the room and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little slit of

dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, unreasoning terror rose

up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and

I turned and ran—ran as though some dreadful hand were behind me

clutching at the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the

door, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting outside.


“‘So,’ said he, smiling, ‘it was you, then. I

thought that it must be when I saw the door open.’


“‘Oh, I am so frightened!’ I panted.


“‘My dear young lady! my dear young lady!’—you

cannot think how caressing and soothing his manner was—‘and what

has frightened you, my dear young lady?’


“But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I was keenly

on my guard against him.


“‘I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,’ I

answered. ‘But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was

frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in there!’


“‘Only that?’ said he, looking at me keenly.


“‘Why, what did you think?’ I asked.


“‘Why do you think that I lock this door?’


“‘I am sure that I do not know.’


“‘It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you

see?’ He was still smiling in the most amiable manner.


“‘I am sure if I had known—’


“‘Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot

over that threshold again’—here in an instant the smile hardened

into a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a

demon—‘I’ll throw you to the mastiff.’


“I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that I must

have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing until I found myself

lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could

not live there longer without some advice. I was frightened of the house, of