\"Yourfriendseemsanicechap，\"saidFordatlast。\"Callingonhimwillbearealpleasure。Iespeciallylikewhatyousayabouthishands。\"
\"Ihaveaplan，\"begantheassistanttimidly，\"aplantogetyouintothehouse—ifyoudon’tmindmymakingsuggestions？\"
\"Notatall！\"exclaimedhischiefheartily。
\"Getmeintothehousebyallmeans;that’swhatwe’reherefor。
ThefactthatI’mtobepoisonedorstrangledafterIgettheremustn’tdiscourageus。’\"
\"Ithought，\"saidCuthbert，\"Imightstandguardoutside，whileyougotinasadopefiend。\"
Fordsnortedindignantly。\"DoILOOKlikeadopefiend？\"heprotested。
Thevoiceoftheassistantwasoneofdiscouragement。
\"Youcertainlydonot，\"heexclaimedregretfulIy。\"Butit’stheonlyplanIcouldthinkof。\"
\"Itseemstome，\"saidhischieftestily，\"thatyouarenotsoveryhealthy—lookingyourself。What’sthematterwithYOURgettinginsideasadopefiendandMYstandingguard？\"
\"ButIwouldn’tknowwhattodoafterIgotinside，\"complainedtheassistant，\"andyouwould。Youaresoclever。\"
TheexpressionofconfidenceseemedtoflatterFord。
\"Imightdothis，\"hesaid。\"ImightpretendIwasrecoveringfromaheavyspree，andasktobetakencareofuntilIamsober。OrI
couldbeaverygoodimitationofamanontheedgeofanervousbreakdown。Ihaven’tbeenfiveyearsinthenewspaperbusinesswithoutknowingallthereistoknowaboutnerves。That’sit！\"hecried。\"Iwilldothat！AndifMr。BluebeardSvengali，theStranglerofParisperson，won’ttakemeinasapatient，we’llcomebackwithacoupleofaxesandBREAKin。Butwe’lltrythenervousbreakdownfirst，andwe’lltryitnow。Iwillbeanavalofficer，\"declaredFord。\"Imadetheround—the—worldcruisewithourfleetasacorrespondent，andIknowenoughseaslangtofoolamedicalman。Iamanavalofficerwhosenerveshavegonewrong。
Ihaveheardofhissanatoriumthrough\"\"How，\"askedFordsharply，\"haveIheardofhissanatorium？\"
\"YousawhisadvertisementintheDAILYWORLD，\"promptedCuthbert。
\"’Homeofconvalescents;mentalandnervoustroublescured。’\"
\"And，\"continuedFord，\"Ihavecometohimforrestandtreatment。
MynameisLieutenantHenryGrant。IarrivedinLondontwoweeksagoontheMAURETANIA。Butmynamewasnotonthepassenger—list，becauseIdidnotwanttheNavyDepartmenttoknowIwastakingmyleaveabroad。IhavebeenstoppingatmyownaddressinJermynStreet，andmyreferencesareyourself，theEmbassy，andmylandlord。Youwilltelephonehimatoncethat，ifanyoneasksafterHenryGrant，heistosaywhatyoutellhimtosay。AndifanyonesendsforHenryGrant’sclothes，heistosendMYclothes。\"
\"Butyoudon’texpecttobeinthereaslongasthat？\"exclaimedCuthbert。
\"Idonot，\"saidFord。\"But，ifhetakesmein，Imustmakeabluffofsendingformythings。No;eitherIwillbeturnedoutinfiveminutes，orifheacceptsmeasapatientIwillbethereuntilmidnight。IfIcannotgetthegirloutofthehousebymidnight，itwillmeanthatIcan’tgetoutmyself，andyouhadbetterbringthepoliceandthecoroner。\"
\"Doyoumeanit？\"askedCuthbert。
\"Imostcertainlydo！\"exclaimedFord。
UntiltwelveIwantachancetogetthisstoryexclusivelyforourpaper。IfsheisnotfreebythenitmeansIhavefallendownonit，andyouandthepolicearetobegintobatterinthedoors。\"
Thetwoyoungmenleftthecab，andatsomedistancefromeachotherwalkedtoSowellStreet。AtthehouseofDr。Prothero，Fordstoppedandrangthebell。FromacrossthestreetCuthbertsawthedooropenandthefigureofamanofalmostgiganticstatureblockthedoorway。Foramomenthestoodthere，andthenCuthbertsawhimsteptooneside，sawFordenterthehouseandthedoorcloseuponhim。Cuthbertatoncerantoatelephone，and，havinginstructedFord’slandlordastotheparthewastoplay，returnedtoSowellStreet。There，inastatenearlyapproachingagenuinenervousbreakdown，hecontinuedhisvigil。
Evenwithouthiscriminalrecordtocastaglamouroverhim，FordwouldhavefoundDr。Prothero，adisturbingperson。Hissizewasenormous，hiseyespiercing，sinister，unblinking，andthehandsthatcouldstrangleabull，andwithwhichasthoughtocontrolhimself，hecontinuallypulledathisblackbeard，weregigantic，ofadeadlywhite，withfingerslongandprehensile。InhismannerhehadallthesuaveinsolenceoftheOrientalandthesuspiciousalertnessofoneconstantlyonguard，butalso，asFordatoncenoted，ofonewhollywithoutfear。Hehadnotbeenoveramomentinhispresencebeforethereporterfeltthattosuccessfullylietosuchamanmightbecountedasatriumph。
Protheroopenedthedoorintoalittleofficeleadingoffthehall，andswitchedontheelectriclights。Forsomeshorttime，withoutanyefforttoconcealhissuspicion，hestaredatFordinsilence。
\"Well？\"hesaid，atlast。Histonewasachallenge。
Fordhadalreadygivenhisassumednameandprofession，andhenowrangliblyintothestoryhehadplanned。Heopenedhiscard—caseandlookedintoitdoubtfully。\"IfindIhavenocardwithme，\"hesaid;butIam，asItoldyou，LieutenantGrant，oftheUnitedStatesNavy。Iamallrightphysically，exceptformynerves。
They’veplayedmeaqueertrick。Ifthefactsgetoutathome，itmightcostmemycommission。SoI’vecomeoverherefortreatment。\"
\"WhytoME？\"askedProthero。
\"Isawbyyouradvertisement，\"saidthereporter，\"thatyoutreatedfornervousmentaltroubles。Mineisanillusion，\"hewenton。\"I
seethings，or，rather，alwaysonething—abattle—shipcomingatusheadon。ForthelastyearI’vebeenexecutiveofficeroftheKEARSARGE，andtheresponsibilityhasbeentoomuchforme。\"
\"Youseeabattle—ship？\"inquiredtheJew。
\"Aphantombattle—ship，\"Fordexplained，\"asortOFFLYING
DUTCHMAN。ThetimeIsawitIwasonthebridge，andIyelledandtelegraphedtheengine—room。Ibroughttheshiptoafullstop，andbackedher。Butitwasdirtyweather，andtheerrorwaspassedover。Afterthat，whenIsawthethingcomingIdidnothing。ButeachtimeIthinkitisreal。\"Fordshiveredslightlyandglancedabouthim。\"Someday，\"headdedfatefully，itWILLbereal，andI
willNOTsignal，andtheshipwillsink！\"
Insilence，Protheroobservedhisvisitorclosely。Theyoungmanseemedsincere，genuine。Hismannerwasdirectandfrank。Helookedtheparthehadassumed，asoneusedtoauthority。
\"Myfeesarelarge，\"saidtheRussian。
Atthispoint，hadFord，regardlessofterms，exhibitedahopefuleagernesstoatonceclosewithhim，theJewwouldhaveshownhimthedoor。ButFordwasonguard，andwellawarethatalieutenantinthenavyhadbutfewguineastothrowawayonmedicines。Hemadeamovementasthoughtowithdraw。
\"ThenIamafraid，\"hesaid，\"Imustgosomewhereelse。\"
HisreluctanceapparentlyonlypartiallysatisfiedtheJew。
Fordadoptedoppositetactics。Hewasneverwithoutreadymoney。
HispapersawtoitthatinitsinterestshewasalwaysableatanymomenttopayforaspecialtrainacrossEurope，ortobribetheentireworkingstaffofacableoffice。Fromhisbreast—pockethetookabluelinenenvelope，andallowedtheJewtoseethatitwasfilledwithtwenty—poundnotes。\"Ihavemeansoutsidemypay，\"
saidFord。
Iwouldgivealmostanypricetothemanwhocancureme。\"TheeyesoftheRussianflashedavariciously。
\"Iwillarrangethetermstosuityou，\"heexclaimed。\"Yourcaseinterestsme。DoyouSeethis—mirageonlyatsea？\"
\"Inanyopenplace，\"Fordassuredhim。\"Inaparkorpublicsquare，butofcoursemostfrequentlyatsea。\"
Thequackwavedhisgreathandsasthoughbrushingasideacurtain。
\"Iwillremovetheillusion，\"hesaid，\"andgiveyouothersmorepretty。\"Hesmiledmeaningfully——anevil，leeringsmile。\"Whenwillyoucome？\"heasked。Fordglancedabouthimnervously。
\"Ishallstaynow，\"hesaid。\"Iconfess，inthestreetsandinmylodgingsIamfrightened。Yougivemeconfidence。Iwanttostaynearyou。Ifeelsafewithyou。Ifyouwillgivemewriting—paper，Iwillsendformythings。\"
ForamomenttheJewhesitated，andthenmotionedtoadesk。AsFordwrote，Protherostoodnearhim，andthereporterknewthatoverhisshouldertheJewwasreadingwhathewrote。Fordgavehimthenote，unsealed，andaskedthatitbeforwardedatoncetohislodgings。
\"To—morrow，\"hesaid，\"IwillcallupourEmbassy，andgivemyaddresstoourNavalAttache。
\"Iwillattendtothat，\"saidProthero。
Fromnowyouareinmyhands，andyoucancommunicatewiththeoutsideonlythroughme。Youaretohaveabsoluterest——nobooks，noletters，nopapers。Andyouwillbefedfromaspoon。Iwillexplainmytreatmentlater。Youwillnowgotoyourroom，andyouwillremainthereuntilyouareawellman。\"
Fordhadnowishtobeatonceshutofffromtherestofthehouse。
Theodorofcookingcamethroughthehall，andseemedtoofferanexcusefordelay。
\"Ismellfood，\"helaughed。\"AndI’mterrificallyhungry。Can’tI
haveafarewelldinnerbeforeyoubeginfeedingmefromaspoon？\"
TheJewwasabouttorefuse，but，withhisguiltyknowledgeofwhatwasgoingforwardinthehouse，hecouldnotbetoosureofthoseheallowedtoenterit。Hewantedmoretimetospendinstudyingthisnewpatient，andthedinner—tableseemedtoofferaplacewherehecoulddosowithouttheothersuspectinghewasunderobservation。
\"MyassociateandIwerejustabouttodine，\"hesaid。\"YouwillwaithereuntilIhaveanotherplacelaid，andyoucanjoinus。\"
Hedeparted，walkingheavilydownthehall，butalmostatonceFord，whoseearswerealertforanysound，heardhimreturning，approachingstealthilyontiptoe。IfbythismaneuvertheJewhadhopedtodiscoverhispatientinsomeindiscretion，hewasunsuccessful，forhefoundFordstandingjustwherehehadlefthim，withhisbackturnedtothedoor，andgazingwithapparentinterestatapictureonthewall。Thesignificanceoftheincidentwasnotlostupontheintruder。Ittaughthimhewasstillundersurveillance，andthathemustbearhimselfwarily。Murmuringsomeexcuseforhavingreturned，theJewagaindeparted，andinafewminutesFordheardhisvoice，andthatofanotherman，engagedinlowtonesinwhatwasapparentlyaneagerargument。
OnlyoncewasthevoiceoftheothermanraisedsufficientlyforFordtodistinguishhiswords。\"HeisanAmerican，\"protestedthevoice;\"thatmakesitworse。\"
FordguessedthatthespeakerwasPearsall，andthatagainsthisadmittancetothehousehewasmakingearnestprotest。Adoor，closingwithabang，shutofftheargument，butwithinafewminutesitwasevidenttheJewhadcarriedhispoint，forhereappearedtoannouncethatdinnerwaswaiting。Itwasservedinaroomatthefartherendofthehall，andatthetable，whichwaslaidforthree，Fordfoundamanalreadyseated。Protherointroducedhimas\"myassociate，\"butfromhispresenceinthehouse，andfromthefactthathewasanAmerican，FordknewthathewasPearsall。
Pearsallwasamanoffifty。Hewastall，spare，withcloselyshavenfaceandgrayhair，wornratherlong。HespokewiththeaccentofaSoutherner，andalthoughtoFordhewasstudiouslypolite，hewasobviouslygreatlyillatease。Hehadtheabrupt，inattentivemanners，thetremblingfingersandquiveringlips，ofonewhohadlongbeenaslavetothedrughabit，andwhonow，withdifficulty，washoldinghimselfinhand。
Throughoutthedinner，speakingtohimasthough，interestedonlyashismedicaladvisers，theJew，andoccasionallytheAmerican，sharplyexaminedandcross—examinedtheirvisitor。Buttheywereunabletotriphiminhisstory，ortosuggestthathewasnotjustwhatheclaimedtobe。
Whenthedinnerwasfinished，thethreemen，fordifferentreasons，wereeachmoreathisease。BothPearsallandProtherobelievedfromthenewpatienttheyhadnothingtofear，andFordwascongratulatinghimselfthathispresenceatthehousewasfirmlysecure。
\"Ithink，\"saidPearsall，\"weshouldwarnMr。Grantthatthereareinthehouseotherpatientswho，likehimself，aresufferingfromnervousdisorders。Attimessomesillyneuroticwomanbecomeshysterical，andmaymakeanoutcryorscream。Hemustnotthink\"
\"That’sallright！\"Fordreassuredhimcheerfully。\"Iexpectthat。
Inasanatoriumitmustbeunavoidable。\"
Ashespoke，asthoughbyasignalprearranged，therecamefromtheupperportionofthehouseascream，long，insistent。
Itwasthevoiceofawoman，raisedinappeal，inprotest，shakenwithfear。Withoutforaninstantregardingit，thetwomenfastenedtheireyesuponthevisitor。ThehandoftheJewdroppedquicklyfromhisbeard，andslidtotheinsidepocketofhiscoat。
Witheyesapparentlyunseeing，Fordnotedthemovement。
\"Hecarriesagun，\"washismentalcomment，\"andheseemsperfectlywillingtouseit。\"Aloud，hesaid:\"That，Isupposeisoneofthem？\"
Protheronoddedgravely，andturnedtoPearsall。\"Willyouattendher？\"heasked。
AsPearsallroseandlefttheroom，Protherorosealso。
\"Youwillcomewithme，\"hedirected，\"andIwillseeyousettleinyourapartment。Yourbaghasarrivedandisalreadythere。\"
TheroomtowhichtheJewledhimwasthefrontoneonthesecondstory。Itwasinnowayinkeepingwithasanatorium，orarest—cure。Thewallswerehiddenbydarkbluehangings，inwhichsparkledtinymirrors，thefloorwascoveredwithTurkishrugs，thelightsconcealedinsidelampsofdullbrassbedeckedwithcrimsontassels。Intheairweretheodorsofstaletobacco—smoke，ofcheapincense，andthesickly，sweetsmellofopium。ToFordtheplacesuggestedacigar—divanratherthanabedroom，andheguessed，correctly，thatwhenProtherohadplayedatpalmistryandclairvoyancethishadbeentheplacewherehereceivedhisdupes。
ButtheAmericanexpressedhimselfpleasedwithhissurroundings，andwhileProtheroremainedintheroom，busiedhimselfwithunpackinghisbag。
OnleavinghimtheJewhaltedinthedooranddeliveredhimselfofalittlespeech。Hisvoicewasstern，sharp，menacing。
\"Untilyouarecured，\"hesaid，\"youwillnotputyourfootoutsidethisroom。Inthishouseareotherinmateswho，asyouhavealreadylearned，areinahighlynervousstate。Thebrainsofsomeareunbalanced。Withmyassociateandmyselftheyarefamiliar，butthesightofastrangerroamingthroughthehallsmightupsetthem。
Theymightattackyou，mightdoyoubodilyinjury。Ifyouwishforanything，ringtheelectricbellbesideyourbedandanattendantwillcome。Butyouyourselfmustnotleavetheroom。\"
Heclosedthedoor，andFord，seatinghimselfinfrontofthecoalfire，hastilyconsideredhisposition。Hecouldnotpersuadehimselfthat，strategically，itwasasatisfactoryone。Thegirlhesoughtwasonthetoporfourthfloor，heonthesecond。ToreachherhewouldhavetopassthroughWell—lightedhalls，uptwoflightsOfstairsandtrytoenteradoorthatwouldundoubtedlybelocked。Ontheotherhand，insteadofwanderingaboutintherainoutsidethehouse，hewasnowestablishedontheinside，andasaninmate。Hadtherebeentimeforasiege，hewouldhavebeenconfidentofsuccess。Buttherewasnotime。Thewrittencallforhelphadbeenurgent。Also，thescreamhehadheard，whilethemannerofthetwomenhadshownthattothemitwasacommonplace，wastohimaspurtoinstantaction。Inhasteheknewtherewastheriskoffailure，buthemusttakethatrisk。
HewishedfirsttoassurehimselfthatCuthbertwaswithincall，andtothatendputoutthelightsanddrewasidethecurtainsthatcoveredthewindow。Outside，thefogwasrollingbetweenthehouse—fronts，bothrainandsnowwerefallingheavily，andasolitarygas—lampshowedonlyadesertedanddrippingstreet。
CautiouslyFordlitamatchandforaninstantlettheflameflare。
Hewasalmostatoncerewardedbythesightofanansweringflamethatflickeredfromadarkdoorway。Fordclosedthewindow，satisfiedthathislineofcommunicationwiththeoutsideworldwasstillintact。ThefaithfulCuthbertwasonguard。
Fordrapidlyreviewedeachpossiblecourseofaction。Thesewereseveral，buttoleadanyoneofthemtosuccess，hesawthathemustpossessabetteracquaintancewiththeinteriorofthehouse。
Especiallywasitimportantthatheshouldobtainalineofescapeotherthantheonedownthestairstothefrontdoor。Theknowledgethatintherearofthehousetherewasameansofretreatbyaservants’stairway，orovertheroofofanadjoiningbuilding，orbyafriendlyfire—escape，wouldatleast，lendhimconfidenceinhisadventure。Accordingly，inspiteofProthero’sthreat，hedeterminedatoncetoreconnoitre。Incaseofhisbeingdiscoveredoutsidehisroom，hewouldexplainhiselectricbellwasoutoforder，thatwhenherangnoservanthadanswered，andthathehadsalliedforthinsearchofone。Tomakethisplausible，heunscrewedthecapoftheelectricbuttoninthewall，andwithhisknifecutoffenoughofthewiretopreventaproperconnection。Hethenreplacedthecapand，openingthedoor，steppedintothehall。