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第24章 法官的房子9（第1页）

第24章法官的房子（9）

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

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

ThefallenlamprecalledMalself.Fortuwasofmetal，andsotheoililt.However，thepraeedofattendingtoitsettledatonervousapprehensiour，hewipedhisbrowandthoughtforamoment.

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

Thenhemixedhimselfagoodstiffglassofbrandyandwateraelysatdowntohiswork.

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

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

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