|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 21
The two men stood looking at each other in a silence that was almost
hostile. Had this stranger come to disturb the peace of the refuge
for the unfortunate and to prove that Dr. Orszay, the friend of all
the village, had unwittingly been giving shelter to such criminals?
"Shall we go now?" asked the detective finally.
"If you wish it, sir," answered the doctor in a tone that was
decidedly cool.
Muller held out his hand. "Don't let us be foolish, doctor. If
you should find yourself terribly deceived, and I should have been
the means of proving it, promise me that you will not be angry with
me."
Orszay pressed the offered hand with a deep sigh. He realised the
other's position and knew it was his duty to give him every possible
assistance. "What is there for me to do now?" he asked sadly.
"You must see that all the patients are shut up in their cells so
that the other attendants are at our disposal if we need them.
Varna's room has barred windows, I suppose?"
"Yes."
"And I suppose also that it has but one door. I believe you told
me that your asylum was built on the cell system."
"Yes, there is but one door to the room."
"Let the four other attendants stand outside this door. Gyuri will
be inside with us. Tell the men outside that they are to seize and
hold whomever I shall designate to them. I will call them in by a
whistle. You can trust your people?"
"Yes, I think I can."
"Well, I have my revolver," said Muller calmly, "and now we can go."
They left the room together, and found Gyuri waiting for them a
little further along the corridor. "Aren't you well, sir?" the
attendant asked the doctor, with an anxious note in his voice.
The man's anxiety was not feigned. He was really a faithful servant
in his devotion to the old doctor, although Muller had not misjudged
him when he decided that this young giant was capable of anything.
Good and evil often lie so close together in the human heart.
The doctor's emotion prevented him from speaking, and the detective
answered in his place. "It is a sudden indisposition," he said.
"Lead me to No. 302, who is waiting for us, I suppose. The doctor
wants to lie down a moment in his own room."
Gyuri glanced distrustfully at this man whom he had met for the
first time to-day, but who was no stranger to him--for he had
already learned the identity of the guest in the rectory. Then
he turned his eyes on his master. The latter nodded and said:
"Take the gentleman to Varna's room. I will follow shortly."
The cell to which they went was the first one at the head of the
staircase. "Extremely convenient," thought Muller to himself. It
was a large room, comfortably furnished and filled now with the red
glow of the setting sun. A turning-lathe stood by the window and
an elderly man was at work at it. Gyuri called to him and he turned
and rose when he saw a stranger.
Lajos Varna was a tall, loose-jointed man with sallow skin and
tired eyes. He gave only a hasty glance at his visitor, then looked
at Gyuri. The expression in his eyes as he turned them on those of
the warder was like the look in the eyes of a well-trained dog when
it watches its master's face. Gyuri's brows were drawn close
together and his mouth set tight to a narrow line. His eyes fairly
bored themselves into the patient's eyes with an expression like
that of a hypnotiser.
Muller knew now what he wanted to know. This young man understood
how to bend the will of others, even the will of a sick mind, to
his own desires. The little silent scene he had watched had lasted
just the length of time it had taken the detective to walk through
the room and hold out his hand to the patient.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|