Ужас в музее
Chapter 1
I’lllockyouinthedisplayroomandgohome. InthemorningI’llcomedownaheadofOrabona—hecomeshalfanhourbeforetherest—andseehowyouare. Butdon’ttryitunlessyouareverysureofyourscepticism. Othershavebackedout—youhavethatchance. AndIsupposeapoundingontheouterdoorwouldalwaysbringaconstable. Youmaynotlikeitsowellafterawhile—you’llbeinthesamebuilding,thoughnotinthesameroomwithIt.”
Astheyleftthereardoorintothedingycourtyard,Rogerstookwithhimthepieceofburlap—weightedwithagruesomeburden. Nearthecentreofthecourtwasamanhole,whosecovertheshowmanliftedquietly,andwithashuddersomesuggestionoffamiliarity. Burlapandall,theburdenwentdowntotheoblivionofacloacallabyrinth. Jonesshuddered,andalmostshrankfromthegauntfigureathissideastheyemergedintothestreet.
Byunspokenmutualconsent,theydidnotdinetogether,butagreedtomeetinfrontofthemuseumateleven.
Joneshailedacab,andbreathedmorefreelywhenhehadcrossedWaterlooBridgeandwasapproachingthebrilliantlylightedStrand. Hedinedataquietcafé,andsubsequentlywenttohishomeinPortlandPlacetobatheandgetafewthings. IdlyhewonderedwhatRogerswasdoing. Hehadheardthatthemanhadavast,dismalhouseintheWalworthRoad,fullofobscureandforbiddenbooks,occultparaphernalia,andwaximageswhichhedidnotchoosetoplaceonexhibition. Orabona,heunderstood,livedinseparatequartersinthesamehouse.
