The Circular Staircase - Page 133/154

"Miss Innes," he said, stopping me as I was about to go to my room

up-stairs, "how are your nerves tonight?"

"I have none," I said happily. "With Halsey found, my troubles have

gone."

"I mean," he persisted, "do you feel as though you could go through

with something rather unusual?"

"The most unusual thing I can think of would be a peaceful night. But

if anything is going to occur, don't dare to let me miss it."

"Something is going to occur," he said. "And you're the only woman I

can think of that I can take along." He looked at his watch. "Don't

ask me any questions, Miss Innes. Put on heavy shoes, and some old

dark clothes, and make up your mind not to be surprised at anything."

Liddy was sleeping the sleep of the just when I went up-stairs, and I

hunted out my things cautiously. The detective was waiting in the

hall, and I was astonished to see Doctor Stewart with him.

They were talking confidentially together, but when I came down they

ceased. There were a few preparations to be made: the locks to be gone

over, Winters to be instructed as to renewed vigilance, and then, after

extinguishing the hall light, we crept, in the darkness, through the

front door, and into the night.

I asked no questions. I felt that they were doing me honor in making

me one of the party, and I would show them I could be as silent as

they. We went across the fields, passing through the woods that

reached almost to the ruins of the stable, going over stiles now and

then, and sometimes stepping over low fences. Once only somebody spoke,

and then it was an emphatic bit of profanity from Doctor Stewart when

he ran into a wire fence.

We were joined at the end of five minutes by another man, who fell into

step with the doctor silently. He carried something over his shoulder

which I could not make out. In this way we walked for perhaps twenty

minutes. I had lost all sense of direction: I merely stumbled along in

silence, allowing Mr. Jamieson to guide me this way or that as the path

demanded. I hardly know what I expected. Once, when through a

miscalculation I jumped a little short over a ditch and landed above my

shoe-tops in the water and ooze, I remember wondering if this were

really I, and if I had ever tasted life until that summer. I walked

along with the water sloshing in my boots, and I was actually cheerful.

I remember whispering to Mr. Jamieson that I had never seen the stars

so lovely, and that it was a mistake, when the Lord had made the night

so beautiful, to sleep through it!