Part 3 (1/2)

Bates now appeared

”Beg pardon, sir; but your room's ready whenever you wish to retire”

I looked about in search of a clock

”There are no tirandfather was quite opposed to them He had a theory, sir, that they were conducive, as he said, to idleness He considered that a man should work by his conscience, sir, and not by the clock--the one beingthan the other”

I smiled as I drew out e as at his quotation frorandsire But the fellow puzzled and annoyed me His unobtrusive black clothes, his sonish the ho did--will you answer me that?”

”Yes, sir; if I didn't do it, it's quite a large question who did I'll grant you that, sir”

I stared at hi; nor was there anything insolent in his tone or attitude He continued: ”I didn't do it, sir I was in the pantry when I heard the crash in the refectoryThe bullet cae, sir”

The facts and conclusions were undoubtedly with Bates, and I felt that I had not acquitted myself creditably in my effort to fix the crime on him My abuse of him had been tactless, to say the least, and I now tried another line of attack

”Of course, Bates, I wasWhat's your own theory of the matter?”

”I have no theory, sir Mr Glenarainst theories He said--if you will pardon er in the speculative ht Irish accent, which in itself puzzled me I have always been attentive to the peculiarities of speech, and his was not the brogue of the Irish servant class Larry Donovan, as English-born, used on occasions an exaggerated Irish dialect that holly different fros than his speech were to puzzle me in this man

”The person in the canoe? How do you account for her?” I asked

”I haven't accounted for her, sir There's no worounds, or any sort of person except ourselves”

”But there are neighbors--far the lake”

”A few, sir; and then there's the school quite a bit beyond your oall”

His slight reference to my proprietorshi+p, my oall, as he put it, pleased irls?--yes; Mr Pickering ht, at this season--hunting ducks--should you say, Bates?”

”I don't believe they do any shooting, Mr Glenare, sir, from all accounts”

”And the teachers--they are all woatha, I believe they call the abroad They're very quiet neighbors, and they go away in the suular home, sir And there's the little chapel quite near the wall; the young ardener's the only other hbors were Protestant nuns and school-girls, with a chaplain and gardener thrown in for variety Still, the chaplainin the ter the acquaintance of a clergyame: my soul was to be watched over by a rural priest, while, there being nothing else to do, I was to give uard and housekeeper, was brushi+ng the hearth with deliberate care

”Show o to bed”

He brought frohts, and explained: ”This was Mr Glenaro to bed with I'ht I detected sorandfather's memory was dear to him I reflected, and I waswere you with Mr Glenarm, Bates?” I inquired, as I followed him into the hall

”Five years, sir He employedof it He greatly ad the cluster of lights high for uidance up the broad stairway

The hall above shared the generous lines of the whole house, but the walls hite and hard to the eye Rough planks had been laid down for a floor, and beyond the light of the candles lay a dark region that gave out ghostly echoes as the loose boards rattled under our feet

”I hope you'll not be tooaa door ”It's all quite unfinished, but comfortable, I should say, quite comfortable”

”Open the door!”

He was not y I walked past hi-rooreat library below Open shelves filled with books lined the apart on every hand, save where a small fireplace, a cabinet and table were built into the walls In the center of the roo materials set in nice order I opened a handsome case and found that it contained a set of draftsroaned aloud

”Mr Glenar The tools were his very own, sir”

”The devil they were!” I exclaimed irascibly I snatched a book from the nearest shelf and threw it open on the table It was The Tower: Its Early Use for Purposes of Defense London: 1816

I closed it with a sla-room is beyond, sir I hope--”

”Don't you hope any rowled; ”and it doesn't make any difference whether I'm disappointed or not”

”Certainly not, sir!” he replied in a tone thatbedrooerly furnished The walls were untinted and were relieved only by prints of English cathedrals, French chateaux, and like suggestions of the best things known to architecture The bed was the commonest iron type; and the other articles of furniture were chosen with a strict regard for utility My trunks and bags had been carried in, and Bates asked from the door f or my commands

”Mr Glenarm always breakfasted at seven-thirty, sir, as near as he could hit it without a timepiece, and he was quite punctual His ere a little odd, sir He used to prowl about at night a good deal, and there was no following hi,” I declared ”And randfather's breakfast hour will suitfurther, sir--”

”That's all;--and Bates--”

”Yes, Mr Glenarm”

”Of course you understand that I didn't really mean to i you not to mention it, Mr Glenarain any light on the subject, let me know”

”Certainly, sir”

”But I believe, Bates, that we'd better keep the shades down at night These duck hunters hereabouts are apparently reckless And youhereafter”

I wound my watch as he obeyed I admit that in my heart I still half-suspected the fellow of coh the dining-roomIt was rather odd, I reflected, that the shades should have been open, though I ht account for this by the fact that this curious unfinished establish orderly housekeeping Bates was evidently aware ofdown the last of the plain green shades: ”Mr Glenar of his, if I may repeat his words, that he liked the open These are eastern s, and he took a quiet pleasure in letting the light waken him It was one of his oddities, sir”