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sake！ The man's not asleep … he is dead！'
'You have found that out sooner than I thought you would；' said the
landlord； composedly。 'Yes； he's dead； sure enough。 He died at
five o'clock to…day。'
'How did he die？ Who is he？' asked Arthur； staggered； for a
moment； by the audacious coolness of the answer。
'As to who is he；' rejoined the landlord； 'I know no more about him
than you do。 There are his books and letters and things； all
sealed up in that brown…paper parcel； for the Coroner's inquest to
open to…morrow or next day。 He's been here a week； paying his way
fairly enough； and stopping in…doors； for the most part； as if he
was ailing。 My girl brought him up his tea at five to…day； and as
he was pouring of it out； he fell down in a faint； or a fit； or a
compound of both； for anything I know。 We could not bring him to …
and I said he was dead。 And the doctor couldn't bring him to … and
the doctor said he was dead。 And there he is。 And the Coroner's
inquest's coming as soon as it can。 And that's as much as I know
about it。'
Arthur held the candle close to the man's lips。 The flame still
burnt straight up； as steadily as before。 There was a moment of
silence； and the rain pattered drearily through it against the
panes of the window。
'If you haven't got nothing more to say to me；' continued the
landlord； 'I suppose I may go。 You don't expect your five
shillings back； do you？ There's the bed I promised you； clean and
comfortable。 There's the man I warranted not to disturb you； quiet
in this world for ever。 If you're frightened to stop alone with
him； that's not my look out。 I've kept my part of the bargain； and
I mean to keep the money。 I'm not Yorkshire； myself； young
gentleman； but I've lived long enough in these parts to have my
wits sharpened； and I shouldn't wonder if you found out the way to
brighten up yours； next time you come amongst us。' With these
words； the landlord turned towards the door； and laughed to himself
softly； in high satisfaction at his own sharpness。
Startled and shocked as he was； Arthur had by this time
sufficiently recovered himself to feel indignant at the trick that
had been played on him； and at the insolent manner in which the
landlord exulted in it。
'Don't laugh；' he said sharply； 'till you are quite sure you have
got the laugh against me。 You shan't have the five shillings for
nothing； my man。 I'll keep the bed。'
'Will you？' said the landlord。 'Then I wish you a goodnight's
rest。' With that brief farewell； he went out； and shut the door
after him。
A good night's rest！ The words had hardly been spoken； the door
had hardly been closed； before Arthur half…repented the hasty words
that had just escaped him。 Though not naturally over…sensitive；
and not wanting in courage of the moral as well as the physical
sort； the presence of the dead man had an instantaneously chilling
effect on his mind when he found himself alone in the room … alone；
and bound by his own rash words to stay there till the next
morning。 An older man would have thought nothing of those words；
and would have acted； without reference to them； as his calmer
sense suggested。 But Arthur was too young to treat the ridicule；
even of his inferiors； with contempt … too young not to fear the
momentary humiliation of falsifying his own foolish boast； more
than he feared the trial of watching out the long night in the same
chamber with the dead。
'It is but a few hours；' he thought to himself； 'and I can get away
the first thing in the morning。'
He was looking towards the occupied bed as that idea passed through
his mind； and the sharp； angular eminence made in the clothes by
the dead man's upturned feet again caught his eye。 He advanced and
drew the curtains； purposely abstaining； as he did so； from looking
at the face of the corpse； lest he might unnerve himself at the
outset by fastening some ghastly impression of it on his mind。 He
drew the curtain very gently； and sighed involuntarily as he closed
it。 'Poor fellow；' he said； almost as sadly as if he had known the
man。 'Ah； poor fellow！'
He went next to the window。 The night was black； and he could see
nothing from it。 The rain still pattered heavily against the
glass。 He inferred； from hearing it； that the window was at the
back of the house； remembering that the front was sheltered from
the weather by the court and the buildings over it。
While he was still standing at the window … for even the dreary
rain was a relief； because of the sound it made； a relief； also；
because it moved； and had some faint suggestion； in consequence； of
life and companionship in it … while he was standing at the window；
and looking vacantly into the black darkness outside； he heard a
distant church…clock strike ten。 Only ten！ How was he to pass the
time till the house was astir the next morning？
Under any other circumstances； he would have gone down to the
public…house parlour； would have called for his grog； and would
have laughed and talked with the company assembled as familiarly as
if he had known them all his life。 But the very thought of whiling
away the time in this manner was distasteful to him。 The new
situation in which he was placed seemed to have altered him to
himself already。 Thus far； his life had been the common； trifling；
prosaic； surface…life of a prosperous young man； with no troubles
to conquer； and no trials to face。 He had lost no relation whom he
loved； no friend whom he treasured。 Till this night； what share he
had of the immortal inheritance that is divided amongst us all； had
laid dormant within him。 Till this night； Death and he had not
once met； even in thought。
He took a few turns up and down the room … then stopped。 The noise
made by his boots on the poorly carpeted floor； jarred on his ear。
He hesitated a little； and ended by taking the boots off； and
walking backwards and forwards noiselessly。 All desire to sleep or
to rest had left him。 The bare thought of lying down on the
unoccupied bed instantly drew the picture on his mind of a dreadful
mimicry of the position of the dead man。 Who was he？ What was the
story of his past life？ Poor he must have been； or he would not
have stopped at such a place as The Two Robins Inn … and weakened；
probably； by long illness； or he could hardly have died in the
manner in which the landlord had described。 Poor； ill； lonely； …
dead in a strange place； dead； with nobody but a stranger to pity
him。 A sad story： truly； on the mere face of it； a very sad
story。
While these thoughts were passing through his mind； he had stopped
insensibly at the window； close to which stood the foot of the bed
with the closed curtains。 At first he looked at it absently； then
he became conscious that his eyes were fixed on it； and then； a
perverse desire took possession of him to do the very thing which
he had resolved not t