 Chapter 6 The Mandarin's Pearl Mr. Broderib stretched out his toes on the curb before the blazing fire, with the air of a man who is by no means insensible to physical comfort. You are really an extraordinarily polite fellow, Thorndike, said he. He was an elderly man, rosy gild, portly and convivial, to whom a mass of bushy white hair, an expansive double chin, and a certain prim sumptuousness of dress, imparted an air of old world distinction. Indeed, as he dipped an amethystine nose into his wine-glass, and gazed thoughtfully at the glowing end of his cigar, he looked the very type of the well-to-do lawyer of an older generation. You are really an extraordinarily polite fellow, Thorndike, said Mr. Broderib. I know, replied Thorndike, but why this reference to an admitted fact? The truth has just dawned on me, said the Solicitor. Here am I, dropping in on you, uninvited and unannounced, sitting in your own armchair before your fire, smoking your cigars, drinking your burgundy, and dused good burgundy, too, let me add, and you have not dropped a single hint of curiosity as to what has brought me here. I take the gifts of the gods, you see, and ask no questions, said Thorndike. Devilish, handsome of you, Thorndike, unsociable beggar like you, too, rejoined Mr. Broderib, a fan of wrinkles spreading out genially from the corners of his eyes. But the fact is, I have come, in a sense, on business, always glad of a pretext to look you up, as you know, but I want to take your opinion on a rather queer case. It is about young Calvally. You remember Horace Calvally? Well, this is his son. Horace and I were schoolmates, you know, and after his death, the boy, Fred, hung on to me rather. We're near neighbours, down at Weybridge, and very good friends. I like Fred. He's a good fellow, though cranky, like all his people. What has happened to Fred Calvally, Thorndike asked, as the Solicitor paused. Why the fact is, said Mr. Broderib, just lately he seems to be going a bit queer, not mad, mind you, at least I think not, but undoubtedly queer. Now there is a good deal of property and a good many highly interested relatives, and as a natural consequence there is some talk of getting him certified. They're afraid he may do something involving the estate or develop homicidal tendencies, and they talk of possible suicide. You remember his father's death, but I say that's all bunkern. The fellow is just a bit cranky and nothing more. What are his symptoms, asked Thorndike. Oh, he thinks he is being followed about and watched, and he has delusions, sees himself in the glass with the wrong face, and that sort of thing, you know. You are not highly circumstantial, Thorndike remarked. Mr. Broderib looked at me with a genial smile. What a glutton for facts, this fellow is Jervis, but you're right, Thorndike, I'm vague. However, Fred will be here presently. We travel down together, and I took the liberty of asking him to call for me. We'll get him to tell you about his delusions, if you don't mind. He's not shy about them, and meanwhile I'll give you a few preliminary facts. The trouble began about a year ago. He was in a railway accident, and that knocked him all to pieces. Then he went for a voyage to recruit, and the ship broke her propeller shaft in a storm, and became helpless. That didn't improve the state of his nerves. Then he went down the Mediterranean, and after a month or two back he came, no better than when he started. But here he is, I expect. He went over to the door and admitted a tall, frail young man, whom Thorndike welcomed with quiet geniality, and settled in a chair by the fire. I looked curiously at our visitor. He was a typical neurotic, slender, fragile, eager, wide-open blue eyes with broad pupils, in which I could plainly see the characteristic, hippus, that incessant change of size that marks the unstable, nervous equilibrium. Parted lips and wandering taper fingers were as the stigmata of his disorder. He was of the stuff out of which prophets and devotees, martyrs, reformers, and third-rate poets are made. I have been telling Dr. Thorndike about these nervous troubles of yours, said Mr. Broderick presently. I hope you don't mind. He is an old friend, you know, and he is very much interested. It is very good of him, said Calvally. Then he flushed deeply and added, but they are not really nervous, you know. They can't be merely subjective. You think they can't be, said Thorndike? No, I am sure they are not. He flushed again like a girl and looked earnestly at Thorndike with his big, dreamy eyes. But you doctors, he said, are so dreadfully skeptical of all spiritual phenomena. You are such materialists. Yes, said Mr. Broderick, the doctors are not hot on the supernatural, and that's a fact. Supposing you tell us about your experiences, said Thorndike persuasively, give us a chance to believe if we can't explain away. Calvally reflected for a few moments, then, looking earnestly at Thorndike, he said, Very well, if it won't bore you, I will. It is a curious story. I have told Dr. Thorndike about your voyage and your trip down the Mediterranean, said Mr. Broderick. Then, said Calvally, I will begin with the events that are actually connected with these strange visitations. The first of these occurred in Marseille. I was in a Curio shop there, looking over some Algerian and Moorish tilings, when my attention was attracted by a sort of charm or pendant that hung in a glass case. It was not particularly beautiful, but its appearance was quaint and curious, and took my fancy. It consisted of an oblong block of ebony, in which was set a single, pear-shaped pearl, more than three-quarters of an inch long. The sides of the ebony block were lacquered, probably to conceal a joint, and bore a number of Chinese characters, and at the top was a little gold image with a hole through it, presumably for a string to suspend it by. Accepting for the pearl, the whole thing was uncommonly like one of those ornamental tablets of Chinese ink. Now I had taken a fancy to the thing, and I can afford to indulge my fancies in moderation. The man wanted five pounds for it. He assured me that the pearl was a genuine one of fine quality, and obviously did not believe it himself. To me, however, it looked like a real pearl, and I determined to take the risk, so I paid the money, and he bowed me out with a smile. I may almost say a grin of satisfaction. He would not have been so well pleased if he had followed me to a jeweler's, to whom I took it for an expert opinion, for the jeweler pronounced the pearl to be undoubtedly genuine, and worth anything up to a thousand pounds. A day or two later I happened to show my new purchase to some men whom I knew, who had dropped in at Marseilles in their yacht. They were highly amused at my having bought the thing, and when I told them what I had paid for it, they positively held with derision. Why, you silly guffin, said one of them, a man named Halliwell. I could have had it ten days ago for half a sovereign, or probably five shillings. I wish now I had bought it, then I could have sold it to you. It seemed that a sailor had been hawking the pendant round the harbour, and had been on board the yacht with it. Deuced anxious the beggar was to get rid of it too, said Halliwell, grinning at the recollection, swore it was a genuine pearl of price's value, and was willing to deprive himself of it, for the trifling sum of half a jimmy. But we'd heard that sort of thing before, however the Curio man seems to have speculated, on the chance of meeting with a greenhorn, and he seems to have pulled it off, lucky Curio man. I listened patiently to their jibes, and when they had talked themselves out, I'd told them about the jeweler. They were most frightfully sick, and when we had taken a pendant to a dealer in Gems, who happened to be staying in the town, and he had offered me five hundred pounds for it, their language wasn't fit for a divinity student's debating club. Naturally the story got noise abroad, and when I left it was the talk of the place. The general opinion was that the sailor, who was traced to a t-ship that had put into the harbour, had stolen it from some Chinese passenger, and no less than seventeen different Chinaman came forward to claim it as their stolen property. Soon after this I returned to England, and as my nerves were still in a very shaky state I came to live with my cousin Alfred, who has a large house at Waybridge. At this time he had a friend staying with him, a certain Captain Raggerton, and the two men appeared to be on very intimate terms. I did not take to Raggerton at all, he was a good looking man, pleasant in his manners and remarkably plausible, but the fact is, I am speaking in strict confidence, of course. He was a bad egg. He had been in the Guards, and I don't quite know why he left, but I do know that he played bridge in Bakarat pretty heavily at several clubs, and that he had a reputation for being a rather uncomfortably lucky player. He did a good deal at the race meetings too, and was in general such an obvious undesirable that I could never understand my cousin's intimacy with him, though I must say that Alfred's habits had changed somewhat for the worse since I had left England. The fame of my purchase seems to have preceded me, for when one day I produced the pendant to show them I found that they knew all about it. Raggerton had heard the story from a naval man, and I gathered vaguely that he had heard something that I had not, and that he did not care to tell me, for when my cousin and he talked about the pearl, which they did pretty often, certain significant looks passed between them, and certain veiled references were made, which I could not fail to notice. One day I happened to be telling them of a curious incident that occurred on my way home. I had travelled to England on one of Holt's big china boats, not liking the crowd and bustle of the regular passenger lines. Now one afternoon when we had been at sea a couple of days, I took a book down to my birth, intending to have a quiet read till tea time. Soon, however, I dropped off into a dose, and must have remained asleep for over an hour. I awoke suddenly, and as I opened my eyes, I perceived that the door of the stateroom was half open, and a well-dressed china-man in native costume was looking in at me. He closed the door immediately, and I remained for a few moments paralysed by the start that he had given me. Then I leaped from my bunk, opened the door, and looked out, but the alleyway was empty, the china-man had vanished, as if by magic. This little occurrence made me quite nervous for a day or two, which was very foolish of me, but my nerves were all on edge, and I'm afraid they are still. Yes, said Thorndike, there was nothing mysterious about the affair. These boats carry a chinese crew, and the man you saw was probably a sarang, or whatever they call the gang-captains on these vessels, or he may have been a native passenger who had strayed into the wrong part of the ship. Exactly, agreed our client, but to return to Raggerton, he listened with quite extraordinary interest as I was telling this story, and when I had finished, he looked very clearly at my cousin. A duest odd thing this Calvally said he, of course it may only be a coincidence, but it really does look as if there was something after all in that. Shut up, Raggerton, said my cousin, we don't want any of that rot. What is he talking about? I asked. Oh, it's only a rotten, silly yarn that he has picked up somewhere. You're not to tell him, Raggerton. I don't see why I am not to be told, I said, rather sulkily. I'm not a baby. No, said Alfred, but you're an invalid. You don't want any horrors. In effect, he refused to go into the matter any further, and I was left on tentahooks of curiosity. However, the very next day I got Raggerton alone in the smoking-room, and had a little talk with him. He had just dropped a hundred pounds on a double event that hadn't come off, and I expected to find him pliable. Nor was I disappointed, for, when we had negotiated a little loan, he was entirely at my service, and willing to tell me everything, on my promising not to give him away to Alfred. Now you understand, he said, but this yarn about your pearl is nothing but a damn silly fable that's been going the round in Marseilles. I don't know where it came from, or what sort of demented rotter invented it. I had it from a Johnny in the Mediterranean squadron, and you can have a copy of his letter if you want it. I said that I did want it, accordingly, that same evening he handed me a copy of the narrative extracted from his friend's letter, the substance of which was this. About four months ago there was lying in Count on Harbour a large English bark. Her name is not mentioned, but that is not material to the story. She had got her cargo stowed and her crew signed on, and was only waiting for certain official formalities to be completed, before putting to sea on her homeward voyage. Just ahead of her at the same key was a Danish ship that had been in a collision outside, and was now laid up pending the decision of the Admiralty Court. She had been unloaded and her crew paid off, with the exception of one elderly man who remained on board as shipkeeper. Now a considerable part of the cargo of the English bark was the property of a certain wealthy Mandarin, and this person had been about the vessel a good deal while she was taking in her lading. One day when the Mandarin was on board the bark it happened that three of the seamen were sitting in the galley smoking and chatting with the cook, an elderly Chinaman named Wally and the latter pointing out the Mandarin to the sailors expatiated on his enormous wealth, assuring them that he was commonly believed to carry on his person articles of sufficient value to buy up the entire lading of a ship. Now unfortunately for the Mandarin it chanced that these three sailors were about the greatest rascals on board, which is saying a good deal when one considers the ordinary moral standards that prevails in the focusle of a sailing ship. Nor was Wally himself an angel, in fact he was a consummate villain, and seems to have been the actual originator of the plot which was presently devised to rob the Mandarin. This plot was as remarkable for its simplicity as for its cold-blooded barbarity. On the evening before the bark sailed the three seamen Nielsen, Foucault and Parrot, proceeded to the Danish ship with a supply of whiskey, made the keeper royally drunk, and locked him up in an empty berth. Meanwhile Wally made a secret communication to the Mandarin to the effect that certain stolen property believed to be his had been secreted in the hold of the enemy ship. Thereupon the Mandarin came down hot foot to the quayside, and was received on board by the three seamen who had got the covers off the after-hatch in readiness. Parrot now ran down the iron ladder to show the way, and the Mandarin followed, but when they reached the lower deck and looked down the hatch into the black darkness of the lower hold, he seems to have taken fright and begun to climb up again. Meanwhile Nielsen had made a running bowline in the end of a loose halyard that was roved through a block aloft, and had been used for hoisting out the cargo. As the Mandarin came up, he leaned over the combing of the hatch, dropped the noose over the Chinaman's head, jerked it tight, and then he and Foucault hove on the fall of the rope. The unfortunate Chinaman was dragged from the ladder, and as he swung clear the two rascals let go the rope, allowing him to drop through the hatches into the lower hold. Then they belayed the rope and went down below. Parrot had already lighted a slush lamp, by the glimmer of which they could see the Mandarin, swinging to and fro like a pendulum within a few feet of the ballast, and still quivering and twitching in his death-throws. They were now joined by War Lee, who had watched the proceedings from the key, and the four villains proceeded, without loss of time, to rifle the body as it hung. To their surprise and disgust, they found nothing of value excepting an ebony pendant set with a single large pearl. But War Lee, though evidently disappointed at the nature of the booty, assured his comrades that this alone was well worth the hazard, pointing out the great size and exceptional beauty of the pearl. As to this, the seamen know nothing about pearls, but the thing was done, and had to be made the best of. So they made the rope fast to the lower deck beams, cut off the remainder, and unrove it from the block, and went back to their ship. It was twenty-four hours before the shipkeeper was sufficiently sober to break out of the berth, in which he had been locked, by which time the bark was well out to sea, and it was another three days before the body of the Mandarin was found. An active search was then made for the murderers, but as they were strangers to the shipkeeper, no clues to their whereabouts could be discovered. Meanwhile, the four murderers were a good deal exercised as to the disposal of the booty. Since it could not be divided it was evident that it must be entrusted to the keeping of one of them. The choice in the first place fell upon War Lee, in whose chest the pendant was deposited as soon as the party came on board, it being arranged that the Chinaman should produce the duel for inspection by his confederates whenever called upon. For six weeks nothing out of the common occurred, but then a very singular event befell. The four conspirators were sitting outside the galley one evening, when suddenly the cook uttered a cry of amazement and horror. The other three turned to see what it was that had so disturbed their comrade, and then they too were struck dumb with consternation. For standing at the door of the companion hatch, the bark was a flush-deck vessel, was the Mandarin whom they had left for dead. He stood quietly regarding them for fully a minute, while they stared at him transfixed with terror. Then he back into them and went below. So petrified were they with astonishment and mortal fear that they remained for a long time motionless and dumb. At last they plucked up courage and began to make furtive inquiries among the crew, but no one, not even the steward, knew anything of any passengers or indeed of any Chinaman on board the ship, excepting War Li. At daybreak the next morning when the cook's mate went to the galley to fill the coppers, he found War Li hanging from a hook in the ceiling. The cook's body was stiff and cold, and had evidently been hanging several hours. The report of the tragedy quickly spread through the ship and the three conspirators hurried off to remove the pearl from the dead man's chest before the officers should come to examine it. The cheap lock was easily picked with a bent wire and the jewel abstracted, but now the question arose as to who should take charge of it. The eagerness to be the actual custodian of the precious bauble which had been at first displayed now gave place to equally strong reluctance, but someone had to take charge of it, and after a long and angry discussion Nielsen was prevailed upon to stow it in his chest. A fortnight passed the three conspirators went about their duty soberly like men burdened with some secret anxiety, and in their leisure moments they would sit and talk with baited breath of the apparition at the companion hatch and the mysterious death of their late comrade. At last the blow fell. It was at the end of the second dog watch that the hands were gathered on the folksal, preparing to make sail for a spell of bad weather. Suddenly Nielsen gave a husky shout and rushed at Parrot, holding out the key of his chest. Here you, Parrot, he exclaimed, go below and take that accursed thing out of my chest. What for demanded Parrot, and then he and Foucault, who were standing close by, looked aft to see what Nielsen was staring at? Instantly they both turned white as ghosts and fell trembling so that they could hardly stand. For there was the Mandarin, standing calmly by the companion, returning with a steady, impassive gaze, their looks of horror. And even as they looked, he beckoned and went below. Do you hear, Parrot? gasped Nielsen, take my key and do what I say or else. But at this moment the order was given to go aloft and set all plain sail. The three men went off to their respective posts. Nielsen going up the four, top-master rigging, and the other two to the main top. Having finished their work aloft, Foucault and Parrot, who were both in the port watch, came down on deck, and then, it being their watch below, they went and turned in. When they turned out with their watch at midnight, they looked about for Nielsen, who was in the starboard watch, but he was nowhere to be seen. Thinking he might have slipped below unobserved, they made no remark, though they were very uneasy about him. But when the starboard watch came on deck at four o'clock and Nielsen did not appear with his mates, the two men became alarmed and made inquiries about him. It was now discovered that no one had seen him since eight o'clock on the previous evening, and, this being reported to the officer of the watch, the latter ordered all hands to be called. But still Nielsen did not appear. A thorough search was now instituted, both below and aloft, and as there was still no sign of the missing man, it was concluded that he had fallen overboard. But at eight o'clock two men were sent aloft to shake out the four royal. They reached the yard almost simultaneously, and were just stepping onto the foot ropes when one of them gave a shout, then the pair came sliding down a backstay, with faces as white as tallow. As soon as they had reached the deck, they took the officer of the watch forward, and standing on the heel of the bowsprit, pointed aloft. Several of the hands, including Foucault and Parrot, had followed, and all looked up, and there they saw the body of Nielsen hanging on the front of the four top gallant sail. He was dangling at the end of a gasket, and bouncing up and down on the taut belly of the sail, as the ship rose and fell to the send of the sea. The two survivors were now in some doubt about having anything further to do with the pearl, but the great value of the jewel and the consideration that it was now to be divided between two instead of four tempted them. They abstracted it from Nielsen's chest, and then, as they could not come to an agreement in any other way, they decided to settle who should take charge of it by tossing a coin. The coin was accordingly spun, and the pearl went to Foucault's chest. From this moment Foucault lived in a state of continual apprehension. When on deck his eyes were forever wandering towards the companion hatch, and during his watch below, when not asleep, he would sit moodily on his chest, lost in gloomy reflection. But a fortnight passed, then three weeks, and still nothing happened. Land was sighted, the Straits of Gibraltar passed, and the end of the voyage was but a matter of days, and still the dreaded Mandarin made no sign. At length the ship was within twenty-four hours of Marseille to which port a large part of the cargo was consigned. Active preparations were being made for entering the port, and among other things the shore tackle was being overhauled. A share in this latter work fell to Foucault and Parat, and about the middle of the second dog-watch, seven o'clock in the evening, they were sitting on the deck working an ice-splice in the end of a large rope. Suddenly Foucault, who was facing forward, saw his companion turn pale and stare aft with an expression of terror. He immediately turned and looked over his shoulder to see what Parat was staring at. It was the Mandarin, standing by the companion, gravely watching them, and as Foucault turned and met his gaze, the Chinaman beckoned and went below. For the rest of that day Parat kept close to his terrified comrade, and during their watch below he endeavoured to remain awake, that he might keep his friend in view. Nothing happened through the night, and the following morning when they came on deck for the forenoon watch their port was well in sight. The two men now separated for the first time, Parat going aft to take his trick at the wheel, and Foucault being set to help in getting ready the ground tackle. Half an hour later Parat saw the mate stand on the rail and lean outboard, holding on to the mishrouds while he stared along the ship's side. Then he jumped onto the deck and shouted angrily, forward there, what the deuce is that man up to under the starboard cat-head? The men on the folks all rushed to the side and looked over. Two of them leaned over the rail with the bite of a rope between them, and a third came running aft to the mate. It's Foucault, sir, Parat heard him say. He's hanged himself from the cat-head. As soon as he was off duty Parat made his way to his dead comrade's chest, and opening it with his picklock took out the pearl. It was now his sole property, and as the ship was within an hour or two of her destination, he thought he had little to fear from its murdered owner. As soon as the vessel was alongside the wharf, he would slip ashore and get rid of the jewel, even if he sold it at a comparatively low price. The thing looked perfectly simple. In actual practice, however, it turned out quite otherwise. He began by accosting a well-dressed stranger and offering the pendant for fifty pounds, but the only reply that he got was a knowing smile and a shake of the head. When this experience had been repeated a dozen times or more, and he had been followed up and down the street for nearly an hour by a suspicious gendarm, he began to grow anxious. He visited quite a number of ships and yachts in the harbour, and at each refusal the price of his treasure came down, until he was eager to sell it for a few francs. But still no one would have it. Everyone took it for granted that the pearl was a sham, and most of the persons whom he accosted assumed that it had been stolen. The position was getting desperate, evening was approaching, the time of the dreaded dog-watches, and still the pearl was in his possession. Gladly would he now have given it away for nothing, but he dared not try, for this would lay him open to the strongest suspicion. At last in a by-street he came upon the shop of a curio-dealer. Putting on a careless and cheerful manner, he entered and offered the pendant for ten francs. The dealer, looked at it, shook his head, and handed it back. What will you give me for it demanded Parrot breaking out into a cold sweat at the prospect of a final refusal. The dealer felt in his pocket, drew out a couple of francs, and held them out. Very well, said Parrot, he took the money as calmly as he could and marched out of the shop, with a gasp of relief leaving the pendant in the dealer's hand. The jewel was hung up in a glass case and nothing more was thought about it, until some ten days later when an English tourist who came into the shop noticed it and took a liking to it. Thereupon the dealer offered it to him for five pounds, assuring him that it was a genuine pearl, a statement that to his amazement, the stranger evidently believed. He was then deeply afflicted at not having asked a higher price, but the bargain had been struck and the Englishman went off with his purchase. This was the story told by Captain Raggerton's friend, and I have given it to you in full detail, having read the manuscript over many times since it was given to me. No doubt you will regard it as a mere traveller's tale and consider me a superstitious idiot for giving any credence to it. It certainly seems more remarkable for picturesqueness than for credibility, Thorndike agreed. May I ask, he continued, whether Captain Raggerton's friend gave any explanation as to how this singular story came to his knowledge or to that of anybody else? Oh yes, replied Calvally. I forgot to mention that the seaman, Parrot, very shortly after he had sold the pearl, fell down the hatch into the hold as the ship was unloading, and was very badly injured. He was taken to the hospital where he died on the following day, and it was while he was lying there in a dying condition that he confessed to the murder and gave this circumstantial account of it. I see, said Thorndike, and I understand that you accept the story as literally true? Undoubtedly Calvally flushed defiantly as he returned Thorndike's look and continued. You see I am not a man of science, therefore my beliefs are not limited to things that can be weighed and measured. There are things, Dr. Thorndike, which are outside the range of our puny intellects. Things that science with its arrogant materialism puts aside and ignores with close shut eyes. I prefer to believe in things which obviously exist, even though I cannot explain them. It is the humbler and I think the wiser attitude. But my dear Fred, protested Mr Broadrib, this is a rank fairy tale. Calvally turned upon the solicitor. If you had seen what I have seen, you would not only believe, you would know. Tell us what you have seen then, said Mr Broadrib. I will, if you wish to hear it, said Calvally. I will continue the strange history of the Mandarin's pearl. He lit a fresh cigarette and continued. The night I came to Beechhurst, that is my cousin's house, you know, a rather absurd thing happened, which I mention on account of its connection with what has followed. I had gone to my room early and sat for some time writing letters before getting ready for bed. When I had finished my letters I started on a tour of inspection of my room. I was then, you must remember, in a very nervous state, and it had become my habit to examine the room in which I was to sleep before undressing, looking under the bed and in any cupboards and closets that there happened to be. Now when looking round my new room I perceived that there was a second door and I once proceeded to open it to see where it led to. As soon as I opened the door I got a terrible start. I found myself looking into a narrow closet or passage lined with pegs on which the servant had hung some of my clothes. At the farther end was another door and as I stood looking into the closet I observed, with startled amazement, a man standing holding the door half open and silently regarding me. I stood for a moment staring at him, with my heart thumping and my limbs all over tremble, then I slammed the door and ran off to look for my cousin. He was in the billiard room with Raggerton and the pair looked up sharply as I entered. Alfred, I said, where does that passage lead to out of my room? Lead to, said he, why it doesn't lead anywhere. It used to open into a cross-corridor, but when the house was altered the corridor was done away with and this passage closed up. It is only a cupboard now. Well, there was a man in it, or there was, just now. Nonsense, he exclaimed, impossible, let us go and look at the place. He and Raggerton rose and we went together to my room. As we flung open the door of the closet and looked in, we all three burst into a laugh. There were three men now looking at us from the open door at the other end and the mystery was solved. A large mirror had been placed at the end of the closet to cover the partition which cut it off from the cross-corridor. This incident naturally exposed me to a good deal of chaff from my cousin and Captain Raggerton, but I often wished that the mirror had not been placed there, for it happened over and over again that going to the cupboard hurriedly and not thinking of the mirror I got quite a bad shock on being confronted by a figure apparently coming straight at me through an open door. In fact it annoyed me so much in my nervous state that I even thought of asking my cousin to give me a different room, but, happening to refer to the matter when talking to Raggerton, I found the Captain so scornful of my cowardice that my pride was touched and I let the affair drop, and now I come to a very strange occurrence which I shall relate quite frankly although I know beforehand that you will set me down as a liar or a lunatic. I have been away from home for a fortnight, and as I returned rather late at night I went straight to my room. Having partly undressed I took my clothes in one hand and a candle in the other and opened the cupboard door. I stood for a moment looking nervously at my double, standing, candle in hand, looking at me through the open door at the other end of the passage, then I entered and setting the candle on a shelf proceeded to hang up my clothes. I had hung them up and had just reached up for the candle when my eye was caught by something strange in the mirror. It no longer reflected the candle in my hand but instead of it a large coloured paper lantern. I stood petrified with astonishment and gazed into the mirror and then I saw that my own reflection was changed too that in place of my own figure was that of an elderly Chinamen who stood regarding me with stony calm. I must have stood for near upon a minute, unable to move and scarce able to breathe, face to face with that awful figure. At length I turned to escape and as I turned he turned also and I could see him over my shoulder, hurrying away. As I reached the door I halted for a moment looking back with the door in my hand, holding the candle above my head and even so he halted looking back at me with his hand upon the door and his lantern held above his head. I was so much upset that I could not go to bed for some hours but continued to pace the room in spite of my fatigue. Now and again I was impelled irresistibly to peer into the cupboard but nothing was to be seen in the mirror save my own figure, candle in hand, peeping in at me through the half open door. And each time that I looked into my own white horror-stricken face I shut the door hastily and turned away with a shudder for the pegs with the clothes hanging on them seemed to call to me. I went to bed at last and before I fell asleep I formed the resolution that if I was spared until the next day I would write to the British Consul at Canton and offer to restore the pearl to the relatives of the murdered Mandarin. On the following day I wrote and dispatched the letter after which I felt more composed though I was haunted continually by the recollection of that stony impassive figure and from time to time I felt an irresistible impulse to go and look in at the door of the closet, at the mirror and the pegs with the clothes hanging from them. I told my cousin of the visitation that I had received but he merely laughed and was frankly incredulous while the captain bluntly advised me not to be a superstitious donkey. For some days after this I was left in peace and began to hope that my letter had appeased the spirit of the murdered man but on the fifth day about six o'clock in the evening happening to want some papers that I had left in the pocket of a coat which was hanging in the closet I went in to get them. I took in no candle as it was not yet dark but left the door wide open to light me. The coat that I wanted was near the end of the closet not more than four paces from the mirror and as I went towards it I watched my reflection rather nervously as it advanced to meet me. I found my coat and as I felt for the papers I still kept a suspicious eye on my double and even as I looked a most strange phenomenon appeared the mirror seemed for an instant to darken or cloud over and then as it cleared again I saw standing dark against the light of the open door behind him the figure of the Mandarin. After a single glance I ran out of the closet shaking with agitation but as I turned to shut the door I noticed that it was my own figure that was reflected in the glass the Chinaman had vanished in an instant it now became evident that my letter had not served its purpose and I was plunged in despair the more so since on this day I felt again the dreadful impulse to go and look at the pegs on the wall of the closet there was no mistaking the meaning of that impulse and each time that I went I dragged myself away reluctantly though shivering with horror one circumstance indeed encouraged me a little the Mandarin had not on either occasion beckoned to me as he had done to the sailors so that perhaps somewhere of escape yet lay open to me during the next few days I considered very earnestly what measures I could take to avert the doom that seemed to be hanging over me the simplest plan that of passing the pearl onto some other person was out of the question it would be nothing short of murder on the other hand I could not wait for an answer to my letter for even if I remained alive I felt that my reason would have given way long before the reply reached me but while I was debating what I should do the Mandarin appeared to me again and then after an interval of only two days he came to me once more that was last night I remained gazing at him fascinated with my flesh creeping as he stood lantern in hand looking steadily in my face at last he held out his hand to me as if asking me to give him the pearl then the mirror darkened and he vanished in a flash and in the place where he had stood there was my own reflection looking at me out of the glass that last visitation decided me when I left home this morning the pearl was in my pocket and as I came over Waterloo bridge I leaned over the parapet and flung the thing into the water after that I felt quite relieved for a time I had shaken the accursed thing off without involving anyone in the curse that it carried but presently I began to feel fresh misgivings and the conviction has been growing upon me all day that I have done the wrong thing I have only placed it forever beyond the reach of its owner whereas I ought to have burnt it after the Chinese fashion so that its non-material essence could have joined the spiritual body of him to whom it had belonged when both were clothed with material substance but it can't be altered now for good or for evil the thing is done and God alone knows what the end of it will be as he concluded Calvary uttered a deep sigh and covered his face with his slender delicate hands for a space we were all silent and I think deeply moved for grotesquely unreal as the whole thing was there was a pathos and even a tragedy in it that we all felt to be very real indeed suddenly Mr Broderib started and looked at his watch good gracious Calvary we shall lose our train the young man pulled himself together and stood up we shall just do it if we go at once said he goodbye he added shaking thorn dyke's hand and mine you have been very patient and I have been rather prosy I'm afraid come along Mr Broderib thorn dyke and I followed them out to the landing and I heard my colleagues say to the solicitor in a low tone but very earnestly get him away from that house Broderib and don't let him out of your sight for a moment I did not catch the solicitor's reply if he made any but when we were back in our room I noticed that thorn dyke was more agitated than I had ever seen him I ought not to have let them go he exclaimed confound me if I had had a grain of wit I should have made them lose their train he lit his pipe and felt pacing the room with long strides his eyes bent on the floor with an expression sternly reflective at last finding him hopelessly taciturn I knocked up my pipe and went to bed as I was dressing on the following morning thorn dyke entered my room his face was grave even to sternness and he held a telegram in his hand I'm going to weighbridge this morning he said shortly holding the flimsy out to me shall you come I took the paper from him and read come for god's sake fc is dead you will understand broad rib I handed him back with telegram too much shocked for a moment to speak the whole dreadful tragedy summed up in that curt message rose before me in an instant and a wave of deep pity swept over me at this miserable end to the sad empty life what an awful thing thorn dyke I exclaimed at length to be killed by a mere grotesque delusion do you think so he asked dryly well we shall see but you will come yes I replied and as he retired I proceeded hurriedly to finish dressing half an hour later as we rose from a rapid breakfast polton came into the room carrying a small roll-up case of tools and a bunch of skeleton keys will you have them in the bag sir he asked no replied thorn dyke in my overcoat pocket oh and here is a note polton which I want you to take round to scotland yard it is to the assistant commissioner and you are to make sure that it is in the right hands before you leave and here is a telegram to mr broad rib he dropped the keys and the toolcase into his pocket and we went down together to the waiting handsome at waybridge station we found mr broad rib pacing the platform in a state of extreme dejection he brightened up somewhat when he saw us and rung our hands with emotional heartiness it was very good of you both to come at a moment's notice he said warmly and I feel your kindness very much you understood of course thorn dyke yes thorn dyke replied I suppose the man are in beckon to him mr broad rib turned with a look of surprise how did you guess that he asked and then without waiting for a reply he took from his pocket a note which he handed to my colleague the poor old fellow left this for me he said the servant found it on his dressing table thorn dyke glanced through the note and passed it to me it consisted of but a few words hurriedly written in a tremulous hand he has beckon to me and I must go goodbye dear old friend how does his cousin take the matter asked thorn dyke he doesn't know of it yet replied the lawyer alfred and raggerton went out after an early breakfast to cycle over to gilford on some business or other and they have not returned yet the catastrophe was discovered soon after they left the maid went to his room with a cup of tea and was astonished to find that his bed had not been slept in she ran down in alarm and reported to the butler who went up at once and searched the room but he could find no trace of the missing one except my note until it occurred to him to look in the cupboard as he opened the door he got rather a start from his own reflection in the mirror and then he saw poor fred hanging from one of the pegs near the end of the closet close to the glass it's a melancholy affair but here is the house and here is the butler waiting for us mr alfred is not back yet then stevens no sir the white faced frightened looking man had evidently been waiting at the gate from distaste of the house and he now walked back with manifest relief at our arrival when we entered the house he ushered us without remark up on to the first floor and proceeding us along a corridor halted near the end that's the room sir said he and without another word he turned and went down the stairs we entered the room and mr brodrib followed on tiptoe looking about him fearfully and casting awestruck glances at the shrouded form on the bed to the latter thorn dyke advanced and gently drew back the sheet you'd better not look brodrib said he as he bent over the corpse he felt the limbs and examined the cord which still remained round the neck its raggedly severed end testifying to the terror of the servants who had cut down the body then he replaced the sheet and looked at his watch it happened about three o'clock in the morning said he he must have struggled with the impulse for some time poor fellow now let us look at the cupboard we went together to a door in the corner of the room and as we opened it we were confronted by three figures apparently looking in at us through an open door at the other end it is really rather startling said the lawyer in a subdued voice looking almost apprehensively at the three figures that advanced to meet us the poor lad or never to have been here it was certainly an eerie place and i could not but feel as we walk down the dark narrow passage with those other three dimly seen figures silently coming towards us and mimicking our every gesture that it was no place for a nervous superstitious man like poor fred calvary close to the end of the long row of pegs was one from which hung an end of stout box cord and to this mr brodrib pointed with an awestruck gesture but thorn dyke gave it only a brief glance and then walked up to the mirror which he proceeded to examine minutely it was a very large glass nearly seven feet high extending the full width of the closet and reaching to within a foot of the floor and it seemed to have been let into the partition from behind for both above and below the woodwork was in front of it while i was making these observations i watched thorn dyke with no little curiosity first he wrapped his knuckles on the glass then he lighted a wax match and holding it close to the mirror carefully watched the reflection of the flame finally laying his cheek on the glass he held the match at arm's length still close to the mirror and looked at the reflection along the surface then he blew out the match and walked back into the room shutting the cupboard door as we emerged i think said he that as we shall all undoubtedly be subpoenaed by the coroner it would be well to put together a few notes of the facts i see there is a writing table by the window and i would propose that you brodrib just jot down a pressy of the statement that you heard last night while jervis notes down the exact condition of the body while you were doing this i will take a look round we might find a more cheerful place to writing grumbled mr brodrib however without finishing the sentence he sat down at the table and having found some sermon paper dipped a pen in the ink by way of encouraging his thoughts at this moment thorn dyke quietly slipped out of the room and i proceeded to make a detailed examination of the body in which occupation i was interrupted at intervals by requests from the lawyer that i should refresh his memory we have been occupied thus for about a quarter of an hour when a quick step was heard outside the door was opened abruptly and a man burst into the room brodrib rose and held out his hand this is a sad homecoming for you alfred said he yes my god the newcomer exclaimed it's awful he looked to scant at the corpse on the bed and wiped his forehead with his handkerchief alfred calvally was not extremely pre-possessing like his cousin he was obviously neurotic but there were signs of dissipation in his face which just now was pale and ghastly and wore an expression of abject fear moreover his entrance was accompanied by that of a perceptible odor of brandy he had walked over without noticing me to the writing table and as he stood there talking in subdued tones with the lawyer i suddenly found thorn-dike at my side he had stolen in noiselessly through the door that calvally had left open show him brodrib's note he whispered and then make him go in and look at the peg with this mysterious request he slipped out of the room as silently as he had come unperceived either by calvally or the lawyer has captain raggerton returned with you brodrib was inquiring no he has gone into the town was the reply but he won't be long this will be a frightful shock to him at this point i stepped forward have you shown mr calvally the extraordinary letter that the deceased left for you i asked what letter was that demanded calvally with a start mr brodrib drew forth the note and handed it to him as he read it through calvally turned white to the lips and the paper trembled in his hand he has beckoned to me and i must go he read then with a furtive glance at the lawyer who had beckoned what did he mean mr brodrib briefly explained the meaning of the illusion adding i thought you knew all about it yes yes said calvally with some confusion i remember the matter now you mention it but it's also dreadful and bewildering at this point i again interposed there is a question i said but maybe of some importance it refers to the cord with which the poor fellow hanged himself can you identify that cord mr calvally i he exclaimed staring at me and wiping the sweat from his white face how should i where is the cord part of it is still hanging from the peg in the closet would you mind looking at it if you would very kindly fetch it you know i um naturally have a it must not be disturbed before the inquest said i but surely you are not afraid i didn't say i was afraid he retorted angrily why should i be with a strange tremulous swagger he strode across to the closet flung open the door and plunged in a moment later we heard a shout of horror and he rushed out livid and gasping what is it calvally exclaimed mr broderib starting up in alarm but calvally was incapable of speech dropping limply into a chair he gazed at us for a while in silent terror then he fell back uttering a wild shriek of laughter mr broderib looked at him in amazement what is it calvally he asked again as no answer was forthcoming he stepped across to the open door of the closet and entered peering curiously before him then he too uttered a startled exclamation and backed out hurriedly looking pale and flurried bless my soul he ejaculated is the place bewitched he sat down heavily and stared at calvally who was still shaking with hysteric laughter while i now consumed with curiosity walked over to the closet to discover the cause of their singular behavior as i flung open the door which the lawyer had closed i must confess to being very considerably startled for though the reflection of the open door was plain enough in the mirror my own reflection was replaced by that of a chinamen after a momentary pause of astonishment i entered the closet and walked towards the mirror and simultaneously the figure of the chinamen entered and walked towards me i had advanced more than halfway down the closet when suddenly the mirror darkened there was a whirling flash the chinamen vanished in an instant and as i reached the glass my own reflection faced me i turned back into the room pretty completely enlightened and looked at calvally with a new born distaste he still sat facing the bewildered lawyer one moment sobbing convulsively the next yelping with hysteric laughter he was not an agreeable spectacle and when a few moments later thorn dyke entered the room and halted by the door with a stare of disgust i was moved to join him but at this juncture a man pushed past thorn dyke and striding up to calvally shook him roughly by the arm stop that rowl he exclaimed furiously do you hear stop it i can't help it raggerton gasped calvally he gave me such a turn the mound were in you know what ejaculated raggerton he dashed across to the closet looked in and turned upon calvally with a snarl then he walked out of the room broderib said thorn dyke i should like to have a word with you and jervis outside then as we followed him out onto the landing he continued i have something rather interesting to show you it is in here he softly opened and adjoining door and we looked into a small unfurnished room a projecting closet occupied one side of it and at the door of the closet stood captain raggerton with his hand upon the key he turned upon us fiercely though with a look of alarm and demanded what is the meaning of this intrusion and who the deuce are you do you know that this is my private room i suspected that it was thorn dyke replied quietly those will be your properties in the closet them raggerton turned pale but continued to bluster do i understand that you have dared to break into my private closet he demanded i have inspected it replied thorn dyke and i may remark that it is useless to wrench at that key because i have hampered the lock the devil you have shouted raggerton yes you see i am expecting a police officer with a search warrant so i wished to keep everything intact raggerton turned livid with mingled fear and rage he stalked up to thorn dyke with a threatening air but suddenly altering his mind exclaimed i must see to this and flung out of the room thorn dyke took a key from his pocket and having locked the door turned to the closet having taken out the key to unhamp the lock with a stout wire he reinserted it and unlocked the door as we entered we found ourselves in a narrow closet similar to the one in the other room but darker owing to the absence of a mirror a few clothes hung from the pegs and when thorn dyke had lit a candle that stood on his shelf we could see more of the details here are some of the properties said thorn dyke he pointed to a peg from which hung a long blue silk gown of chinese make amandarin's cap with a pigtail attached to it and a beautifully made papier mache mask observe said thorn dyke taking the latter down and exhibiting a label on the inside marked renaud au paris no trouble has been spared he took off his coat slipped on the gown the mask and the cap and was in a moment in that dim light transformed into the perfect semblance of a china man by taking a little more time he remarked pointing to a pair of chinese shoes and a large paper lantern the makeup could be rendered more complete but this seems to have answered for our friend alfred but said mr broderib as thorn dyke shed the disguise still i don't understand i will make it clear to you in a moment said thorn dyke he walked to the end of the closet and tapping the right hand wall said this is the back of the mirror you see that it is hung on massive well oiled hinges and is supported on this large rubber tied caster which evidently has bought bearings you observe three black cords running along the wall and passing through these pulleys above now when i pull this cord notice what happens he pulled one cord firmly and immediately the mirror swung noiselessly inward on its great caster until it stood diagonally across the closet where it was stopped by a rubber buffer bless my soul exclaimed mr broderib what an extraordinary thing the effect was certainly very strange for the mirror being now exactly diagonal to the two closets they appeared to be a single continuous passage with a door at either end on going up to the mirror we found that the opening which it had occupied was filled by a sheet of plain glass evidently placed there as a precaution to prevent any person from walking through from one closet into the other and so discovering the trick it's all very puzzling said mr broderib i don't clearly understand it now let us finish here replied thawndike and then i will explain notice this black curtain when i pull the second cord it slides across the closet and cuts off the light the mirror now reflects nothing into the other closet it simply appears dark and now i pull the third cord he did so and the mirror swung noiselessly back into its place there is only one other thing to observe before we go out said thawndike and that is this other mirror standing with its face to the wall this of course is the one that fred calvary originally saw at the end of the closet it has since been removed and the larger swinging glass put in its place and now he continued when we came out into the room let me explain the mechanism in detail it was obvious to me when i heard poor fred calvary's story but the mirror was faked and i drew a diagram of the probable arrangement which turns out to be correct here it is he took a sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to the lawyer there are two sketches sketch one shows the mirror in its ordinary position closing the end of the closet a person standing at a of course sees his reflection facing him at apparently a one sketch two shows the mirror swung across now a person standing at a does not see his own reflection at all but if some other person is standing on the other closet at b a sees the reflection of b apparently at b one that is in the identical position that his own reflection occupied when the mirror was straight across i see now said broad rib but who set up this apparatus and why was it done let me ask you a question said borndike is alfred calvary the next of kin no there is fred's younger brother but i may say that fred has made a will quite recently very much in alfred's favor there is the explanation then said borndike these two scoundrels have conspired to drive the poor fellow to suicide and raggerton was clearly the leading spirit he was evidently concocting some story with which to work on poor fred's superstitions when the mention of the china man on the steamer gave him his cue he then invented the very picturesque story of the murdered mandarin and the stolen pearl you remember that these visitations did not begin until after that story had been told and fred had been absent from the house on a visit evidently during his absence raggerton took down the original mirror and substituted the swinging arrangement and at the same time procured the china man's dress and mask from the theatrical property dealers no doubt he reckoned on being able quietly to remove the swinging glass and other properties and replace the original mirror before the inquest by god exclaimed mr broad rib it's the most infamous cowardly plot i have ever heard of they shall go to jail for it the villains as sure as i'm alive but in this mr broad rib was mistaken for immediately on finding themselves detected the two conspirators have left the house and by nightfall was safely across the channel and the only satisfaction that the lawyer obtained was the setting aside of the will on facts disclosed at the inquest as to thawndike he has never to this day forgiven himself for having allowed fred calvary to go home to his death end of chapter six