He slept heavily but uneasily, and he had unpleasant dreams. Then Mrs Dempster woke him as usual with a cup of tea, and he felt better. But his first request to her surprised the old servant very much. `Mrs Dempster, while I'm out today, will you please dust or wash those pictures − particularly the third one from the fireplace. I want to see what they are.'
Ghost Stories
5 10
Again Moore spent most of the day studying happily in the park. On his way home he again visited Mrs Wood at the hotel. She had a visitor with her in her comfortable sitting−room. `Sir,' said the landlady, `this is Doctor Thornhill.' As soon as she had introduced them, the doctor began to ask Moore a great many questions. `I'm sure,' said Moore to himself, `that the good doctor did not call here by accident.' He turned to Doctor Thornhill. `Doctor, I'll gladly answer all your questions, if you'll just answer one of mine.' The doctor seemed surprised, but he agreed at once. `Did Mrs Wood ask you to come here and advise me?' asked Moore. The doctor looked surprised. Mrs Wood's face turned very red and she looked away. But the doctor was an honest, friendly man, and he answered quickly, `She did, but she didn't want you to know. She's worried about you. She, doesn't like you staying there all alone, and she thinks you study too hard and drink too much strong tea. She asked me to give you some good advice. I was once a student too, you know, so I know what I'm talking about.' Moore smiled and held out his hand to Doctor Thornhill. `I must thank you for your kindness − and you too, Mrs Wood. I promise to take no more strong tea, and I'll be in bed by one o'clock. There, will that please you both?' `Very much,' said Doctor Thornhill. `Now tell us all about that old house.' Moore told them all about the events of the previous nights. When he told them how he had thrown the Bible, Mrs Wood gave a little scream. When Moore had finished his story, Doctor Thornhill looked very serious. `The rat always ran up the rope of the alarm bell?' he asked. `Always.' `I suppose you know,' said the doctor, `what the rope is?' `No, I don't,' said Moore. `It is the hangman's rope,' said the doctor. `After the judge condemned someone to death, the unfortunate man was hanged with that rope.' Mrs Wood gave another scream. The doctor went to fetch her a glass of water. When he returned, he looked hard at Moore. `Listen, young man,' he said. `If anything happens to you tonight, don't hesitate to ring the alarm bell. I shall be working quite late tonight too, and I'll keep my ears open. Now don't forget!' Moore laughed. `I'm sure I shan't need to do that!' he said, and went home for his dinner. `I don't like that young man's story,' said Doctor Thornhill after Moore had left. `Perhaps he imagined most of it. All the same, I'll listen tonight for the alarm bell. Perhaps we'll reach him in time to help him.'