Chapter 7

           ThatDr.Willett’s"purgation"hadbeenanordealalmostasnerve-rackinginitswayashishideouswanderinginthevanishedcryptisshownbythefactthattheelderlyphysiciangaveoutcompletelyassoonashereachedhomethatevening.Forthreedaysherestedconstantlyinhisroom,thoughservantslatermutteredsomethingabouthavingheardhimaftermidnightonWednesday,whentheouterdoorsoftlyopenedandclosedwithphenomenalsoftness.Servants’imaginations,fortunately,arelimited,elsecommentmighthavebeenexcitedbyaniteminThursday’sEveningBulletinwhichranasfollows:

           NORTHENDGHOULSAGAINACTIVE

           AfteralulloftenmonthssincethedastardlyvandalismintheWeedenlotattheNorthBurialGround,anocturnalprowlerwasglimpsedearlythismorninginthesamecemeterybyRobertHart,thenightwatchman.Happeningtoglanceforamomentfromhisshelteratabout2a.m.,Hartobservedtheglowofalanternorpockettorchnotfartothenorthwest,anduponopeningthedoordetectedthefigureofamanwithatrowelveryplainlysilhouettedagainstanearbyelectriclight.Atoncestartinginpursuit,hesawthefiguredarthurriedlytowardthemainentrance,gainingthestreetandlosinghimselfamongtheshadowsbeforeapproachorcapturewaspossible.

           Likethefirstoftheghoulsactiveduringthepastyear,thisintruderhaddonenorealdamagebeforedetection.