Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01
II.

II.
On the morning following the night of fog
Chilcote woke at nine. He woke at the
moment that his man Allsopp tiptoed across
the room and laid the salver with his early
cup of tea on the table beside the bed.
For several seconds he lay with his eyes
shut; the effort of opening them on fresh
day-the intimate certainty of what he
would see ON opening then-seemed to
weigh his lids. The heavy, half closed cur
tains; the blinds severely drawn; the great
room with its splendid furniture, its sober
coloring, its scent of damp London winter;
above all, Allsopp, silent. respectful and
respectable--were things to dread.
A full minute passed while he still feigned
sleep. He heard Allsopp stir discreetly,
then the inevitable information broke the
silence:
Nine O'Clock. sirr'
He opened his eyes. murmured something
and closed them again.
pulled back the curtains and half drew the
blind.
Better night, sir, I hope?' he ventured
softly.
his face to screen himself from the day.
light, murky though it was
Yes he responded. Those beastly
nightmares didn't trouble. me for
at some recollection but don't talk-don't
remind me of them. / hate man who has
no originality" He spoke sharply At times
he showed an almost childish irritation over
trivial things.
Allsopp took the remark in silence
Crossing the wide room. he began to lay
out his masters clothes. The action af-
fected Chilcote to fresh annoyance.
"Confound it, he said I'm sick of that
routine. can see you laying out my wind
ing sheet the day of my burial. Leave those
things. Come back in half an hour
Allsopp allowed himself one glance at his
masters figure huddied in the great bed;
then. laying aside the coat he was holding,
he moved to the door. With his fingers on
the handle he paused.
'sWil you breakfast in your own room,
sir-or downstairs
Chlcote drew the clothes more tightly
round his shoulders. .'Oh anywhere-no-
wherei" he said, II don't care"
Allsopp softly withdrew.
Left to himself. ChiIcote sat up In bed
and lifted the salver to his knees. The sud-
den movement Jared him physically; he
drew handkerchief from under the pillow
and wiped his forehead: then he held his
hand to the light and studied It. The hand
looked sallow and unsteady. With nerv-
Gus gesture he thrust the salver back upon
the table and slid out of bed.
Moving hastily across the room he stopped
before one of the tall wardrobes and swung
the door OPEN then after a furtive glance
around the room he thrust his hand into
the recess of shelf and fumbied there.
The thing he sought was evidently not hard
to find, for almost at once he withdrew his
hand and moved from the wardrobe to
table beside the fireplace carrying small
glass tube filed with tabloids
On the table were decanter, siphon
and water jug Mixing some whisky he
uncorked the tube. again he glanced APP
prehensiyeiy toward the door. then with
very nervous hand dropped two tabloids
into the glass.
While they dissolved he stood with his
hand on the table and his eyes fixed on the
floor. evidently restraining his impotence.
Instantly they had disappeared he seized
the glass and drained 1t at a draught re-
placed the bottle In the wardrobe and.
shivering slightly in the -raw air, slipped
back into bed.
When Allsopp returned he. was sitting up,
q cigarette between his lips, the teacup,
standing empty on the salver. The nervous
irritability had gone from his manner. He
no longer moved jerkily. HIS eyes looked
brighter. HIS pale skin more healthy.
All, Allsopp." he satd there are some
moments IN life, after all. It isn't al blank
wall. =
Z ordered breakfast IN the small moria-
Ing room. nh" said AlIs0pp, without =
change OF expression.
Chiicoto hreakfAAted ct ten. His appetite,
always ackia, was particularly uncertain In