Picture Dictionary & Books : Free for English Learner!

Stapleton, as I will continue to call him, knew that the old man's heart was weak and that a shock would kill him.

So much he had learned from Dr. Mortimer.

He had heard also that Sir Charles was superstitious and had taken this grim legend very seriously.

His ingenious mind instantly suggested a way by which the baronet could be done to death, and yet it would be hardly possible to bring home the guilt to the real murderer.

"Having conceived the idea he proceeded to carry it out with considerable finesse.

An ordinary schemer would have been content to work with a savage hound.

The use of artificial means to make the creature diabolical was a flash of genius upon his part.

The dog he bought in London from Ross and Mangles, the dealers in Fulham Road.

It was the strongest and most savage in their possession.

He brought it down by the North Devon line and walked a great distance over the moor so as to get it home without exciting any remarks.

He had already on his insect hunts learned to penetrate the Grimpen Mire, and so had found a safe hiding-place for the creature.

Here he kennelled it and waited his chance.

"But it was some time coming.

The old gentleman could not be decoyed outside of his grounds at night.

Several times Stapleton lurked about with his hound, but without avail.

It was during these fruitless quests that he, or rather his ally, was seen by peasants, and that the legend of the demon dog received a new confirmation.

He had hoped that his wife might lure Sir Charles to his ruin, but here she proved unexpectedly independent.

She would not endeavour to entangle the old gentleman in a sentimental attachment which might deliver him over to his enemy.

Threats and even, I am sorry to say, blows refused to move her.

She would have nothing to do with it, and for a time Stapleton was at a deadlock.

"He found a way out of his difficulties through the chance that Sir Charles, who had conceived a friendship for him, made him the minister of his charity in the case of this unfortunate woman, Mrs. Laura Lyons.

By representing himself as a single man he acquired complete influence over her, and he gave her to understand that in the event of her obtaining a divorce from her husband he would marry her.

His plans were suddenly brought to a head by his knowledge that Sir Charles was about to leave the Hall on the advice of Dr. Mortimer, with whose opinion he himself pretended to coincide.

He must act at once, or his victim might get beyond his power.

He therefore put pressure upon Mrs. Lyons to write this letter, imploring the old man to give her an interview on the evening before his departure for London.

Table of Contents