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that there descended； from the third of the three vehicles； a
gentleman of great stature and broad shoulders； leaning on
the shoulder of a woman in a widow's dress； and himself
covered by a long cloak and muffled in a coloured comforter。
Somerset had but a glimpse of him in passing； he was soon
shut into the back drawing…room； the other men departed；
silence redescended on the house； and had not the nurse
appeared a little before half…past ten； and； with a strong
brogue； asked if there were a decent public…house in the
neighbourhood； Somerset might have still supposed himself to
be alone in the Superfluous Mansion。
Day followed day； and still the young man had never come by
speech or sight of his mysterious lodger。 The doors of the
drawing…room flat were never open； and although Somerset
could hear him moving to and fro； the tall man had never
quitted the privacy of his apartments。 Visitors； indeed；
arrived； sometimes in the dusk； sometimes at intempestuous
hours of night or morning； men； for the most part； some
meanly attired； some decently； some loud； some cringing； and
yet all； in the eyes of Somerset； displeasing。 A certain air
of fear and secrecy was common to them all； they were all
voluble； he thought； and ill at ease； even the military
gentleman proved； on a closer inspection； to be no gentleman
at all； and as for the doctor who attended the sick man； his
manners were not suggestive of a university career。 The
nurse； again； was scarcely a desirable house…fellow。 Since
her arrival； the fall of whisky in the young man's private
bottle was much accelerated； and though never communicative；
she was at times unpleasantly familiar。 When asked about the
patient's health； she would dolorously shake her head； and
declare that the poor gentleman was in a pitiful condition。
Yet somehow Somerset had early begun to entertain the notion
that his complaint was other than bodily。 The ill…looking
birds that gathered to the house； the strange noises that
sounded from the drawing…room in the dead hours of night； the
careless attendance and intemperate habits of the nurse； the
entire absence of correspondence； the entire seclusion of Mr。
Jones himself； whose face； up to that hour； he could not have
sworn to in a court of justice … all weighed unpleasantly
upon the young man's mind。 A sense of something evil；
irregular and underhand； haunted and depressed him； and this
uneasy sentiment was the more firmly rooted in his mind；
when； in the fulness of time； he had an opportunity of
observing the features of his tenant。 It fell in this way。
The young landlord was awakened about four in the morning by
a noise in the hall。 Leaping to his feet； and opening the
door of the library； he saw the tall man； candle in hand； in
earnest conversation with the gentleman who had taken the
rooms。 The faces of both were strongly illuminated； and in
that of his tenant； Somerset could perceive none of the marks
of disease； but every sign of health； energy； and resolution。
While he was still looking； the visitor took his departure；
and the invalid； having carefully fastened the front door；
sprang upstairs without a trace of lassitude。
That night upon his pillow； Somerset began to kindle once
more into the hot fit of the detective fever； and the next
morning resumed the practice of his art with careless hand
and an abstracted mind。 The day was destined to be fertile
in surprises； nor had he long been seated at the easel ere
the first of these occurred。 A cab laden with baggage drew
up before the door； and Mrs。 Luxmore in person rapidly
mounted the steps and began to pound upon the knocker。
Somerset hastened to attend the summons。
'My dear fellow；' she said； with the utmost gaiety； 'here I
come dropping from the moon。 I am delighted to find you
faithful； and I have no doubt you will be equally pleased to
be restored to liberty。'
Somerset could find no words； whether of protest or welcome；
and the spirited old lady pushed briskly by him and paused on
the threshold of the dining…room。 The sight that met her
eyes was one well calculated to inspire astonishment。 The
mantelpiece was arrayed with saucepans and empty bottles； on
the fire some chops were frying； the floor was littered from
end to end with books； clothes； walking…canes and the
materials of the painter's craft； but what far outstripped
the other wonders of the place was the corner which had been
arranged for the study of still…life。 This formed a sort of
rockery； conspicuous upon which； according to the principles
of the art of composition； a cabbage was relieved against a
copper kettle； and both contrasted with the mail of a boiled
lobster。
'My gracious goodness！' cried the lady of the house； and
then； turning in wrath on the young man； 'From what rank in
life are you sprung？' she demanded。 'You have the exterior
of a gentleman； but from the astonishing evidences before me；
I should say you can only be a greengrocer's man。 Pray；
gather up your vegetables； and let me see no more of you。'
'Madam；' babbled Somerset； 'you promised me a month's
warning。'
'That was under a misapprehension；' returned the old lady。
'I now give you warning to leave at once。'
'Madam；' said the young man； 'I wish I could； and indeed； as
far as I am concerned； it might be done。 But then； my
lodger！'
'Your lodger？' echoed Mrs。 Luxmore。
'My lodger： why should I deny it？' returned Somerset。 'He
is only by the week。'
The old lady sat down upon a chair。 'You have a lodger？ …
you？' she cried。 'And pray； how did you get him？'
'By advertisement；' replied the young man。 'O madam； I have
not lived unobservantly。 I adopted' … his eyes involuntarily
shifted to the cartoons … 'I adopted every method。'
Her eyes had followed his； for the first time in Somerset's
experience； she produced a double eye…glass； and as soon as
the full merit of the works had flashed upon her； she gave
way to peal after peal of her trilling and soprano laughter。
'Oh； I think you are perfectly delicious！' she cried。 'I do
hope you had them in the window。 M'Pherson；' she continued；
crying to her maid； who had been all this time grimly waiting
in the hall； 'I lunch with Mr。 Somerset。 Take the cellar key
and bring some wine。'
In this gay humour she continued throughout the luncheon；
presented Somerset with a couple of dozen of wine； which she
made M'Pherson bring up from the cellar … 'as a present； my
dear；' she said； with another burst of tearful merriment；
'for your charming pictures； which you must be sure to leave
me when you go；' and finally； protesting that she dared not
spoil the absurdest houseful of madmen in the whole of
London； departed （as she vaguely phrased it） for the
continent of Europe。
She was no sooner gone； than Somerset encountered in the
corridor the Irish nurse； sober； to all appearance； and yet a
prey to singularly strong emotion。 It was made to appear；
from her account； that Mr。 Jones had already suffered acutely
in his health from Mrs。 Luxmore's visit； and that no