"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。