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run in search of the nearest policeman。 The constable was at first
inclined to treat the matter lightly； suspecting common drunkenness；
however； he came； and after looking at the man's face； changed his tone；
quickly enough。 The early bird； who had picked up this fine worm； was
sent off for a doctor； and the policeman rang and knocked at the door till a
slatternly servant girl came down looking more than half asleep。 The
constable pointed out the contents of the area to the maid； who screamed
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loudly enough to wake up the street； but she knew nothing of the man； had
never seen him at the house； and so forth。 Meanwhile； the original
discoverer had come back with a medical man； and the next thing was to
get into the area。 The gate was open； so the whole quartet stumped down
the steps。 The doctor hardly needed a moment's examination； he said the
poor fellow had been dead for several hours； and it was then the case
began to get interesting。 The dead man had not been robbed； and in one
of his pockets were papers identifying him aswell； as a man of good
family and means； a favourite in society； and nobody's enemy； as far as
could be known。 I don't give his name； Villiers； because it has nothing to
do with the story； and because it's no good raking up these affairs about
the dead when there are no relations living。 The next curious point was
that the medical men couldn't agree as to how he met his death。 There
were some slight bruises on his shoulders； but they were so slight that it
looked as if he had been pushed roughly out of the kitchen door； and not
thrown over the railings from the street or even dragged down the steps。
But there were positively no other marks of violence about him； certainly
none that would account for his death； and when they came to the autopsy
there wasn't a trace of poison of any kind。 Of course the police wanted to
know all about the people at Number 20； and here again； so I have heard
from private sources； one or two other very curious points came out。 It
appears that the occupants of the house were a Mr。 and Mrs。 Charles
Herbert； he was said to be a landed proprietor； though it struck most
people that Paul Street was not exactly the place to look for country gentry。
As for Mrs。 Herbert； nobody seemed to know who or what she was； and；
between ourselves； I fancy the divers after her history found themselves in
rather strange waters。 Of course they both denied knowing anything
about the deceased； and in default of any evidence against them they were
discharged。 But some very odd things came out about them。 Though it
was between five and six in the morning when the dead man was removed；
a large crowd had collected； and several of the neighbours ran to see what
was going on。 They were pretty free with their comments； by all
accounts； and from these it appeared that Number 20 was in very bad
odour in Paul Street。 The detectives tried to trace down these rumours to
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some solid foundation of fact； but could not get hold of anything。 People
shook their heads and raised their eyebrows and thought the Herberts
rather 'queer；' 'would rather not be seen going into their house；'and so on；
but there was nothing tangible。 The authorities were morally certain the
man met his death in some way or another in the house and was thrown
out by the kitchen door； but they couldn't prove it； and the absence of any
indications of violence or poisoning left them helpless。 An odd case；
wasn't it？ But curiously enough； there's something more that I haven't
told you。 I happened to know one of the doctors who was consulted as to
the cause of death； and some time after the inquest I met him； and asked
him about it。 'Do you really mean to tell me；' I said； 'that you were
baffled by the case； that you actually don't know what the man died of？'
'Pardon me；' he replied； 'I know perfectly well what caused death。 Blank
died of fright； of sheer； awful terror； I never saw features so hideously
contorted in the entire course of my practice； and I have seen the faces of a
whole host of dead。' The doctor was usually a cool customer enough；
and a certain vehemence in his manner struck me； but I couldn't get
anything more out of him。 I suppose the Treasury didn't see their way to
prosecuting the Herberts for frightening a man to death； at any rate；
nothing was done； and the case dropped out of men's minds。 Do you
happen to know anything of Herbert？〃
〃Well；〃 replied Villiers； 〃he was an old college friend of mine。〃
〃You don't say so？ Have you ever seen his wife？〃
〃No； I haven't。 I have lost sight of Herbert for many years。〃
〃It's queer； isn't it； parting with a man at the college gate or at
Paddington； seeing nothing of him for years； and then finding him pop up
his head in such an odd place。 But I should like to have seen Mrs。
Herbert； people said extraordinary things about her。〃
〃What sort of things？〃
〃Well； I hardly know how to tell you。 Everyone who saw her at the
police court said she was at once the most beautiful woman and the most
repulsive they had ever set eyes on。 I have spoken to a man who saw her；
and I assure you he positively shuddered as he tried to describe the woman；
but he couldn't tell why。 She seems to have been a sort of enigma； and I
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expect if that one dead man could have told tales； he would have told
some uncommonly queer ones。 And there you are again in another
puzzle； what could a respectable country gentleman like Mr。 Blank （we'll
call him that if you don't mind） want in such a very queer house as
Number 20？ It's altogether a very odd case； isn't it？〃
〃It is indeed； Austin； an extraordinary case。 I didn't think； when I
asked you about my old friend； I should strike on such strange metal。
Well； I must be off； good…day。〃
Villiers went away； thinking of his own conceit of the Chinese boxes；
here was quaint workmanship indeed。
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IV
THE DISCOVERY IN PAUL STREET
A few months after Villers'meeting with Herbert； Mr。 Clarke was
sitting； as usual； by his after…dinner hearth； resolutely guarding his fancies
from wandering in the direction of the bureau。 For more than a week he
had succeeded in keeping away from the 〃Memoirs；〃 and he cherished
hopes of a complete self…reformation； but； in spite of his endeavours； he
could not hush the wonder and the strange curiosity that the last case he
had written down had excited within him。 He had put the case； or rather
the outline of it； conjecturally to a scientific friend； who shook his head；
and thought Clarke getting queer； and on this particular evening Clarke
was making an effort to rationalize the story； when a sudden knock at the
door roused him from his meditations。
〃Mr。 Villiers to see you sir。〃
〃Dear me； Villiers； it is very kind of you to look me up； I have not seen
you for many months； I should think nearly a year。 Come in； come in。
And how are you； Villiers？ Want any advice about investments？〃
〃No； thanks； I fancy everything I have in that way is pretty safe。 No；
Clarke； I have really come to consult you about a rather curious matter that
has been brought under my notice of late。 I am afraid you will think it all
rather absurd when I tell my tale。 I sometimes think so mysel