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44 - Beetle by Richard Marsh · Beetle

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  Speaker 1: The Beadle by Richard marsh chapter forty four. The man
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  Speaker 1: who was murdered, The inspector spoke to me, if what
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  Speaker 1: the boy says is correct, it sounds as if the
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  Speaker 1: person whom you are seeking may have had a finger
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  Speaker 1: in the pie. I was of the same opinion as
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  Speaker 1: apparently were Lessingham and Sydney. Atherton collared the youth by
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  Speaker 1: the shoulder which mister Pleesman had left disengaged. What sort
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  Speaker 1: of looking bloke is it? Who's been murdered? I dunno,
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  Speaker 1: I haven't seen em. Missus Anderson's, she says to me.
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  Speaker 1: Gustus Barley, She says, A bloke's been murdered. That their
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  Speaker 1: Arab what I chucked out half hour ago been and
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  Speaker 1: murdered him and left him behind up in my back room.
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  Speaker 1: You run as odd as you can tear and tell
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  Speaker 1: them there, dratted Please, what's so fond of shovin their
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  Speaker 1: dirty noses into respectable people's ouses? So I comes and
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  Speaker 1: tells yer, that's all I knows about it. We went
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  Speaker 1: four in the hansom, which had been waiting in the street,
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  Speaker 1: to Missus Henderson's in Paradise Place. The inspector and we
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  Speaker 1: three mister Pleesman and Gustus Barley followed on foot. The
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  Speaker 1: inspector was explanatory. Missus Henderson keeps a sort of lodging house,
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  Speaker 1: a sailor's home, she calls it, but no one could
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  Speaker 1: call it sweet. It doesn't bear the best of characters.
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  Speaker 1: And if you ask me what I thought of it,
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  Speaker 1: I should say, in plain English that it was a
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  Speaker 1: disorderly house. Paradise place proved to be within three or
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  Speaker 1: four hundred yards of the station house, so far as
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  Speaker 1: could be seen in the dark. It consisted of a
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  Speaker 1: row of houses of considerable dimensions, and also of considerable antiquity.
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  Speaker 1: They opened onto two or three stone steps, which led
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  Speaker 1: directly into the street. At one of the doors stood
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  Speaker 1: an old lady with a shawl drawn over her head.
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  Speaker 1: This was Missus Henderson. She greeted us with garrulous volubility.
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  Speaker 1: Still you've come, have you? I thought you never was
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  Speaker 1: a comin that I did. She recognized the inspector. It's you,
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  Speaker 1: mister Phillips. It perceiving us, She drew a little back.
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  Speaker 1: Who's them there, parties? They ain't coppers. Mister Phillips dismissed
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  Speaker 1: her inquiry curtly. Never you mind who they are? What's
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  Speaker 1: this about someone being murdered? Sh The old lady glanced around.
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  Speaker 1: Don't you speak so loud, mister Phillips. No, one don't
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  Speaker 1: know nothing about it as yet. The parties, what's in
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  Speaker 1: my house is most respectable, most and they couldn't abide
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  Speaker 1: the notion of there being police about the place. We
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  Speaker 1: quite believe that Missus Henderson, the inspector's tone was grim.
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  Speaker 1: Missus Henderson led the way up a staircase which would
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  Speaker 1: have been distinctly the better for repairs. It was necessary
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  Speaker 1: to pick one's way as one went, and as the
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  Speaker 1: light was defective, stumbles were not infrequent. Our guide passed
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  Speaker 1: outside a door on the topmost landing from some mysterious
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  Speaker 1: recess in her apparel. She produced a key. It's in
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  Speaker 1: the air. I locked the door so that nothing mightn't
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  Speaker 1: be disturbed. I knows how particular you pleasman is. She
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  Speaker 1: turned the key. We all went in, we this time
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  Speaker 1: in front, and she behind A candle was guttering on
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  Speaker 1: a broken and dilapidated single washhand stand. A small iron
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  Speaker 1: bedstead stood by its side, the clothes on which were
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  Speaker 1: all tumbled and tossed. There was a rush seated chair
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  Speaker 1: with a hole in the seat, and that, with the
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  Speaker 1: exception of one or two chipped pieces of stoneware, and
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  Speaker 1: a small round mirror which was hung on a nail
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  Speaker 1: against the wall, seemed to be all that the room contained.
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  Speaker 1: I could see nothing in the shape of a murdered man, nor,
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  Speaker 1: it appeared, could the inspector either. What's the meaning of this,
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  Speaker 1: missus Henderson. I don't see anything here. It's behind the bed,
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  Speaker 1: mister Phillips, I left them just where I found him.
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  Speaker 1: I wouldn't have touched him, not for nothing. Nor yet
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  Speaker 1: I've let nobody else have touched him, neither, cause, as
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  Speaker 1: I say, I know how particular you pleaseman is. We
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  Speaker 1: all four went hastily forward. Atherton and I went to
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  Speaker 1: the head of the bed. Lessingham and the Inspector, leading
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  Speaker 1: right across the bed, peeped over the side. There on
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  Speaker 1: the floor, in the space which was between the bed
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  Speaker 1: and the wall, laid the murdered man. At sight of him.
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  Speaker 1: An exclamation burst from Sidney's lips. It's halt, thank god,
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  Speaker 1: cried Blessingham. It isn't, Marjorie. The relief in his tone
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  Speaker 1: was unmistakable that the one was gone was plainly nothing
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  Speaker 1: to him in comparison with the fact that the other
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  Speaker 1: was left, thrusting the bed more into the center of
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  Speaker 1: the room. I knelt down beside the man on the floor.
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  Speaker 1: A more deplorable spectacle than he presented I have seldom witnessed.
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  Speaker 1: He was decently clad in a gray tweed suit, white hat, collar,
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  Speaker 1: and necktie, and it was perhaps the fact which made
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  Speaker 1: his extreme attenuation the more conspicuous. I doubt if there
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  Speaker 1: was an ounce of flesh on the whole of his body.
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  Speaker 1: His cheeks and the sockets of his eyes were hollow.
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  Speaker 1: The skin was drawn tightly over his cheek bones, The
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  Speaker 1: bones themselves were staring through. Even his nose was wasted,
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  Speaker 1: so that nothing but a ridge of cartilage remained. I
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  Speaker 1: put my arm beneath his shoulder and raised him from
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  Speaker 1: the floor. No resistance was offered by the body's gravity.
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  Speaker 1: He was as light as a little child. I doubt,
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  Speaker 1: I said, if this man has been murdered, it looks
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  Speaker 1: to me like a case of starvation or exhaustion, possibly
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  Speaker 1: a combination of both. What's that on his neck, asked
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  Speaker 1: the inspector. He was kneeling at my side. He referred
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  Speaker 1: to two abrasions of the skin, one on either side
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  Speaker 1: of the man's neck. They looked to me like scratches.
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  Speaker 1: They seem pretty deep, but I don't think they're sufficient
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  Speaker 1: in themselves to cause death. They might be joined to
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  Speaker 1: an already weakened constitution. Is there anything in his pockets?
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  Speaker 1: Let's lift him on to the bed. We lifted him
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  Speaker 1: on to the bed. A featherweight he was to lift.
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  Speaker 1: While the inspector was examining his pockets to find them empty,
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  Speaker 1: a tall man with a big black beard came bustling in.
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  Speaker 1: He proved to be Doc Glossop, the local police surgeon
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  Speaker 1: who had been sent for before our quitting the station house.
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  Speaker 1: His first pronouncement, made as soon as he commenced his examination,
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  Speaker 1: was under the circumstances sufficiently startling. I don't believe the
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  Speaker 1: man's dead. Why didn't you send for me directly you
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  Speaker 1: found him? The question was put to missus Henderson. Well,
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  Speaker 1: Doctor Glossop, I wouldn't touch him myself, and I wouldn't
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  Speaker 1: have him touched by no one else, because, as I've
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  Speaker 1: said afore, I know how particular than policemen is. Then
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  Speaker 1: in that case, if he does die, you'll have had
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  Speaker 1: a hand in murdering him, that's all, the lady sniggered.
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  Speaker 1: Of course, doctor Glossop, we all know is that you
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  Speaker 1: always have your joke. You'll find it a joke if
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  Speaker 1: you have to hang as you ought to you, The
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  Speaker 1: doctor said what he did say to himself under his breath.
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  Speaker 1: I doubt if it was flattering to missus Henderson, Have
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  Speaker 1: you got any brandy in the house. We've got everything
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  Speaker 1: in the house for them, as likes to pay for
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  Speaker 1: it everything. Then, suddenly remembering that the police were present
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  Speaker 1: and that hers were not exactly licensed premises. Leastways we
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  Speaker 1: can send out for it for them parties as gives
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  Speaker 1: us the money, being as is well known, always willing
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  Speaker 1: to oblige, then send for some to the tap downstairs
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  Speaker 1: if that's the nearest. If this man dies before you've
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  Speaker 1: brought it, I'll have you locked up as sure as
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  Speaker 1: you're a living woman. The arrival of the brandy was
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  Speaker 1: not long delayed, but the man on the bed had
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  Speaker 1: regained consciousness before it came. Opening his eyes, he looked
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  Speaker 1: up at the doctor bending over him. Hullo, my man,
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  Speaker 1: that's more like the time of day. How are you feeling?
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  Speaker 1: The patient stared hazily up at the doctor, as if
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  Speaker 1: his senses of perception was not yet completely restored, as
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  Speaker 1: if this big bearded man was something altogether strange. Atherton
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  Speaker 1: bent down beside the doctor. I'm glad to see you
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  Speaker 1: looking better, mister Holt. You know me, don't you. I've
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  Speaker 1: been running about after you all day long? You are?
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  Speaker 1: You are? The man's eyes closed, as if the effort
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  Speaker 1: at recollection exhausted him. He kept them closed as he
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  Speaker 1: continued to speak. I know who you are. You are
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  Speaker 1: the gentleman. Yes, that's it. I'm the gentleman, name of Atherton,
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  Speaker 1: miss London's friend, and I dare say you're feeling pretty
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  Speaker 1: well done up and in want of something to eat
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  Speaker 1: and drink. Here's some brandy for you. The doctor had
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  Speaker 1: some in a tumbler. He raised the patient's head, allowing
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  Speaker 1: it to trickle down his throat. The man swallowed it mechanically, motionless,
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  Speaker 1: as if unconscious what it was that he was doing.
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  Speaker 1: His cheeks flushed. The passing glow of color caused their
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  Speaker 1: condition of extraordinary and indeed extravagant attenuation to be more
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  Speaker 1: prominent than ever, the doctor laid him back upon the bed,
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  Speaker 1: feeling his pulse with one hand while he stood and
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  Speaker 1: regarded him in silence. Then turning to the inspector, he
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  Speaker 1: said to him in an undertone, if you want him
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  Speaker 1: to make a statement, he'll have to make it now.
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  Speaker 1: He's going fast. You won't be able to get much
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  Speaker 1: out of him. He's too far gone, and I shouldn't
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  Speaker 1: bustle him, but get what you can. The inspector came
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  Speaker 1: to the front a notebook in his hand. I understand
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  Speaker 1: from this gentleman signifying Atherton that your name's Robert Holt.
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  Speaker 1: I'm an inspector of police, and I want you to
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  Speaker 1: tell me what has brought you into this condition? Has
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  Speaker 1: anyone been assaulting you? Holt, opening his eyes, glanced up
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  Speaker 1: at the speaker mistily, as if he could not see
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  Speaker 1: him clearly, still less understand what it was he was saying. Sidney,
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  Speaker 1: stooping over him, endeavored to explain. The inspector wants to
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  Speaker 1: know how you got here. Has anyone been doing anything
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  Speaker 1: to you? Has anyone been hurting you? The man's eyelids
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  Speaker 1: were partially closed, then they opened wider and wider, his
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  Speaker 1: mouth open too, on his skeleton features. There came a
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  Speaker 1: look of panic fear. He was evidently struggling to speak.
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  Speaker 1: At last, words came the beetle. He stopped, then, after
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  Speaker 1: an effort, spoke again, the beetle. What's he mean, asked
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  Speaker 1: the inspector. I think I understand, Sydney answered, then turning
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  Speaker 1: again to the man in the bed, Yes, I hear
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  Speaker 1: what you say the beetle. Well, has the beetle done
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  Speaker 1: anything to you? It took me by the throat? Is
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  Speaker 1: that the meaning of the marks upon your neck? The
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  Speaker 1: beetle killed me? The lids closed, the man relapsed into
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  Speaker 1: a state of lethargy. The inspector was puzzled and said, so,
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  Speaker 1: what's he mean about a beetle? Atherton replied, I think
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  Speaker 1: I understand what he means, and my friends do too.
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  Speaker 1: We'll explain afterwards. In the meantime, I think i'd better
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  Speaker 1: get as much out of him as I can while
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  Speaker 1: there's time, Yes, said the doctor, his hand upon the
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  Speaker 1: patient's pulse. While there's time, there isn't much, only seconds,
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  Speaker 1: Sidney endeavored, to rouse the man from his stupor. You've
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  Speaker 1: been with miss Lindon all the afternoon and evening haven't you,
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  Speaker 1: mister Holt Atherton had reached the cord in the man's consciousness.
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  Speaker 1: His lips moved in painful articulation. Yes, all the afternoon
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  Speaker 1: and evening. God help me. I hope God will help you,
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  Speaker 1: my poor fellow. You've been in need of his help.
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  Speaker 1: If ever a man was Miss Lindon is disguised in
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  Speaker 1: your old clothes, isn't she? Yes, in my old clothes,
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  Speaker 1: my God? And where is Miss Lindon? Now? The man
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  Speaker 1: had been speaking with his eyes closed. Now he opened
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  Speaker 1: them wide. There came into them the former staring horror.
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  Speaker 1: He became possessed by uncontrollable agitation, half raising himself in bed.
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  Speaker 1: Words came from his quivering lips, as if they were
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  Speaker 1: only drawn from him by the force of his anguish.
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  Speaker 1: The Beetle's going to kill Miss Lindon. A momentary paroxysm
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  Speaker 1: seemed to shake the very foundations of his being. His
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  Speaker 1: whole frame quivered. He fell back onto the bed ominously.
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  Speaker 1: The doctor examined him in silence, while we too were still.
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  Speaker 1: This time he's gone for good. There'll be no conjuring
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  Speaker 1: him back again. I felt a sudden pressure on my
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  Speaker 1: arm and found that Lessingham was clutching me with probably
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  Speaker 1: unconscious violence. The muscles on his face were twitching. He trembled.
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  Speaker 1: I turned to the doctor. Doctor, if there is any
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  Speaker 1: of that brandy left, will you let me have it
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  Speaker 1: for my friend. Lessingham disposed of the remainder of the shillingsworth.
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  Speaker 1: I rather fancy has saved us from a scene. The
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  Speaker 1: inspector was speaking to the woman of the house. Now,
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  Speaker 1: missus Henderson, perhaps you'll tell us what all this means.
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  Speaker 1: Who is this man, and how did he come in here?
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  Speaker 1: And who came in with him? And what do you
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  Speaker 1: know about it altogether? If you've got anything to say,
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  Speaker 1: say it only you'd better be careful, because it's my
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  Speaker 1: duty to warn you that anything you do say may
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  Speaker 1: be used against you. End of Chapter forty four.