She did not see him, but she says that she could not be mistaken
in his quick, firm tread. She did not hear the study door close,
but a minute or so later there was a dreadful cry in the room below.
It was a wild, hoarse scream, so strange and unnatural that it
might have come either from a man or a woman. At the same instant
there was a heavy thud, which shook the old house, and then all
was silence. The maid stood petrified for a moment, and then,
recovering her courage, she ran downstairs. The study door was shut,
and she opened it. Inside young Mr. Willoughby Smith was stretched
upon the floor. At first she could see no injury, but as she tried
to raise him she saw that blood was pouring from the underside of
his neck. It was pierced by a very small but very deep wound,
which had divided the carotid artery. The instrument with which
the injury had been inflicted lay upon the carpet beside him.
It was one of those small sealing-wax knives to be found on
old-fashioned writing-tables, with an ivory handle and a stiff
blade. It was part of the fittings of the Professor's own desk.
"At first the maid thought that young Smith was already dead,
but on pouring some water from the carafe over his forehead he
opened his eyes for an instant.
Pages:
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386