 15. Mr. Lessingham speaks. The house was full. Percy and I went upstairs, to the gallery which is theoretically supposed to be reserved for what are called distinguished strangers, those curious animals. Trumperton was up hammering out those sentences which smell not so much of the lamp as of the dunderhead. Nobody was listening except the men in the press gallery where is the brain of the house and 90% of its wisdom. It was not till Trumperton had finished that I discovered Lessingham. The tedious ancient resumed his seat amidst a murmur of sounds which I have no doubt some of the press men interpret of the next day as loud and continued applause. There was movement in the house, possibly expressive of relief. A hum of voices, men came flocking in. Then from the opposition benches there rose a sound which was applause and I perceived that on a crossbench close to the gangway Paul Lessingham was standing up bareheaded. I eyed him critically as a collector might eye a valuable specimen or a pathologist a curious subject. During the last four and twenty hours my interest in him had grown apace. Just then to me he was the most interesting man the world contained. When I remembered how I had seen him that same morning, a nervolous, terror-stricken wretch groveling like some craven curb on the floor frightened to the verge of imbecility by a shadow and less than a shadow I was confronted by two hypotheses. Either I had exaggerated his condition then or I exaggerated his condition now. So far as appearance went it was incredible that this man could be that one. I confessed that my feeling rapidly became one of admiration. I loved the fighter. I quickly recognized that here we had him in perfection. There was no seeming about him then. The man was to the man are born. To his fingertips a fighting man. I had never realized it so clearly before. He was coolness itself. He had all his faculties under complete command while never for a moment really exposing himself he would be swift in perceiving the slightest weakness in his opponents defense and so soon as he saw it like lightning he would slip in a telling blow. Though defeated he would hardly be disgraced and one might easily believe that their very victories would be so expensive to his assailants that in the end they would actually conduce to his own triumph. Hang me I told myself if after all I am surprised if Marjorie does see something in him for I perceived how a clever and imaginative young woman seeing him at his best holding his own like a gallant knight against overwhelming odds in the list in which he was so much at home might come to think of him as if he were always and only there ignoring altogether the kind of man he was when the joust was finished. It did me good to hear him I do know that and I could easily imagine the effect he had on one particular auditor who was in the ladies cage. It was very far from being an oration in the American sense. It had little or nothing of the fire and fury of the French Tribune. It was marked neither by the ponderosity nor the sentiment of the eloquent German yet it was as satisfying as are the effects of either of the three producing without doubt precisely the effect which the speaker intended. His voice was clear and calm not exactly musical yet distinctly pleasant and it was so managed that each word he uttered was as audible to every person present as if it had been addressed particularly to him. His sentences were short and crisp the words which he used were not big ones but they came from him with an agreeable ease and he spoke just fast enough to keep one's interest alert without invoking a strain on the attention. He commenced by making in the quietest and most courteous manner sarcastic comments on the speeches and methods of Trumperton and his friends which tickled the house amazingly but he did not make the mistake of pushing his personalities too far. To a speaker of a certain sort nothing is easier than distinct to madness. If he likes his every word is barbed. Wounds so given fester they are not easily forgiven. It is essential to a politician that he should have his firmest friends among the fools or his climbing days will soon be over. Soon his sarcasms were at an end. He began to exchange them for sweet sounding phrases. He actually began to say pleasant things to his opponents apparently to mean them. To put them in a good conceit with themselves. He pointed out how much truth there was in what they said and then as if by accident with what ease and at how little cost amendments might be made. He found their arguments and took them for his own and flattered them whether they would or would not by showing how firmly they were founded upon fact and grafted other arguments upon them which seemed their natural sequel and transformed them and drove them hither and thither and brought them their own arguments to a round irrefragable conclusion which was diametrically the reverse of that to which they themselves had brought them. And he did it all with an aptness a readiness a grace which was incontestable. So that when he sat down he had performed that most difficult of all feats. He had delivered what in a house of common sense was a practical statesman like speech and yet one which left his hearers in an excellent humor. It was a great success an immense success a parliamentary triumph of almost the highest order. Paul Lessingham had been coming on by leaps and bounds. When he resumed his seat amidst applause which this time really was applause. There were probably few who doubted that he was destined to go farther still. How much farther it is true that time alone could tell. But so far as appearances went all the prizes which are as the crown and climax of a statesman's career were well within his reach. For my part I was delighted. I had enjoyed an intellectual exercise a species of enjoyment not so common as it might be. The apostle had almost persuaded me that the political game was one worth playing and that its triumphs were things to be desired. It is something after all to be able to appeal successfully to the passions and aspirations of your peers to gain their plaudits to prove your skill at the game you yourself have chosen to be looked up to and admired. And when a woman's eyes look down on you and her ears drinking your every word and her heart beats time with yours. Each man to his own temperament. But when that woman is the woman whom you love to know that your triumph means her glory and her gladness to me that would be the best part of it all. In that hour the apostles hour I almost wish that I were a politician too. The division was over. The business of the night was practically done. I was back again in the lobby. The theme of conversation was the apostles speech on every side they talked to it. Suddenly Marjorie was at my side. Her face was glowing. I never saw her look more beautiful or happier. She seemed to be alone. So you have come after all. Wasn't it splendid? Wasn't it magnificent? Isn't it grand to have such great gifts and used into such good purpose? Speak Sydney. Don't feign a coolness which is foreign to your nature. I saw that she was hungry for me to praise the man whom she delighted to honor. But somehow her enthusiasm cooled mine. It was not a bad speech of a kind. Of a kind how her eyes flashed fire with what disdain she treated me. What do you mean by of a kind? My dear Sydney are you not aware that it is an attribute of small minds to attempt to belittle those which are greater? Even if you are conscious of inferiority it is unwise to show it. Mr. Lessingham's was a great speech of any kind. Your capacity to recognize the fact simply reveals your lack of the critical faculty. It is fortunate for Mr. Lessingham there is at least one person in whom the critical faculty is so bountifully developed. Apparently in your judgment he who discriminates is lost. I thought she was going to burst into passion. But instead laughing she placed her hand upon my shoulder. Poor Sydney. I understand it is so sad. Do you know you are like a little boy who when he is beaten declares that the victor has cheated him. Never mind as you grow older you will learn better. She stung me almost beyond bearing. I care not what I said. You unless I am mistaken will learn better before you are older. What do you mean? Before I could have told her if I had meant to tell which I did not. Lessingham came up. I hope I have not kept you waiting. I have been delayed longer than I expected. Not at all. Though I am quite ready to get away. It's a little tiresome waiting here. This was a mischievous glance towards me. A glance which compelled Lessingham to notice me. You do not often favor us. I don't. I find better employment for my time. You are wrong. It's the cant of the day to underrate the House of Commons and the work which it performs. Don't you suffer yourself to join in the chorus of simpletons. Your time cannot be better employed than an endeavoring to improve the body politic. I am obliged to you. I hope you are feeling better than when I saw you last. A gleam came into his eyes fading as quickly as it came. He showed no other sign of comprehension, surprise or resentment. Thank you. I am very well. Marjorie perceived that I meant more than met the eye and that what I meant was meant unpleasantly. Come, let us be off. It is Mr. Atherton tonight who is not well. She had just slipped her arm through Lessingham's when her father approached. Old Linden stared at her on the Apostle's arm as if he could hardly believe that it was she. I thought you were at the Duchesses. So I have been Papa and now I'm here. Here, Old Linden began to stutter and stammer and to grow red in the face as is his want when all excited. What do you mean by here? Where is the carriage? Where it should be except waiting for me outside unless the horses have run away. I'll take you down to it. I don't approve of your waiting in a place like this. Thank you Papa but Mr. Lessingham is going to take me down. I shall see you afterwards. Goodbye. Anything cooler than the way in which she walked off I do not think I ever saw. This is the age of feminine advancement. Young women think nothing of twisting their mothers around their fingers let alone their fathers. But the fashion in which that young woman walked off on the Apostle's arm and left her father standing there was in its way a study. Linden seemed scarcely able to realize that the pair of them had gone. Even after they had disappeared in the crowd he stood staring after them growing redder and redder till the veins stood out upon his face and I thought that an apoplectic seizure threatened. Then with a gasp he turned to me. Damn scoundrel! I took it for granted that he alluded to the gentleman even though his following words hardly suggested it. Only this morning I forbade her to have anything to do with him and now he's walked off with her. Con found an adventurer that's what he is an adventurer and before many hours have passed I'll take the liberty to tell him so. Jamming his fists into his pockets and puffing like a grandpa's in distress he took himself away and it was time he did for his words were as audible as they were pointed and already people were wondering what the matter was. Woodville came up as Linden was going just as sorely distressed as ever. She went away with Lessingham did you see her? Of course I saw her. When a man makes a speech like Lessingham's any girl would go away with him and be proud to. When you were endowed with such great powers as he is and use them for such lofty purposes she'll walk away with you but till then never. He was at his old trick of polishing his eyeglass. It's bitter hard when I knew that she was here I had half a mind to make a speech myself upon my word I had only I didn't know what to speak about and I can't speak anyhow. How can a fellow speak when he's shoved in the gallery? As you say how can he he can't stand on the railing and shout even with a friend holding him behind. I know I shall speak one day bound to and then she won't be there it'll be better for you if she isn't think so perhaps you're right I'd be safe to make a mess of it and then if she were to see me at it it'd be the devil upon my word I've been wishing lately I was clever. He rubbed his nose with the rim of his eyeglass looking the most comically disconsolate figure put black care behind you Percy buck up my boy the division's over you are free now we'll go on the fly and we did go on the fly. End of chapter 15 recording by Alan Winteroud boomcoach.blogspot.com chapter 16 of the beetle this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Alan Winteroud the beetle by Richard Marsh chapter 16 Atherton's magic vapor I bore him off the supper at the helicon all the way in the cab he was trying to tell me the story of how he proposed to Marjorie and he was very far from being through with it when we reached the club there was the usual crowd of supperites but we got a little table to ourselves in a corner of the room and before anything was brought for us to eat he was at it again a good many of the people were pretty near to shouting and as they seemed to all be speaking at once and the band was playing and as the helicon supper band is not piano Percy did not have it quite all to himself but considering the delicacy of his subject he talked us loudly as was decent getting more so as he went on but Percy is peculiar I don't know how many times I've tried to tell her over and over again have you now yes pretty near every time I met her but I never seemed to get quite to it don't you know how was that why just as I was going to say Miss Linden may I offer the gift of my affection was that how you invariably intended to begin well not always one time like that another time another way fact is I got off a little speech by heart but I never got a chance to reel it off so I made up my mind to just say anything and what did you say well nothing you see I never got there just as I was feeling my way she'd asked me if I preferred big sleeves to little ones or top hats to billy cocks or some nonsense of the kind would she now yes of course I had to answer and by the time I'd answer the chance was lost Percy was polishing his eyeglass I tried to get there so many times and she choked me off so often that I can't help thinking that she suspected what it was that I was after you think she did she must have done once I followed her down Piccadilly and shivvied her into a glove shop in the burlington arcade I meant to propose to her in there I hadn't had a wink of sleep all night through dreaming of her and I was just about desperate and did you propose the girl behind the counter made me buy a dozen pairs of gloves instead they turned out to be three sizes too large for me when they came home I believe she thought I'd gone to spoon the glove girl she went out and left me there that girl loaded me with all sorts of things when she was gone I couldn't get away she held me with her blessed eye I believe it was a glass one Miss Lindon's or the glove girls the glove girls she sent me home a whole cart full of green ties and declared I'd ordered them I shall never forget that day I've never been up the arcade since and never mean to you gave Miss Lindon a wrong impression I don't know I was always giving her wrong impressions once she said that she knew I was not a marrying man that I was the sort of chap who never would marry because she saw it in my face under the circumstances that was trying bitter hard Percy sighed again I shouldn't mind if I wasn't so gone I'm not a fellow who does get gone but when I do get gone I get so beastly gone I tell you what Percy have a drink I'm a teetotaler you know I am you talk of your heart being broken and of your being a teetotaler in the same breath if your heart were really broken you'd throw teetotalism to the winds do you think so why because you would men whose hearts are broken always do you'd swallow a magnum at the least Percy groaned when I drink I'm always ill but I'll have a try he had a try making a good beginning by emptying at a draft the glass which the waiter had just now filled then he relapsed into melancholy tell me Percy honest indian do you really love her love her his eyes grew round as saucers don't I tell you that I love her I know you tell me but that sort of thing is easy telling what does it make you feel like this love you talk so much about feel like well just anyhow and know how you should look inside me and then you'd know I see it's like that is it suppose she loved another man what sort of feeling would you feel towards him does she love another man I say suppose I dare say she does I expect that's it what an idiot I am not to have thought of that before he sighed and refilled his glass he's a lucky chap whoever he is I'd like to tell him so you'd like to tell him so he's such a jolly lucky chap you know possibly but his jolly good luck is your jolly bad luck would you be willing to resign her to him without a word if she loves him but you say you love her of course I do well then you don't suppose that because I love her I shouldn't like to see her happy I'm not such a beast I'd sooner see her happy than anything else in all the world I see even happy with another I'm afraid that my philosophy is not like yours if I love Ms. Linden and she loved say Jones I'm afraid I shouldn't feel like that towards Jones at all what would you feel like murder Percy you come home with me we've begun the night together let's end it together and I'll show you one of the finest notions for committing murder on a scale of real magnificence you ever dreamed of I should like to make use of it to show my feelings toward the suppositious Jones he'd know what I felt for him when once he'd been introduced to it Percy went with me without a word he had not had much to drink but it had been too much for him and he was in a condition of monitoring sentimentality I got him into a cab we dashed along Piccadilly he was silent and sat looking in front of him with an air of vacuous sulleness which ill became his cast of countenance I bade the cab men pass through lounge square as we passed the apostles I pulled him up I pointed out the place to Woodville you see Percy that's Lessingham's house that's the house of the man who went away with Marjorie yes words came from him slowly with a quite unnecessary stress on each because he made a speech I'd like to make a speech one day I'll make a speech because he made a speech only that and nothing more when a man speaks with an apostles tongue he can witch any woman in the world hello what's that Lessingham is that you I saw or thought I saw someone or something light up the steps and withdraw into the shadow of the doorway as if unwilling to be seen when I hailed no one answered I called again don't be shy my friend I sprang out of the cab ran across the pavement and up the steps to my surprise there was no one in the doorway it seemed incredible but the place was empty I felt about me with my hands as if I had been playing at blind man's buff and grasped at vacancy I came down a step or two ostensibly there's a vacuum which nature abhors I say driver didn't you see someone come up the steps I thought I did sir I could have sworn I did so could I it's very odd perhaps whoever it was has gone into the house sir I don't see how we should have heard the door open if we hadn't seen it and we should have seen it it's not so dark as that I've half a mind to ring the bell and inquire I shouldn't do that if I was you sir you jump in and I'll get along this is Mr. Lessingham's the great Mr. Lessingham's I believe the cabman thought that I was drunk and not respectable enough to claim acquaintance with the great Lessingham wake up Woodville do you know I believe there's some mystery about this place I feel assured of it I feel as if I were in the presence of something uncanny something which I can neither see nor touch nor hear the cabman bent down from the seat weedling me jump in sir and we'll be getting along I jumped in and we got along but not far before we had gone a dozen steps I was out again without troubling the driver to stop he pulled up aggrieved well sir what's the matter now you'll be damaging yourself before you're done and then you'll be blaming me I had caught sight of a cat crouching in the shadow of the railings a black one that cat was my quarry either the creature was unusually sleepy or slow or stupid or it had lost its wits which a cat seldom does lose anyhow without making an attempt to escape it allowed me to grab it by the nape of the neck so soon as we were inside my laboratory I put the cat into my glass box Percy stared what have you put it in there for that my dear Percy is what you are shortly about to see you are about to be the witness of an experiment which to a legislator such as you are ought to be of the greatest possible interest I am going to demonstrate on a small scale the action of the force which on a large scale I propose to employ on behalf of my native land he showed no signs of being interested sinking into a chair he recommends his weary some reiteration I hate cats do let it go I'm always miserable when there's a cat in the room nonsense that's your fancy what you want a taste of whiskey you'll be as chirpy as a cricket I don't want anything more to drink I've had too much already I paid no heed to what he said I poured two stiff doses into a couple of tumblers without seeming to be aware of what it was that he was doing he disposed of the better half of the one I gave him at a draft putting his glass on the table he dropped his head upon his hands and groaned what would marjorie think of me if she saw me now think nothing why should he think of a man like you when she has so much better fish to fry I'm feeling frightfully ill I'll be drunk before I'm done then be drunk only for gracious sake be lively drunk not deadly doleful cheer up Percy I clapped him on the shoulder almost knocking him off his seat onto the floor I am now going to show you that little experiment of which I was speaking you see that cat of course I see it the beast I wish you'd let it go why should I let it go do you know whose cat that is that cat's paul lesingham's paul lesingham's yes paul lesingham's the man who made the speech the man whom marjorie went away with how do you know it's his I don't know it is but I believe it is I choose to believe it is I intend to believe it is it was outside his house therefore it's his cat that's how I argue I can't get lesingham inside that box so I get his cat instead whatever for you shall see you observe how happy it is it doesn't seem happy we've all our ways of seeming happy that's its way the creature was behaving like a cat gone mad dashing itself against the sides of its glass prison leaping to and fro and from side to side squealing with rage or with terror or with both perhaps it foresaw what was coming there is no fathoming the intelligence of what we call the lower animals it's a funny way we some of us have funny ways besides cats now attention observe this little toy you've seen something of its kind before it's a spring gun you pull the spring drop the charge into the barrel release the spring and the charge is fired I'll unlock this safe which is built into the wall it's a better lock the combination just now is whiskey you see that's a hint to you you'll notice the safe is strongly made it's airtight fireproof the outer casing is a triple-plated drillproof steel the contents are valuable to me and devilish dangerous I pity the thief who in his innocent ignorance broke into steel look inside you see it's full of balls glass balls each in its own little separate nest lightest feathers transparent you can see right through them here are a couple like tiny pills they contain neither dynamite nor cordite nor anything of the kind yet given a fair field and no favor they'll work more mischief than all the explosives man has fashioned take hold of one you say your heart is broken squeeze this under your nose it wants but a gentle pressure and in less time than no time you'll be in the land where they say there are no broken hearts he shrunk back I I don't know what you're talking about I don't want the thing take it away think twice the chance may not recur I tell you I don't want it sure consider of course I'm sure then the cat shall have it let the poor brute go the poor broods going to the land which is so near and yet so far once more of you please attention notice what I do with this toy gun I pull back the spring I insert this small glass pellet I thrust the muzzle of the gun through the opening in the glass box which contains the apostles cat you'll observe it fits quite close which on the whole is perhaps as well for us I'm about to release the spring close attention please notice the effect atherton let the brute go the brute's gone I've released the spring the pellet has been discharged it is struck against the roof of the glass box it has been broken by the contact and hey presto the cat lies dead that in face of its nine lies you perceive how still it is how still let's hope that now it's really happy the cat which I choose to believe is paul lesingham's has received its quietess in the morning I'll send it back to him with my respectful compliments he'll miss it if I don't reflect think of a huge bomb filled with what we'll call atherton's magic vapor fired say from a hundred and twenty ton gun bursting at a given elevation over the heads of an opposing force properly managed in less than an instant of time a hundred thousand men quite possibly more would drop down dead as if smitten by the lightning of the skies isn't that something like a weapon sir I'm not well I want to get away I wish I'd never come that was all woodville had to say rubbish you're adding to your stock of information every second and in these days when a member of parliament is supposed to know all about everything information to the one thing wanted empty your glass man that's the time of day for you I handed him the tumbler he drained what was left of its contents then in a fit of tipsy childish temper he flung the tumbler from him I had placed carelessly enough the second pellet within a foot of the edge of the table the shock of the heavy beaker striking the board close to it set it rolling I was at the other side I started forward to stop its motion but I was too late before I could reach the crystal globule it had fallen off the edge of the table onto the floor at woodville's feet and smashed and falling as it smashed he was looking down wondering no doubt in his stupidity what the father was about for I was shouting and making something of a clatter in my efforts to prevent the catastrophe which I saw was coming on the instant as the vapor secreted in the broken pellet gained access to the air he fell forward onto his face rushing to him I snatched his senseless body from the ground and dragged it staggeringly towards the door which opened onto the yard flinging the door open I got him into the open air as I did so I found myself confronted by someone who stood outside it was Lessingham's mysterious egypto-arabian friend my morning's visitor end of chapter 16 recording by Alan Winteroud boomcoach.blogspot.com chapter 17 of The Beatles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Alan Winteroud The Beatle by Richard Marsh chapter 17 magic or miracle the passage into the yard from the electrically lit laboratory was a passage from brilliancy to gloom the shrouded figure standing in the shadow was like some object in a dream my own senses reeled it was only because I had resolutely held my breath and kept my face averted that I had not succumbed to the fate which had overtaken Woodville had I been a moment longer in gaining the open air it would have been too late as it was in placing Woodville on the ground I stumbled over him my senses left me even as they went I was conscious of exclaiming remembering the saying about the engineer being hoist by his own petard atherton's magic vapor my sensations on returning to consciousness were curious I found myself being supported in someone's arms a stranger's face was bending over me and the most extraordinary pair of eyes I had ever seen were looking into mine who the deuce are you I asked then understanding that it was my uninvited visitor with scant ceremony I drew myself away from him by the light which was streaming through the laboratory door I saw that Woodville was lying close beside me stark and still is he dead I cried Percy speak man it's not so bad with you as that but it was pretty bad so bad that as I went down and looked at him my heart beat uncomfortably fast lest it was as bad as it could be his heart seemed still the vapor took effect directly on the cardiac centers to revive their action and that instantly was indispensable yet my brain was in such a quarrel that I could not even think of how to set about beginning had I been alone it is more than probable Woodville would have died as I stared at him senselessly aimlessly the stranger passing his arms beneath the body extended himself at full length upon its motionless form putting his lips to purses he seemed to be pumping life from his own body into the unconscious man's as I gazed bewildered surprised presently there came a movement of Percy's body his limbs twitched as if he was in pain by degrees the motions became convulsive till on a sudden he disturbed himself through such effect as a stranger was rolled right off him I bent down to find that the young gentleman's condition still seemed very far from satisfactory there was a rigidity about the muscles of his face a clamminess about his skin a disagreeable suggestiveness about the way in which his teeth and the whites of his eyes were exposed which was uncomfortable to contemplate the stranger must have seen what was passing through my mind not a very difficult thing to see pointing to the recumbent Percy he said with that queer foreign tang of his which whatever it seemed like in the morning sounded musical enough just then all will be well with him I am not so sure the stranger did not deign to answer he was kneeling on one side of the victim of modern science I on the other passing his hand to and fro in front of the unconscious countenance as if by magic all semblance of discomfort vanished from Percy's features and to all appearances he was placidly asleep have you hypnotized him what does it matter if it was a case of hypnotism it was very neatly done the conditions were both unusual and trying the effect produced seemed all that could be desired the change brought about in half a dozen seconds was quite remarkable I began to be aware of a feeling of quasi-respect for Paul Lessingham's friend his morals might be peculiar and manners he might have none but in this case at any rate the end seems to have justified the means he went on he sleeps when he awakes he will remember nothing that has been leave him the night is warm all will be well as he said the night was warm and it was dry Percy would come to little harm by being allowed to enjoy for a while the pleasant breezes so I acted on the stranger's advice and left him lying in the yard while I had a little interview with the impromptu physician end of chapter 17 recording by Alan Winnerout boomcoach.blogspot.com chapter 18 of The Beatles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Alan Winnerout The Beatles by Richard Marsh chapter 18 the apotheosis of The Beatles the laboratory door was closed the stranger was standing a foot or two away from it I was further within the room and was subjecting him to his keenest scrutiny as circumstances permitted beyond doubt he was conscious of my observation yet he bore himself with an air of indifference which was suggestive of perfect unconcern the fellow was oriental to the fingertips that much was certain yet in spite of a pretty wide personal knowledge of oriental people I could not make up my mind as to the exact part of the east from which he came he was hardly an Arab he was not a fella he was not unless I aired a Muhammad at all there was something about him which was distinctly not muscle manic so far his looks were concerned he was not a flattering example of his race whatever his race might be the portentious size of his beak like nose would have been in itself sufficient to damn him in any court of beauty his lips were thick and shapeless and this joined to another peculiarity in his appearance seemed to suggest that in his veins there and more than a streak of negro blood the peculiarity alluded to was his semblance of great age as one item one was reminded of the legends told of people who have been supposed to have retained something of their pristine vigor after having lived for centuries as however one continued to gaze one began to wonder if he really was so old as he seemed if indeed he was exceptionally old at all negroes and especially negresses are apt to age with extreme rapidity among colored folk one sometimes encounters women whose faces seem to have been lined by the passage of centuries yet who actual tale of years would entitle them to regard themselves here in england as in the prime of life the senility of the fellow's countenance besides was contradicted by the juvenessence of his eyes no really old man could have eyes like that they were curiously shaped reminding me of the elongated faceted eyes of some queer creature with whose appearance i was familiar although i could not at the instant risk call its name they glowed not only with the force and fire but also with the frenzy of youth more uncanny looking eyes i have never encountered their possessor could not be in any sense of the word a clubbable person owing perhaps to some peculiar formation of the optic nerve one felt as one met his gaze that he was looking right through you more obvious danger signals never yet were placed in a creature's head the individual who having once caught sight of him still sought to cultivate their owners acquaintance had only himself to thank if the very worst results of frequenting evil company promptly ensued it happens that i am myself endowed with an unusual tenacity of vision i could for instance easily outstair any man i ever met yet as i continued to stare at this man i was conscious that it was only by an effort of will that i was able to resist a baleful something which seemed to be passing from his eyes to mine it might have been imagination but in that sense i am not an imaginative man and if it was it was imagination of an unpleasantly vivid kind i could understand how in the case of a nervous or a sensitive temperament this fellow might exercise by means of the peculiar quality of his glance alone an influence of a most disastrous sort which given an appropriate subject in the manifestation of its power might approach almost to the supernatural if ever a man was endowed with the traditional evil eye in which italians among modern nations are such profound believers it was he when we had stared at each other for i dare say quite five minutes i began to think i had had enough of it so by way of breaking the ice i put to him a question may i ask how you found your way into my backyard he did not reply in words but raising his hands he lowered them palms downward with a gesture which was peculiarly oriental indeed is that so your meaning may be lucidity itself to you but for my benefit perhaps you would not mind translating into words once more i ask how did you find your way into my backyard again nothing but the gesture possibly you are not sufficiently acquainted with english manners and customs to be aware that you have placed yourself within reach of the pains and penalties of the law where i'd call in the police you would find yourself in an awkward situation and unless you are presently more explanatory called in they will be by way of answer he indulged in a distortion of the countenance which might have been meant for a smile and which seemed to suggest that he regarded the police with a contempt which was too great for words why do you laugh do you think that being threatened with the police is a joke you are not likely to find it so have you suddenly been bereft of the use of your tongue he proved that he had not by using it i still have the use of my tongue that at least is something perhaps since the subject of how you got into my backyard seems to be a delicate one you will tell me why you got there you know why i have come pardon me if i appear to flatly contradict you but that is precisely what i do not know you do know do i then in that case i presume that you are here for the reason which appears upon the surface to commit a felony you call me thief what else are you i am no thief you know why i have come he raised his head a little a look came into his eyes which i felt that i ought to understand yet to the meaning of which i seen for the instant to have mislead the key i shrugged my shoulders i have come because you wanted me because i wanted you on my word that's sublime all night you have wanted me do i not know when she talked to you of him and the blood boiled in your veins when he spoke and all the people listened and you hated him because he had honor in her eyes i was startled either he meant what it appeared incredible that he could mean or there was confusion somewhere take my advice my friend don't try to come the bunco steer over me i'm a bit in that line myself you know this time the score was mine he was puzzled i know not what you talk of in that case we're equal i know not what you talk of either his manner for him was childlike and bland what is it you do not know this morning did i not say if you want me then i come i fancy i have some faint recollection of your being so good as to say something of the kind but where's the application do you not feel for him the same as i who's the him paul lesingham it was spoken quietly but with a degree of to put it gently spitefulness would show that at least the will to do the apostle harm would not be lacking and pray what is the common feeling which we have for him hate plainly with this gentleman hate meant hate in the solid oriental sense i should hardly have been surprised if the mere utterance of the word had seared his lips i am by no means prepared to admit that i have this feeling which you attribute to me but even granting that i have what then those who hate are kin that also i should be slow to admit but to go a step farther what is all this got to do with your presence on my premises at this hour of the night you love her this time i did not ask him to supply the name being unwilling that it should be soiled by the traffic of his lips she loves him that is not well if you choose she shall love you that will be well indeed and pray how is this consummation which is so devoutly to be desired to be brought about put your hand into mine say that you wish it it shall be done moving a step forward he stretched out his hand towards me i hesitated there was that in the fellow's manner which for the moment had for me an unwholesome fascination memories flashed through my mind of stupid stories which have been told of compacts made with the devil i almost felt as if i was standing in the actual presence of one of the powers of evil i thought of my love for marjorie which had revealed itself after all these years of the delight of holding her in my arms of feeling the pressure of her lips to mine as my gaze met his the lower side of what the conquest of this fair lady would mean burned in my brain fierce imaginings blaze before my eyes to win her only to win her what nonsense he was talking what an empty brag it was suppose just for the sake of the joke i did put my hand in his and did wish right out what it was playing he knew if i wished what harm would it do it would be the purest jest out of his own mouth he would be confounded for it was certain that nothing would come of it why should i not do it then i would act on his suggestion i would carry the thing right through already i was advancing towards him when i stopped i don't know why on the instant my thoughts went off at a tangent what sort of a blagger did i call myself that i should take a woman's name in vain for the sake of playing fool's tricks with such scum of the earth as the hideous vagabond in front of me and that the name of the woman whom i loved rage took hold of me you hound i cried in my sudden passage from one mood to another i was filled with the desire to shake the life half out of him but so soon as i moved a step in his direction intending war instead of peace he altered the position of his hand holding it out toward me as if forbidding my approach directly he did so quite involuntarily i pulled up dead as if my progress had been stayed by bars of iron and walls of steel for the moment i was astonished to the verge of stupefaction the sensation was peculiar i was as incapable of advancing another inch in his direction as if i had lost the use of my lens i was even incapable of attempting to attempt the advance at first i could only stare and gait presently i began to have an inkling of what had happened the scoundrel had almost succeeded in hypnotizing me that was a nice thing to happen to a man of my sort at my time of life a shiver went down my back what might have occurred if i had not pulled up in time what pranks might a creature of that character not have been disposed to play it was the old story of the peril of playing with edge tools i had made the dangerous mistake of underrating the enemy strength evidently in his own line the fellow is altogether something out of the usual way i believe that even as it was he thought he had me as i turned away and leaned against the table at my back i fancy that he shivered as if this proof of my being still in my own master was unexpected i was silent it took some seconds to enable me to recover from the shock of the discovery of the peril in which i had been standing then i resolved that i would endeavor to do something which would make me equal to this gentleman of many talents take my advice my friend and don't attempt to play that hanky-panky off onto me again i don't know what you talk of don't lie to me or i'll burn you into ashes behind me was an electrical machine giving an 18 inch spark it was set in motion by a lever fitted into the table which i could easily reach from where i sat as i spoke the visitor was treated to a little exhibition of electricity the change in his bearing was amusing he shook with terror he salam down to the ground my lord my lord have mercy oh my lord then you be careful that's all you may suppose yourself to be something of a magician but it happens unfortunately for you that i can do a bit in that line myself perhaps i'm a trifle better at the game than you are especially as you have ventured into my stronghold which contains magic enough to make a show of a hundred thousand such as you taking down a bottle from a shelf i sprinkled a drop or two of its contents on the floor immediately flames arose accompanied by a blinding vapor it was a sufficiently simple illustration of one of the qualities of phosphorus bromide but its effect upon my visitor was a startling as it was unexpected if i could believe the evidence of my own eyesight in the very act of giving utterance to a scream of terror he disappeared how or why or wither there was nothing to show in his place where he had been standing there seemed to be a dim object of some sort in a state of frenzied agitation on the floor the phosphorescent vapor was confusing the lights appeared to be suddenly burning low before i had since enough to go and see if there was anything there and if so what the flames had vanished the man himself had reappeared and prostrate around his knees was salamming in a condition of abject terror my lord my lord he wind i entreat you my lord to use me as your slave i'll use you as my slave whether he or i was the more agitated it would have been difficult to say but at least it would not have done to betray my feelings as he did his stand up he stood up i eyed him as he did with an interest which so far as i was concerned was of a distinctly new and original sort whether or not i had been the victim of an ocular delusion i could not be sure it was incredible to suppose that he could have disappeared as he had seemed to disappear it was also incredible that i could have imagined his disappearance if the thing had been a trick i had not the faintest notion how it had been worked and if it was not a trick then what was it was it something new and scientific marvels could he give me as much instruction in the qualities of unknown forces as i could him in the meanwhile he stood in an attitude of complete submission with downcast eyes and hands crossed upon his breast i started to cross examine him i am going to ask you some questions so long as you answer them promptly truthfully you will be safe otherwise you had best beware ask oh my lord what is the nature of your objection to mr. lesingham revenge what has he done to you that you should wish to be revenged upon him it is the feud of the innocent blood what do you mean by that on his hands is the blood of my kin it cries aloud for vengeance who has he killed that my lord is for me and for him i see am i to understand that you do not choose to answer me and then i am again to use my magic i saw that he quivered my lord he has spilled the blood of her who is laying upon his breast i hesitated what he meant appeared clear enough perhaps it will be as well not to press for further details the words pointed to what it might be courteous to call an eastern romance though it was hard to conceive of the apostle figuring as the hero of such a theme it was the old tale retold that to the life of every man there is a background that it is precisely in the unlikeliest cases that the background's darkest what would that penny plain and tuppence colored bogey the nonconformist conscience make of such a story if we're emblazoned through the land would paul not come down with a run spilling blood as a figure of speech pretty perhaps but vague if you mean that mr lesingham has been killing someone your surest and most effectual revenge would be gained by an appeal to the law what has the englishman's law to do with me if you can prove that he has been guilty of murder it would have a great deal to do with you i assure you that at any rate in that sense the englishman's law is no respect for a persons show him to be guilty and he would hang paul lesingham as indifferently and as cheerfully as it would hang bill brown is that so it is so as if you choose you will be easily able to prove to your own entire satisfaction he had raised his head and was looking at something which he seemed to see in front of him with a maleficent glare in his sensitive eyes which it was not nice to see he would be shamed indeed he would be shamed before all men before all men and i take it before all women too and he would hang is shown to have been guilty of will for murder yes his hideous face was lighted up by a sort of diabolical exultation which made it if that were possible more hideous still i had apparently given him a wrinkle which pleased him most consummately perhaps i will do that in the end in the end he opened his eyes to their widest limits then shut them tight as if to gloat on the picture which is fancy painted then reopen them in the meantime i shall have vengeance on my own fashion he knows already that the avenger is upon him he has good reason to know it and through the days and nights the knowledge will be with him still and it shall be to him as the bitterest of death i of many deaths for he will know that escape there is none and that for him there shall be no more sun in the sky and that the terror shall be with him by night and by day and his rising up and at his laying down wherever his eyes shall turn it shall be there yet behold the sap and the juice of my vengeance is in this in that though he shall be very sure that the days that are as are the days of his death yet shall he know that the death the great death is coming coming and shall be on him when i will the fellow spoke like an inspired maniac if he meant half what he said and if he did not then as looks in his tone belied him then a promising future bade fair to be in store for mr lesingham and also circumstances being as they were for marjorie it was this latter reflection which gave me pause either this imprecatory fanatic would have to be disposed of by lesingham himself or by someone acting on his behalf and so far as their power of doing mischief went his words proved empty windbags or marjorie would have to be warned that there was at least one passage in her suitor's life into which it was too late it was advisable that inquiry should be made to allow marjorie to irrevocably link her fate with the apostles without being first of all made aware that he was to all intents and purposes a haunted man that was not to be thought of you employ large phrases my words cool the other's heated blood once more his eyes were cast down his hands crossed upon his breast i crave my lord's pardon my wound is ever new by the way what was the secret history this morning of that little incident of the cockroach he glanced up quickly cockroach i know not what you say well was it a beetle then beetle he seemed all at once to have lost his voice the word was gasped after you went we found upon a sheet of paper a capitol executed drawing of a beetle which i fancy you must have left behind scarab a saucer wasn't it i know not what you talk of its discovery seemed to have quite a singular effect on mr lesingham now why was that i know nothing oh yes you do and before you go i mean to know something too the man was trembling looking this way in that showing signs of marked discomforture that there was something about that ancient scarab which figures so largely in the still unraveled tangles of the egyptian mythologies and the effect which the mere sight of its cartouche for the drawing had resembled something of the kind had had on such a seasoned vessel as paul lesingham which might well be worth my finding out i felt convinced the man's demeanor on my recurring to the matter told its own plain tale i made up my mind if possible to probe the business to the bottom then and there listen to me my friend i am a plain man and i use plain speech it's a kind of hobby i have you will give me the information i require and that at once or i will pit my magic against yours in which case i think it extremely probable that you will come off worse from the encounter i reached out for the lever and the exhibition of electricity recommends immediately his tremors were redoubled my lord i know not of what you talk none of your lies for me tell me why at the side of the thing on that sheet of paper paul lesingham went green and yellow ask him my lord probably later on that is what i shall do in the meantime i am asking you answer or look out for squalls the electrical exhibition was going on he was glaring at it as if he wished that it would stop as if ashamed of his cowardice plainly on a sudden he made a desperate effort to get the better of his fears and succeeded better than i had expected or desired he drew himself up with what in him amounted to an air of dignity i am a child of isis it struck me that he made this remark not so much to impress me as with a view of elevating his own low spirits are you then in that case i regret that i am unable to congratulate the lady on her offspring when i said that a ring came into his voice which i had not heard before silence you know not of what you speak i warned you as i warned paul lesingham be careful not to go too far be not like him heed my warning what is it i am being warned against the beetle yes the beetle were i upon oath and this statement being made in the presence of witnesses say in a solicitor's office i standing in fear of pains and penalties i think that at this point i should leave the paper blank no man likes to own himself a fool or that he ever was a fool and ever since i have been wondering whether on that occasion that child of isis did or did not play the fool with me his performance was realistic enough the time heaven knows but as it gets farther and farther away i ask myself more and more confidently as time affluxes whether after all it was not clever juggling superhumanly clever juggling if you will that and nothing more if it was something more then with a vengeance there is more in heaven and earth that is dreamed of in our philosophy the mere possibility opens vistas in which the sane mind fears to contemplate since then i am not on oath and should i fall short of verbal accuracy i do not need to fear the engines of the law what seemed to happen was this he was standing within about 10 feet of where i leaned against the edge of the table the light was full on so that it was difficult to suppose that i could make a mistake as to what took place in front of me as he replied to my mocking illusion to the beetle by echoing my own words he vanished or rather i saw him taking a different shape before my eyes his loose draperies all fell off him and as they were in the very act of falling they're issued or seem to issue out of them a monstrous creature of the beetle type the man himself was gone on the point of size i wish to make myself clear my impression when i saw it first was that it was as large as the man had been and that it was in some way standing up on end its legs toward me but the moment it came into view it began to dwindle and that's so rapidly that in a couple of seconds at most a little heap of drapery was lying on the floor on which was a truly astonishing example of the kalyaptra it appeared to be a beetle it was perhaps six or seven inches high and about a foot in length its scales were of a vivid golden green i could distinctly see where the wings were sheathed along the back and as they seem to be slightly agitated i looked every moment to see them opened and the thing take wing i was so astonished as who would not have been that for an appreciable space of time i was practically in a state of stupefaction i could do nothing but stare i was acquainted with the legendary transmigrations of isis and with the story of the beetle which issues from the woman's womb through all eternity and with the other pretty tales but this of which i was an actual spectator was something new even in legends if the man with whom i had just been speaking was gone where had he gone to if this glittering creature was there in his stead when said it come i do protest this much that after the first shock of surprise had passed i retained my presence of mind i felt as an investigator might feel who has stumbled haphazard on some astounding some epoch making discovery i was conscious that i should have to make the best use of my mental faculties if i was to take full advantage of so astonishing an accident i kept my glance riveted on the creature with the idea of photographing it on my brain i believe that if it were possible to take a retinal print which it someday will be you would have a perfect picture of what i saw beyond doubt it was a lamericorn one of the capri day with the one exception of its monstrous size there were the characteristics in plain view the convex body the large head the projecting klepeis more its smooth head and throat seemed to suggest that it was a female equally beyond doubt apart from its size there were unusual features present too the eyes were not only unwontedly conspicuous they gleamed as if they were lighted by internal flames in some indescribable fashion they reminded me of my vanished visitor the coloring was superb and the creature appeared to have the chameleon-like faculty of lightening and darkening its shades at will it's not least curious feature was its restlessness it was in a state of continual agitation and as if it resented my inspection the more i looked at it the more its agitation grew as i have said i expected every moment to see it take wing and circle through the air all the while i was casting about in my mind as to what means i could use to affect its capture i did think of killing it and on the whole i rather wish that i had at any rate attempted slaughter there were dozens of things lying ready to my hand any one of which would have severely tried its constitution but on the spur of the moment the only method of taking it alive which occurred to me was to pop over it a big tin canister which had contained soda lime this canister was on the floor to my left i moved toward it as nonchalantly as i could keeping an eye on the shining wonder all the time directly i moved its agitation perceptibly increased it was so to speak all one horror of tremblement it scintillated as if its colored scales have been so many prisms it began to unsheathe its wings as if it had finally decided that it would make use of them picking up the tin disembarrassing it of its lid i sprang toward my intended victim its wings open wide obviously it was about to rise but it was too late before it had cleared the ground the tin was over it it remained over it however for an instant only i had stumbled in my haste and in my effort to save myself from falling face foremost onto the floor i was compelled to remove my hands from the tin before i was able to replace them the tin was sent flying and while i was still partially recumbent within 18 inches of me that beetle swelled and swelled until it had assumed its former portentious dimensions when as it seemed it was enveloped by a human shape and in less time than no time there stood in front of me naked from top to toe my truly versatile oriental friend one startling fact nudity revealed i had been egregiously mistaken on the question of sex my visitor was not a man but a woman and judging from the brief glimpse which i had of her body by no means old or ill-shaped either if that transformation was not a bewildering one then two and two makes five the most level-headed scientist would temporarily have lost his mental equipoise on witnessing such a quick change as that within a span or two of his own nose i was not only witless i was breathless too i could only gape and while i gaped the woman stooping now picked up her draperies began to huddle them on her anyhow and also to skedaddle towards the door which led into the yard when i observed this last maneuver to some extent i did rise to the requirements of the situation leaping up i rushed to stay her flight stop i shouted but she was too quick for me air i could reach her she had opened the door and was through it and what was more she had slammed it in my face in my excitement i did some fumbling with the handle when in my turn i was in the yard she was out of sight i did fancy i saw a dim form disappearing over the wall at the further side and i made for it as fast as i knew how i clambered onto the wall looking this way and that but there was nothing and no one to be seen i listened for the sound of retreating footsteps but all was still apparently i had the entire neighborhood to my own sweet self my visitor advantaged time devoted to pursuit i felt would be time ill spent as i returned across the yard woodville who is still taking his rest under the open canopy of heaven sat up seemingly my approach had roused him out of slumber at sight of me he rubbed his eyes and yawned and blinked i say here marked not at all unreasonably where am i you're on holy or on haunted ground hang me if i know which but that's where you are my boy by jove i'm feeling queer i have got a headache don't you know i shouldn't be the least surprise at anything you have or haven't i'm beyond surprised it's a drop of whiskey you are wanting and what i'm wanting to only for goodness sake drop me none of your drops mine is a case for a bottle at the least i put my arm through his and went with him into the laboratory and when we were in i shut and locked and barred the door end of chapter 18 recording by alan winter out boom coach dot blog spot dot com chapter 19 of the beetle this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org recording by alan winter out the beetle by richard marsh chapter 19 the lady rages dora grayling stood in the doorway i told your servant he need not trouble to show me in and i've come without my aunt i hope i'm not intruding she was confoundedly and it was on the tip of my tongue to tell her so she came into the room with twinkling eyes looking radiantly happy that sort of look which makes even a plain young woman prepossessing am i intruding i believe i am she held out her hand while she was still a dozen feet away and when i did not dash forward to make a clutch at it she shook her head and made a little mouth at me what's the matter with you aren't you well i was not well i was very far from well i was as unwell as i could be without being positively ill and any person of common discernment would have perceived it at a glance at the same time i was not going to admit anything of the kind to her thank you i am perfectly well then if i were you i would endeavor to become imperfectly well a little imperfection in that direction might make you appear to more advantage i am afraid that i am not one of those persons who ever do appear to much advantage did i not tell you so last night i believe you did say something of the kind it's very good of you to remember have you forgotten something else what you said to me last night you can hardly expect me to keep fresh in my memory all the follies of which my tongue is guilty thank you that is quite enough good day she turned as if to go miss grayling mr atherton what's the matter what have i been saying now last night you invited me to come and see you this morning is that one of the follies of which your tongue was guilty the engagement had escaped my recollection it is a fact and my face betrayed me you had forgotten her cheeks flamed her eyes sparkled you must pardon my stupidity for not having understood that the invitation was of that general kind which is never meant to be acted on she was halfway to the door before i stopped her i had to take her by the shoulder to do it miss grayling you are hard on me i suppose i am is anything harder than to be intruded on by an undesired and unexpected guest now you are harder still if you knew what i have gone through since our conversation of last night in your strength you would be merciful indeed what have you gone through i hesitated what i actually had gone through i certainly did not propose to tell her other reasons apart i did not desire to seem matter than i admittedly am and i lacked sufficient plausibility to enable me to concoct on the spur of the moment a plain tale of the doings of my midnight visitor which would have suggested that the narrator was perfectly sane so i fenced or tried to for one thing i have had no sleep i had not not one single wink when i did get between the sheets all night i lay in agony i suffered from that worst form of nightmare the nightmare of the man who is wide awake there was continually before my fevered eyes the strange figure of that nameless thing i had often smiled at tales of haunted folk here was i one of them my feelings were not rendered more agreeable by a strengthening conviction that if i had only retained the normal attitude of a scientific observer i should in all probability have solved the mystery of my oriental friend and that his example of the genus of gopre day might have been pinned by a very large pin on a piece a monstrous piece of cork it was galling to reflect that he and i had played together a game of bluff a game at which civilization was once more proved to be a failure she could not have seen all this in my face but she saw something because her own looks softened you do look tired she seemed to be casting about her own mind for a cause you have been worrying she glanced around the big laboratory have you been spending the night in this wizards cave pretty well oh the monosyllable as she uttered it was big with meaning uninvited she seated herself in an armchair a huge old thing of shagreen leather which would have held half a dozen of her demir in it she looked like an agreeable reminiscence alive and a little up to date of the woman of long ago her dove grey eyes seemed to perceive so much more than they cared to show how is it that you've forgotten that you asked me to come didn't you mean it of course i meant it then how is it you've forgotten i didn't forget don't tell fibs something is the matter tell me what is it that i am too early nothing of the sort you couldn't be too early thank you when you pay a compliment even so one as neat as that sometimes you should look as if you mean it it is early i know it's early but afterwards i want you to come to lunch i told aunt that i would bring you back with me you are much better to me than i deserve perhaps a tone came into her voice which was almost pathetic i think that to some men women are almost better than they deserve i don't know why i suppose it pleases them it is odd there was a different intonation a dryness have you forgotten what i came for not a bit of it i am not quite the brute i seem you came to see an illustration of that pleasant little fancy of mine for slaughtering my fellows the fact is i'm hardly in a mood for that just now i've been illustrating it too much already what do you mean well for one thing it's been murdering lessingham's cat mr lessingham's cat then it almost murdered percy woodville mr atherton i wish you wouldn't talk like that it's a fact it was a question of a little matter in the wrong place and if it hadn't been for something very like a miracle he'd be dead i wish you wouldn't have anything to do with such things i hate them i stared hate them i thought you'd come to see an illustration and pray what was your notion of an illustration well another cat would have been killed at least and do you suppose that i would have sat still while a cat was being killed for my edification it needn't necessarily have been a cat but something would have to be killed how are you going to illustrate the death dealing propensities of a weapon of that sort without it is it possible that you imagine that i came here to see something killed then for what did you come i do not know what there was about the question which was startling but as soon as it was out she went a fiery red because i was a fool i was bewildered either she had got out the wrong side of bed or i had or we both had here she was assailing me hammer and tongs so far as i could see for absolutely nothing you are pleased to be satirical at my expense i should not dare your detection of me would be so painfully rapid i was in no mood for jangling i turned a little away from her immediately she was at my elbow mr atherton miss grayling are you cross with me why should i be if it pleases you to laugh at my stupidity you are completely justified but you are not stupid no nor you satirical you are not stupid you know that you are not stupid it was only stupidity on my part to pretend that you were it is very good of you to say so but i fear that i am an indifferent host although you would not care for an illustration there may be other things which you might find amusing why do you keep on snubbing me i keep on snubbing you you are always snubbing me you know you are sometimes i feel as if i hated you miss grayling i do i do i do after all it is only natural that is how you talk as if i were a child and you were oh i don't know what well mr atherton i am sorry to be obliged to leave you i have enjoyed my visit very much i only hope i have not seemed too intrusive she flounced flounce was the only appropriate word out of the room before i could stop her i caught her in the passage miss grayling i entreat you pray do not entreat me mr atherton standing still she turned to me i would rather show myself to the door as i showed myself in but if that is impossible may i ask you not to speak to me between this and the street the hint was broad enough even for me i escorted her through the hall without a word in perfect silence she shook the dust of my abode from her feet i had made a pretty mess of things i felt it as i stood on the top of the steps and watched her going she was walking off at four miles an hour i had not even ventured to ask to be allowed to call a handsome it was beginning to occur to me that this was a case in which another blow upon the river might be to say the least of it advisable and i was just returning to the house with the intention of putting myself into my flannels when a cab drew up an old linden got out of it end of chapter 19 recording by alan winteroud boomcoach.blogspot.com chapter 20 of the beetle this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by alan winteroud the beetle by richard marsh chapter 20 a heavy father mr linden was excited there is no mistaking it when he is because with him excitement means perspiration and as soon as he was out of the cab he took off his hat and began to wipe the lining atherton i want to speak to you most particularly somewhere in private i took him into my laboratory it is my rule to take no one there it is a workshop not a playroom the place is private but recently my rules had become dead letters directly he was inside linden began puffing and stewing wiping his forehead throwing out his chest as if he were oppressed by a sense of his own importance then he started off talking at the top of his voice and it is not a low one either atherton i i've always looked on you as a kind of son that's very kind of you i've always regarded you as a level-headed fellow a man from whom sound advice can be obtained when sound advice is is most to be desired that is also very kind of you and therefore i make no apology for coming to you at at what may be regarded as a strictly domestic crisis at a moment in the history of the lindens when delicacy and common sense are are essentially required this time i contended myself with nodding already i perceived what was coming somehow when i am with a man i feel so much more clearheaded than i do when i am with a woman realize so much better than nature of the ground on which i am standing what do you know of this man lessingham i knew it was coming what all the world knows and what does all the world know of him i ask you that a flashy plausible shallow-pated carpetbagger that is what all the world knows of him the man's a political adventurer he snatches a precarious and criminal notoriety by trading on the follies of his fellow countrymen he is devoid of decency destitute of principle and impervious to all the feelings of a gentleman what do you know of him besides this i am not prepared to admit that i do know that oh yes you do don't talk nonsense you chose to screen the fellow i say what i mean i always have said and i always shall say what do you know of him outside politics of his family of his private life well not very much of course you don't nor does anybody else the man's a mushroom or a toadstool rather sprung up in the course of a single night apparently out of some dirty ditch why sir not only is he without ordinary intelligence he was even without a brumagen substitute for manners he had worked himself into a state of heat in which his countenance presented a not too agreeable assortment of scarlets and purples he flung himself into a chair through his coat wide open and his arms too and started off again the family of the lindons is at the present represented by a a young woman by my daughter sir she represents me and it's her duty to represent me adequately adequately sir and what's more between ourselves sir it's her duty to marry my property is my own and i wouldn't have it passed to either of my confounded brothers on any account they're next door to fools and and they don't represent me in any possible sense of the word my daughter sir can marry whom she pleases whom she pleases there's no one in england peer or commoner who would not esteem it an honor to have her for his wife i've told her so yes sir i've told her though you you'd think that she of all the people in the world wouldn't require telling yet what do you think she does she actually carries on what i i can't help calling a a compromising acquaintance with this man lessingham no but i say yes and i wish to heaven i didn't i've i've warned her against the scoundrel more than once i've told her to cut him dead and yet as you saw yourself last night in in the face of the assembled house of commons after that twiddling claptrap speech of his in which there was not one sound sentiment nor an idea which which would hold water she positively went away with him in in the most ostentatious and disgraceful fashion on on his arm and and actually snubbed her father it is monstrous that a parent a father should be subjected to such treatment by his child the poor old boy polished his brow with his pocket handkerchief when i got home i i told her what i thought of her i promise you that and i told her what i thought of him i didn't mince my words with her there are occasions when plain speaking is demanded and that was one i positively forbade her to speak to the fellow again or to recognize him if she met him in the street i pointed out to her with perfect candor that the fellow was an infernal scoundrel that and nothing else and that he would bring disgrace on whoever came in contact with him even with the end of a barge pole and what do you think she said she promised to obey you i make no doubt did she sir by gad did she that shows how much you know her she said and by gad by her manner and and the way she went on you you'd have thought she was the parent and i was the child she said that i i grieved her and that she was disappointed in me that times have changed yes sir she said that times have changed that nowadays parents weren't russian autocrats no sir not russian autocrats that that she was sorry she couldn't oblige me yes sir that was how she put it she was sorry she couldn't oblige me but it was altogether out of the question to suppose that she could put a period to a friendship which she valued simply on account of of my unreasonable prejudices and and in short she she told me to go to the devil sir and did you i was on the point of asking him if he went but i checked myself in time let us look at the matter as men of the world what do you know against lestingham apart from his politics that's just it i know nothing in a sense isn't that in his favor i don't see how you make that out i i don't mind telling you that i i've had inquiries made he's not been in the house six years this is his second parliament he's jumped up like a jack in the box his first constituency was harwich they've got him still and much good may he do him but how he came to stand for the place or who or what or where he was before he stood for the place no one seems to have the faintest notion hasn't he been a great traveler i never heard of it not in the east has he told you so no i was only wondering well it seems to me that to find out that nothing is known against him is something in his favor my dear sydney don't talk nonsense what it proves is simply that he's a nothing and a nobody had he been anything or anyone something would have been known about him either for or against i don't want my daughter to marry a man who who's shot up through a trap simply because nothing is known against him hang me if i wouldn't ten times sooner she should marry you when he said that my heart leapt into my bosom i had to turn away i'm afraid that is out of the question he stopped in his tramping and looked at me as scans why i felt that if i was not careful i should be done for and probably in his present mood marjorie too my dear linden i cannot tell you how grateful i am to you for your suggestion but i can only repeat that unfortunately anything of the kind is out of the question i don't see why perhaps not you you're a pretty lot upon my word i'm afraid we are i i want you to tell her that leasingham is a damn scoundrel i see but i would suggest that if i'm to use the influence with which you credit me to the best advantage or to preserve a shred of it i had hardly better state the fact quite so bluntly as that i don't care how you state it state it as you like only only i want you to soak her mind with a loathing of the fellow i i want you to paint him in his true colors in fact i want you to choke him off while he still struggled with his words and with a perspiration on his brow edwards entered i turned to him what is it mrs linden sir wishes to see you particularly and at once at that moment i found the announcement a trifle perplexing it delighted linden he began to stutter and to stammer the the very thing couldn't have been better show her in here hide me somewhere i don't care where behind that screen you use your influence with her give her a good talking to tell her what i've told you and at the critical moment i'll come in and then then if we can't manage her between us it'll be a wonder the proposition staggered me but my dear mr linden i fear that i cannot he cut me short here she comes ere i could stop him he was behind the screen i had not seen him move with such agility before and before i could expostulate marjorie was in the room something which was in her bearing in her face in her eyes quickened the beating of my pulses she looked as if something had come into her life and taken the joy clean out of it end of chapter 20 recording by alan winter out boomcoach.blogspot.com