Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1882-09-09 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

CHAPTER XV. 'TEE SPIDER AND THE FLY.  "Come," said my cicerone, "we are already very late."  A rapid walk of a few minutes brought oa to the entrairn of a handsome house, having the appearance of a private residence, and standing in a fashionable street,  " Why " said I, inclined to draw back, as he asoendeethe smps, "you surely would not think of disturbing the people here at this hour of the night 7 Th re is not a light to be seen in any room in the house."  Mr. Warriston's low laugh made me blu.h at my own' greenness." His ring at the door was followed by a knock, which I WU quick-witted enough, in spite of my verdancy, to perceive had something significant about it. Tho door immediately swung a little open, my friend said a few words which had the effect of unclosing the mysterious portals still wider, and we entered a modest hall, which a single gas-burner, half turned off, dimly illuminated. The man-servant who admitted us was a thick-set, muscular fellow, rather below the middle height, dressed in a plain livsry, and wills quiet, respectful manners, that were by no means in accordance with the truculent and repulsive appearance that lowering eyebrows and a heavy unde..jaw gave to a sallow, closely, shaven face. " Is Grimshaw still hero ?" asked my companion. "Yes, sir. In the library, just where you left him."  "Very well, you need not disturb him. I've brought my young friend here to introduce him to the house, in view of further acquaintance." The man smiled respectfully, and made way ferns to pass up-stairs. I thought I saw in that quiet smile a lurking ray of satisfaction—a gloating, as it were, over my prospective intimacy with the inmates of this respectable house. He had probably been usher to the "ma Istromn of evil long enough to know that the, whose feet were once caught in floe slow, aelightful whirl of the circling waters never withdrew them, after the circle grew narrow and esnift, and the rush of the whirlpool sounded up from the bottomless pit. We entered a suite of rooms in no manner differing from the drawing-rooms of a private house. They were richly furnished and well-lighted, close inner blinds, hidden by heavy silk curtains, shutting in the light from the observation of passers-by. There were three rooms in this suite the first two were now deserted, though the odour of wine and scented hair and handkerchiefa showed they had been recently occupied. In these two the chandeliers were partially obscured, but the third room was still brilliantly illuminated. We walked towards it. Magnificent curtains of amber silk hung from the arch which separated it from the adjoining room. Only one of there curtains was now drawn hack, the other trailing on the carpet. and closing the apartment from our observation. Mr. Warriston placed me in the shadow of the curtains, where I could see, myself unseen. The room was furnished as a library, two of its walls being covered with books. I particularly noticed a marble bust of Shakespeare very, fine. A severe, yet liberal taste marked the choice and arrangement of evnything. A painting of Faust and Marguerite, with Mephistophiles whispering into the ear of the former, hung between the two back windows. It was a welbanunged library, certainly: yet the four occupants were engrmsed in o study more fascinating than that of any of the books by which they were surrounded. If Mephistophilm could have steeped from the canvas, and made the acquaintance of the company, he would have been charmed. Two couples sat at two tables playing cards. All the other visitors had gone away—some of them to theft or suicide, perhaps—save those fonr, who still lingered, wrapped in the dread enchantment of the hour. The two at the table I first glanced at were both strangers to me: at the moment I could not see the faCP of one of the players, whose back was towards me; but the face of the other was directly in front of use, and under the full light of the chandelier. This person was Edgar Henderson. My astonishment was profound That I had never fratern,sed with him I considered partly my own fault —there are persons so naturally antagonisth, as to make real friendship between them impossible—and I had often Warned myself for our mutual coldness, But, with all my dislike of some of his qualities—as, for instance, hcs indolent aceeptance of his uncle's bounty, Which, in the i yes of a person of my disposition, took away half his manliness—with all my, unfriimdly aversion to him, I had never suspected him of absolutely bad habits. _  Thud to look twice to assure myself of his identity. And having looked. I could not take away my eyee from the strange attraction of a countenance trans. formed by the excitement of the gaming table. His dark omplovion had blanched to a sallow paleness; checks and lips were of the same colour: his nose seemed to have sharpened, and was drawn in about the face with a pinched look ; his eyebrows were very slightly contracted, but fixed, as if cut in marble., while underneath them the lids were cb awn together, so that only a line of the eve was visible—a narrow line, letting out a single steady ray from the lurid world within. The lids appeared unit the eyeballs had shrunken in the intensity of their mon. . . . .  Silently the cards were deStlt and phi.Yod. It was evidently the closing gum, upon which much depended. Hate much, for Edgar, I could only guess by the increasing pallor and absorption of his countenance. _  ...... "I wish I could see his opponentN face," I whispered to my companion. " You would see nothing but the face o. the fiend coolly amusing himself. Grimshaw never gets excited. He has ruined a dozen young men already." The last Ca d WAS thrown down; the two players arose simultaneously. "Welt, Grimshaw," said Edgar, with a desperate laugh, " you will have to wait for the money until I—" . .  Marry the young lady," mid the other; " that is the agreement, I believe; but don't consent to a long engagement." " I shall find some means to pay these last two debts f dors that happy consummation, I hope. yon shall hear from me within a month." "We will make a little memorandum of them," mid his opponent and as they vent together to a writing-desk, Mr..Warriston drew me away.