Похититель трупов

           Everynightintheyear,fourofussatinthesmallparlouroftheGeorgeatDebenham—theundertaker,andthelandlord,andFettes,andmyself. Sometimestherewouldbemore;butblowhigh,blowlow,comerainorsnoworfrost,wefourwouldbeeachplantedinhisownparticulararm-chair. FetteswasanolddrunkenScotchman,amanofeducationobviously,andamanofsomeproperty,sincehelivedinidleness. HehadcometoDebenhamyearsago,whilestillyoung,andbyamerecontinuanceoflivinghadgrowntobeanadoptedtownsman. Hisbluecamletcloakwasalocalantiquity,likethechurch-spire. HisplaceintheparlourattheGeorge,hisabsencefromchurch,hisold,crapulous,disreputablevices,wereallthingsofcourseinDebenham. HehadsomevagueRadicalopinionsandsomefleetinginfidelities,whichhewouldnowandagainsetforthandemphasisewithtotteringslapsuponthetable. Hedrankrum—fiveglassesregularlyeveryevening;andforthegreaterportionofhisnightlyvisittotheGeorgesat,withhisglassinhisrighthand,inastateofmelancholyalcoholicsaturation. WecalledhimtheDoctor,forhewassupposedtohavesomespecialknowledgeofmedicine,andhadbeenknown,uponapinch,tosetafractureorreduceadislocation; butbeyondtheseslightparticulars,wehadnoknowledgeofhischaracterandantecedents.