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'The quietest man I ever came across；' said the landlord； rubbing his fat
hands stealthily one over the other。 'As sober as a judge； and as regular
as clock…work in his habits。 It hasn't struck nine； not ten minutes ago；
and he's in his bed already。 I don't know whether that comes up to your
notion of a quiet man： it goes a long way ahead of mine； I can tell you。'
'Is he asleep； do you think？' asked Arthur。
'I know he's asleep；' returned the landlord。 'And what's more； he's
gone off so fast； that I'll warrant you don't wake him。 This way； sir；' said
the landlord； speaking over young Holliday's shoulder； as if he was
addressing some new guest who was approaching the house。
'Here you are；' said Arthur； determined to be beforehand with the
stranger； whoever he might be。 'I'll take the bed。' And he handed the
five shillings to the landlord； who nodded； dropped the money carelessly
into his waistcoat…pocket； and lighted the candle。
'Come up and see the room；' said the host of The Two Robins； leading
the way to the staircase quite briskly； considering how fat he was。
They mounted to the second…floor of the house。 The landlord half
opened a door； fronting the landing； then stopped； and turned round to
Arthur。
'It's a fair bargain； mind； on my side as well as on yours；' he said。
'You give me five shillings； I give you in return a clean； comfortable bed；
and I warrant； beforehand； that you won't be interfered with； or annoyed in
any way； by the man who sleeps in the same room as you。' Saying those
words； he looked hard； for a moment； in young Holliday's face； and then
led the way into the room。
It was larger and cleaner than Arthur had expected it would be。 The
two beds stood parallel with each other … a space of about six feet
intervening between them。 They were both of the same medium size；
and both had the same plain white curtains； made to draw； if necessary； all
round them。 The occupied bed was the bed nearest the window。 The
curtains were all drawn round this； except the half curtain at the bottom；
on the side of the bed farthest from the window。 Arthur saw the feet of
the sleeping man raising the scanty clothes into a sharp little eminence； as
if he was lying flat on his back。 He took the candle； and advanced softly
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to draw the curtain … stopped half…way； and listened for a moment … then
turned to the landlord。
'He's a very quiet sleeper；' said Arthur。
'Yes；' said the landlord； 'very quiet。'
Young Holliday advanced with the candle； and looked in at the man
cautiously。
'How pale he is！' said Arthur。
'Yes；' returned the landlord； 'pale enough； isn't he？'
Arthur looked closer at the man。 The bedclothes were drawn up to
his chin； and they lay perfectly still over the region of his chest。
Surprised and vaguely startled； as he noticed this； Arthur stooped down
closer over the stranger； looked at his ashy； parted lips； listened
breathlessly for an instant； looked again at the strangely still face； and the
motionless lips and chest； and turned round suddenly on the landlord； with
his own cheeks as pale for the moment as the hollow cheeks of the man on
the bed。
'Come here；' he whispered； under his breath。 'Come here； for God's
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。'
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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
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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