡insane£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡dying¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Instead¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
dying£»¡¡he¡¡opened¡¡a¡¡sanatorium¡¡in¡¡New¡¡York¡¡to¡¡cure¡¡victims¡¡of¡¡the¡¡drug¡¡
habit¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡reality£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sort¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡high¡priced¡¡¡¡¡¡opium¡den¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡place¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
raided£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡jumped¡¡his¡¡bail¡¡and¡¡came¡¡to¡¡this¡¡country¡£¡¡Now¡¡he¡¡is¡¡running¡¡
this¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡private¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hospital¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡Sowell¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Street¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Needham¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡says¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it's¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡secret¡¡
rendezvous¡¡for¡¡dope¡¡fiends¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡are¡¡very¡¡high¡class¡¡dope¡¡fiends£»¡¡who¡¡
are¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡for¡¡seclusion£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡police¡¡can't¡¡get¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡may¡¡add¡¡
that¡¡he's¡¡tall¡¡and¡¡muscular£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡big¡¡black¡¡beard£»¡¡and¡¡hands¡¡that¡¡could¡¡
strangle¡¡a¡¡bull¡£¡¡In¡¡Chicago£»¡¡during¡¡the¡¡poison¡¡trial£»¡¡the¡¡newspapers¡¡called¡¡
him¡¡'the¡¡Modern¡¡Bluebeard¡£¡¨'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡short¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡silent¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡¡¡¡¡corner¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cab£»¡¡
Cuthbert¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that¡¡his¡¡cigar¡¡was¡¡burning¡¡briskly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡19¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡20¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Lost¡¡House¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Your¡¡friend¡¡¡¡¡¡seems¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡nice¡¡chap£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡Ford¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨¡¡Calling¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡
will¡¡be¡¡a¡¡real¡¡pleasure¡£¡¡I¡¡especially¡¡like¡¡what¡¡you¡¡say¡¡about¡¡his¡¡hands¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡plan£»¡¨¡¡began¡¡the¡¡assistant¡¡timidly£»¡¡¡¨a¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡get¡¡you¡¡into¡¡the¡¡
house¡if¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡mind¡¡my¡¡making¡¡suggestions£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡at¡¡all£¡¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡his¡¡chief¡¡heartily¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Get¡¡me¡¡into¡¡the¡¡house¡¡by¡¡all¡¡means£»¡¡that's¡¡what¡¡we're¡¡here¡¡for¡£¡¡The¡¡
fact¡¡that¡¡I'm¡¡to¡¡be¡¡poisoned¡¡or¡¡strangled¡¡after¡¡I¡¡get¡¡there¡¡mustn't¡¡discourage¡¡
us¡£'¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡thought£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Cuthbert£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡might¡¡stand¡¡guard¡¡outside£»¡¡while¡¡you¡¡got¡¡
in¡¡as¡¡a¡¡dope¡¡fiend¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡snorted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡indignantly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡LOOK¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡dope¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fiend£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
protested¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡assistant¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡discouragement¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡certainly¡¡do¡¡not£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡exclaimed¡¡regretfulIy¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡it's¡¡the¡¡only¡¡plan¡¡
I¡¡could¡¡think¡¡of¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡¡¡¡¡seems¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡chief¡¡¡¡¡¡testily£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨that¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡very¡¡
healthy¡looking¡¡yourself¡£¡¡What's¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡with¡¡YOUR¡¡getting¡¡inside¡¡as¡¡a¡¡
dope¡¡fiend¡¡and¡¡MY¡¡standing¡¡guard£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡I¡¡¡¡wouldn't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡after¡¡¡¡I¡¡got¡¡inside£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡complained¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
assistant£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡you¡¡would¡£¡¡You¡¡are¡¡so¡¡clever¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡confidence¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡flatter¡¡Ford¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡might¡¡do¡¡this£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡pretend¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡recovering¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡a¡¡
heavy¡¡spree£»¡¡and¡¡ask¡¡to¡¡be¡¡taken¡¡care¡¡of¡¡until¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sober¡£¡¡Or¡¡I¡¡could¡¡be¡¡a¡¡
very¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡imitation¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡edge¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡nervous¡¡¡¡¡¡breakdown¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
haven't¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡five¡¡¡¡¡¡years¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡newspaper¡¡¡¡¡¡business¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡¡¡¡¡knowing¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡
there¡¡is¡¡to¡¡know¡¡about¡¡nerves¡£¡¡That's¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡that£¡¡¡And¡¡if¡¡
Mr¡£¡¡Bluebeard¡¡Svengali£»¡¡the¡¡Strangler¡¡of¡¡Paris¡¡person£»¡¡won't¡¡take¡¡me¡¡in¡¡as¡¡
a¡¡patient£»¡¡we'll¡¡come¡¡back¡¡with¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡axes¡¡and¡¡BREAK¡¡in¡£¡¡But¡¡we'll¡¡
try¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡nervous¡¡¡¡¡¡breakdown¡¡¡¡¡¡first£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡we'll¡¡¡¡¡¡try¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡naval¡¡
officer£»¡¨¡¡declared¡¡Ford¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡made¡¡the¡¡round¡the¡world¡¡cruise¡¡with¡¡our¡¡fleet¡¡
as¡¡a¡¡correspondent£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡know¡¡enough¡¡sea¡¡slang¡¡to¡¡fool¡¡a¡¡medical¡¡man¡£¡¡I¡¡
am¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡naval¡¡¡¡¡¡officer¡¡¡¡¡¡whose¡¡¡¡¡¡nerves¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡gone¡¡¡¡¡¡wrong¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
sanatorium¡¡through¡¨¡¡¡¨How£»¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Ford¡¡sharply£»¡¡¡¨have¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡his¡¡
sanatorium£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡20¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡21¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Lost¡¡House¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡advertisement¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡DAILY¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡WORLD£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡prompted¡¡
Cuthbert¡£¡¡¡¨'Home¡¡of¡¡convalescents£»¡¡mental¡¡and¡¡nervous¡¡troubles¡¡cured¡£'¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And£»¡¨¡¡continued¡¡Ford£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡come¡¡to¡¡him¡¡for¡¡rest¡¡and¡¡treatment¡£¡¡My¡¡
name¡¡is¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Henry¡¡Grant¡£¡¡I¡¡arrived¡¡in¡¡London¡¡two¡¡weeks¡¡ago¡¡on¡¡
the¡¡MAURETANIA¡£¡¡But¡¡my¡¡name¡¡was¡¡not¡¡on¡¡the¡¡passenger¡list£»¡¡because¡¡
I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡want¡¡the¡¡Navy¡¡Department¡¡to¡¡know¡¡I¡¡was¡¡taking¡¡my¡¡leave¡¡abroad¡£¡¡
I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡stopping¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡address¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡Jermyn¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Street£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
references¡¡are¡¡yourself£»¡¡the¡¡Embassy£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡landlord¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡telephone¡¡
him¡¡at¡¡once¡¡that£»¡¡if¡¡any¡¡one¡¡asks¡¡after¡¡Henry¡¡Grant£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡to¡¡say¡¡what¡¡you¡¡
tell¡¡him¡¡to¡¡say¡£¡¡And¡¡if¡¡any¡¡one¡¡sends¡¡for¡¡Henry¡¡Grant's¡¡clothes£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡to¡¡
send¡¡MY¡¡clothes¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡don't¡¡¡¡expect¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡long¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡that£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡exclaimed¡¡
Cuthbert¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡do¡¡not£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Ford¡£¡¡¡¨But£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡takes¡¡me¡¡in£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡make¡¡a¡¡bluff¡¡of¡¡
sending¡¡for¡¡my¡¡things¡£¡¡No£»¡¡either¡¡I¡¡will¡¡be¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡in¡¡five¡¡minutes£»¡¡or¡¡if¡¡
he¡¡accepts¡¡me¡¡as¡¡a¡¡patient¡¡I¡¡will¡¡be¡¡there¡¡until¡¡midnight¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡get¡¡the¡¡
girl¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡by¡¡midnight£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡mean¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡get¡¡out¡¡myself£»¡¡
and¡¡you¡¡had¡¡better¡¡bring¡¡the¡¡police¡¡and¡¡the¡¡coroner¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡mean¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Cuthbert¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡most¡¡certainly¡¡do£¡¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡Ford¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Until¡¡twelve¡¡I¡¡want¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡get¡¡this¡¡story¡¡exclusively¡¡for¡¡our¡¡paper¡£¡¡
If¡¡she¡¡is¡¡not¡¡free¡¡by¡¡then¡¡it¡¡means¡¡I¡¡have¡¡fallen¡¡down¡¡on¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡and¡¡the¡¡
police¡¡are¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡batter¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doors¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡two¡¡young¡¡men¡¡left¡¡the¡¡cab£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡some¡¡distance¡¡from¡¡each¡¡other¡¡
walked¡¡to¡¡Sowell¡¡Street¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡house¡¡of¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Prothero£»¡¡Ford¡¡stopped¡¡and¡¡
rang¡¡the¡¡bell¡£¡¡From¡¡across¡¡the¡¡street¡¡Cuthbert¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡door¡¡open¡¡and¡¡the¡¡
figure¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡almost¡¡¡¡¡¡gigantic¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡stature¡¡¡¡block¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡doorway¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
moment¡¡he¡¡stood¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡Cuthbert¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡step¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side£»¡¡saw¡¡
Ford¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡house¡¡and¡¡the¡¡door¡¡close¡¡upon¡¡him¡£¡¡Cuthbert¡¡at¡¡once¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡
a¡¡telephone£»¡¡and£»¡¡having¡¡instructed¡¡Ford's¡¡landlord¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡part¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡
play£»¡¡¡¡¡¡returned¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Sowell¡¡¡¡¡¡Street¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡There£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡state¡¡¡¡¡¡nearly¡¡¡¡¡¡approaching¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
genuine¡¡nervous¡¡breakdown£»¡¡he¡¡continued¡¡his¡¡vigil¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Even¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡criminal¡¡¡¡¡¡record¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡cast¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡glamour¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford¡¡
would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Dr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Prothero£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡disturbing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡person¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡size¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡21¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡22¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Lost¡¡House¡¡
enormous£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡piercing£»¡¡sinister£»¡¡unblinking£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡that¡¡could¡¡
strangle¡¡a¡¡bull£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡which¡¡as¡¡though¡¡to¡¡control¡¡himself£»¡¡he¡¡continually¡¡
pulled¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡black¡¡¡¡¡¡beard£»¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡gigantic£»¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡¡¡white£»¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡fingers¡¡
long¡¡and¡¡prehensile¡£¡¡In¡¡his¡¡manner¡¡he¡¡had¡¡all¡¡the¡¡suave¡¡insolence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
Oriental¡¡and¡¡the¡¡suspicious¡¡alertness¡¡of¡¡one¡¡constantly¡¡on¡¡guard£»¡¡but¡¡also£»¡¡
as¡¡Ford¡¡at¡¡once¡¡noted£»¡¡of¡¡one¡¡wholly¡¡without¡¡fear¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡over¡¡a¡¡
moment¡¡in¡¡his¡¡presence¡¡before¡¡the¡¡reporter¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡to¡¡successfully¡¡lie¡¡to¡¡
such¡¡a¡¡man¡¡might¡¡be¡¡counted¡¡as¡¡a¡¡triumph¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Prothero¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door¡¡into¡¡a¡¡little¡¡office¡¡leading¡¡off¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡and¡¡
switched¡¡on¡¡the¡¡electric¡¡lights¡£¡¡For¡¡some¡¡short¡¡time£»¡¡without¡¡any¡¡effort¡¡to¡¡
conceal¡¡his¡¡suspicion£»¡¡he¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡Ford¡¡in¡¡silence¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡His¡¡tone¡¡was¡¡a¡¡challenge¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ford¡¡had¡¡already¡¡given¡¡his¡¡assumed¡¡name¡¡and¡¡profession£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡now¡¡
ran¡¡¡¡¡¡glibly¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡story¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡planned¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡opened¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡card¡case¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
looked¡¡into¡¡it¡¡doubtfully¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡find¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡card¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡am£»¡¡
as¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you£»¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Grant£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡Navy¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡all¡¡right¡¡
physically£»¡¡except¡¡for¡¡my¡¡nerves¡£¡¡They've¡¡played¡¡me¡¡a¡¡queer¡¡trick¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡
facts¡¡get¡¡out¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡it¡¡might¡¡cost¡¡me¡¡my¡¡commission¡£¡¡So¡¡I've¡¡come¡¡over¡¡
here¡¡for¡¡treatment¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why¡¡to¡¡ME£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Prothero¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡saw¡¡by¡¡your¡¡advertisement£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡reporter£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡you¡¡treated¡¡for¡¡
nervous¡¡mental¡¡troubles¡£¡¡Mine¡¡is¡¡an¡¡illusion£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡went¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡see¡¡things£»¡¡or£»¡¡
rather£»¡¡always¡¡one¡¡thing¡a¡¡battle¡ship¡¡coming¡¡at¡¡us¡¡head¡¡on¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡last¡¡
year¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I've¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡executive¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡officer¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡KEARSARGE£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
responsibility¡¡has¡¡been¡¡too¡¡much¡¡for¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡see¡¡a¡¡battle¡ship