第24章 法官的房子9（第1页）

第24章法官的房子（9）

TheJudgewasseatedihigh-backedcarvedoaktheright-handsideofagreatstonefireplacewhere，intheer，aropehungdownfromtheg，itsendlyihefloor。Withafeelihinglikehorror，Malsheseoftheroomasitstood，andgazedaroundhimiruerasthoughheexpeestrangepresendhim。Theotheerofthefirepladwithaloudcryheletthelampfallfromhishand。

&heJudge'sarm-chair，withtheropehatheratwiththeJudge'sbalefuleyes，nowihafiendishleer。Saveforthehowliormwithouttherewassilence。

ThefallenlamprecalledMalself。Fortuwasofmetal，andsotheoililt。However，thepraeedofattendingtoitsettledatonervousapprehensiour，hewipedhisbrowandthoughtforamoment。

"Thiswillnotdo，"hesaidtohimself。"IfIgoohisIshallbeeauststop!IpromisedthedoctorIwouldh，herettyright!Myhavebeeoaqueerstate。FunnyIdid。Ierinmylife。However，itisallrightnow，andIshallnotbesuchafoolagain。"

Thenhemixedhimselfagoodstiffglassofbrandyandwateraelysatdowntohiswork。

Itwasnearlyanhourwhenhelookedupfromhisbook，disturbedbythesuddehout，thewindhowledandroaredlouderthaheraisagainstthewiinglikehailontheglass;butwithintherewasnosouheechoofthewindasitroarediey，andnowandthenahissasafesfoundtheirwaydownthealullofthestorm。Thefirehadfallenlowaoflame，thoughitthrewlow。Malsoively，alyheardathin，squeaking。Ittheeroftheroomwheretheropehungdowitwasthegoftheropeonthefloorastheswayingofthebellraiseda。Lookingup，however，hesawinthedimlightthegreatratgtnawingit。Theropewasalreadynearlyghrough—hecouldseethelightercolourwherethestrandswerelaidbare。Ashelookedthejobleted，andtheseveredendoftheropefellgontheoakenfloor，whilstforaniratremainedlikeaknobortasselattheendoftherope，whiowbegantoswaytoandfro。Malsoforamomentanofterrorashethoughtthatnowthepossibilityofgtheouterworldtohisassistaoff，butaookitspladseizingthebookhewasreadinghehurleditattherat。Thebloellaimed，butbeforethemissilecouldreachhimtheratdroppedoffandstruckthefloorwithasoftthud。Malsoninstaowardshim，butitdartedaearedinthedarkheshadowsoftheroom。Malsohisworkwasht，aheovarythemonotonysbyahu，andtookoffthegreehelampsoastoinsureawiderspreadinglight。Ashedidsothegloomoftheupperpartoftheroomwasrelieved，andinthenewfloodoflight，greatbyparisonwiththepreviousdarkuresooodoutboldly。Fromwherehestood，Malshtoppositetohimthethirdpithewallfrhtofthefireplace。Herubbedhiseyesihefearbeganto。

Ihepicturewasagreatirregularpatchofbrownvas，asfreshaswhenitwasstrettheframe。Thebadwasasbefore，withdey-drope，butthefigureoftheJudgehaddisappeared。

Malostinachillofhorror，turnedslowlyround，aoshakeandtremblelikeamaninapalsy。Hisstreohavelefthim，andheableofaent，hardlyevenofthought。Helyseeandhear。