“My eyes are sometimes so weak and painful that I have to be in the dark for hours. I want you to understand this.”
“Certainly, sir,” said Mrs. Hall. “And may I ask you —”
“That is all, I think” said the stranger, putting an end to the conversation.
Mr. Henfrey worked with the lamp close to him, which left the rest of the room in shadow. As he was curious by nature, Mr. Henfrey was not in a hurry to finish his work with the idea of having a conversation with the stranger. But the stranger stood there, perfectly silent and still. Henfrey looked up, and there was the bandaged head and huge, dark glasses. For a minute they remained staring at one another. Then Henfrey looked down again. Very uncomfortable position! Should he say that the weather was very cold for the time of the year?
“The weather —” he began.
“Why don’t you finish and go?” said the stranger, evidently in a state of rage. “All you’ve got to do is to fix the hour hand. You’re simply humbugging.”
“One minute more, sir.” And Mr. Henfrey finished and went.
But he went off feeling very annoyed. “Damn it!” said Mr. Henfrey to himself, walking through the falling snow, “If the police wanted you, you couldn’t be more bandaged.”
At the moment he saw Hall, who had married the owner of the “Coach and Horses” a few months before.
“How are you, Teddy?” Hall asked.
“You got a suspicious man at home!” said Teddy Henfrey.
“What’s that?” Hall asked.
“A strange customer is at the ‘Coach and Horses’,” said Teddy.
And he gave Hall a description of his wife’s guest. “Looks a bit like a disguise, doesn’t it? I’d like to see a man’s face if I had him in my place,” said Henfrey. “But women trust strangers. He’s taken your rooms, and he hasn’t even given a name, Hall.”
“You don’t say so[10]!” said Hall.
“Yes,” said Teddy. “For a week. And he’s got a lot of luggage coming tomorrow, so he says.”
Teddy walked on feeling much better.
On his return, Hall instructed his wife to find out more about their guest and to look very closely at his luggage when it came next day.
“You mind your own business, Hall,” said Mrs. Hall, “and I’ll mind mine.”
She was very annoyed by Hall because she herself had some doubts about the stranger.
Chapter III
The Thousand and One Bottles
Next day his luggage arrived – and very remarkable luggage it was.
There were a couple of trunks, such as any man might have, but there was also a box of books – big, fat books – and a lot of boxes with glass bottles. The stranger, muffled in hat, coat, and gloves came out to meet Fearenside’s cart, not noticing Fearenside’s dog.
When the dog saw him, it sprang straight at his hand.
Fearenside cried, “Lie down!”
They saw the dog’s teeth slip the hand, and bite the stranger’s leg. It all happened in half a minute. No one spoke, every one shouted. The stranger looked swiftly at his torn glove and trousers, then turned and rushed into the inn.
They heard him go to his room.
Hall was also there staring. “He was bitten,” said Hall. “I’d better go and see.” And he went after the stranger.
He met Mrs. Hall in the inn.
“Fearenside’s dog,” he said, “bit him.”
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