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then； perceiving the effect of this communication； 'Good
God！' he cried； 'what are you staring at？ I tell you； I am
Miss Fonblanque。'
Seeing the speaker wore a chin…beard of considerable length；
and the remainder of his face was blue with shaving；
Challoner could only suppose himself the subject of a jest。
He was no longer under the spell of the young lady's
presence； and with men； and above all with his inferiors； he
was capable of some display of spirit。
'Sir；' said he； pretty roundly； 'I have put myself to great
inconvenience for persons of whom I know too little； and I
begin to be weary of the business。 Either you shall
immediately summon Miss Fonblanque； or I leave this house and
put myself under the direction of the police。'
'This is horrible！' exclaimed the man。 'I declare before
Heaven I am the person meant； but how shall I convince you？
It must have been Clara； I perceive； that sent you on this
errand … a madwoman； who jests with the most deadly
interests； and here we are incapable； perhaps； of an
agreement； and Heaven knows what may depend on our delay！'
He spoke with a really startling earnestness； and at the same
time there flashed upon the mind of Challoner the ridiculous
jingle which was to serve as password。 'This may； perhaps；
assist you；' he said； and then； with some embarrassment；
'〃Nigger； nigger； never die。〃'
A light of relief broke upon the troubled countenance of the
man with the chin…beard。 '〃Black face and shining eye〃 …
give me the letter；' he panted； in one gasp。
'Well；' said Challoner； though still with some reluctance； 'I
suppose I must regard you as the proper recipient； and though
I may justly complain of the spirit in which I have been
treated； I am only too glad to be done with all
responsibility。 Here it is；' and he produced the envelope。
The man leaped upon it like a beast； and with hands that
trembled in a manner painful to behold； tore it open and
unfolded the letter。 As he read； terror seemed to mount upon
him to the pitch of nightmare。 He struck one hand upon his
brow； while with the other； as if unconsciously； he crumpled
the paper to a ball。 'My gracious powers！' he cried； and
then； dashing to the window； which stood open on the garden；
he clapped forth his head and shoulders； and whistled long
and shrill。 Challoner fell back into a corner； and
resolutely grasping his staff； prepared for the most
desperate events； but the thoughts of the man with the chin…
beard were far removed from violence。 Turning again into the
room； and once more beholding his visitor； whom he appeared
to have forgotten； he fairly danced with trepidation。
'Impossible！' he cried。 'Oh； quite impossible！ O Lord； I
have lost my head。' And then； once more striking his hand
upon his brow； 'The money！' he exclaimed。 'Give me the
money。'
'My good friend；' replied Challoner； 'this is a very painful
exhibition； and until I see you reasonably master of
yourself； I decline to proceed with any business。'
'You are quite right；' said the man。 'I am of a very nervous
habit； a long course of the dumb ague has undermined my
constitution。 But I know you have money； it may be still the
saving of me； and oh； dear young gentleman； in pity's name be
expeditious！' Challoner； sincerely uneasy as he was； could
scarce refrain from laughter； but he was himself in a hurry
to be gone； and without more delay produced the money。 'You
will find the sum； I trust； correct；' he observed 'and let me
ask you to give me a receipt。'
But the man heeded him not。 He seized the money； and
disregarding the sovereigns that rolled loose upon the floor；
thrust the bundle of notes into his pocket。
'A receipt；' repeated Challoner； with some asperity。 'I
insist on a receipt。'
'Receipt？' repeated the man； a little wildly。 'A receipt？
Immediately！ Await me here。'
Challoner； in reply； begged the gentleman to lose no
unnecessary time； as he was himself desirous of catching a
particular train。
'Ah； by God； and so am I！' exclaimed the man with the chin…
beard； and with that he was gone out of the room； and had
rattled upstairs； four at a time； to the upper story of the
villa。
'This is certainly a most amazing business；' thought
Challoner； 'certainly a most disquieting affair； and I cannot
conceal from myself that I have become mixed up with either
lunatics or malefactors。 I may truly thank my stars that I
am so nearly and so creditably done with it。' Thus thinking；
and perhaps remembering the episode of the whistle； he turned
to the open window。 The garden was still faintly clear； he
could distinguish the stairs and terraces with which the
small domain had been adorned by former owners； and the
blackened bushes and dead trees that had once afforded
shelter to the country birds； beyond these he saw the strong
retaining wall； some thirty feet in height； which enclosed
the garden to the back； and again above that； the pile of
dingy buildings rearing its frontage high into the night。 A
peculiar object lying stretched upon the lawn for some time
baffled his eyesight； but at length he had made it out to be
a long ladder； or series of ladders bound into one； and he
was still wondering of what service so great an instrument
could be in such a scant enclosure； when he was recalled to
himself by the noise of some one running violently down the
stairs。 This was followed by the sudden； clamorous banging
of the house door； and that again； by rapid and retreating
footsteps in the street。
Challoner sprang into the passage。 He ran from room to room；
upstairs and downstairs； and in that old dingy and worm…eaten
house； he found himself alone。 Only in one apartment；
looking to the front； were there any traces of the late
inhabitant： a bed that had been recently slept in and not
made； a chest of drawers disordered by a hasty search； and on
the floor a roll of crumpled paper。 This he picked up。 The
light in this upper story looking to the front was
considerably brighter than in the parlour； and he was able to
make out that the paper bore the mark of the hotel at Euston；
and even； by peering closely； to decipher the following lines
in a very elegant and careful female hand：
'DEAR M'GUIRE； … It is certain your retreat is known。 We
have just had another failure； clockwork thirty hours too
soon； with the usual humiliating result。 Zero is quite
disheartened。 We are all scattered； and I could find no one
but the SOLEMN ASS who brings you this and the money。 I
would love to see your meeting。 … Ever yours；
SHINING EYE。'
Challoner was stricken to the heart。 He perceived by what
facility； by what unmanly fear of ridicule； he had been
brought down to be the gull of this intriguer； and his wrath
flowed forth in almost equal measure against himself； against
the woman； and against Somerset； whose idle counsels had
impelled him to embark on that adventure。 At the same time a
great and troubled curiosity； and a certain chill of fear；
possessed his spirit。 The conduct of the man with the chin…
beard；