Portrait of a Man with Red Hair: A Romantic Macabre

by Hugh Walpole

With sudden agony in his voice, as a man cries in a terrible dream, Harkness shouted:

"Out, Dunbar! Back! Back! Run for your life!"

But it was too late.

That voice of exquisite melody greeted them:

"I had no idea that of your own free will you would return. My son only a quarter of an hour ago departed in search of you. I welcome you back."

[PART IV: THE TOWER]

I

With an instinctive movement both Harkness and Dunbar closed in upon Hesther.

The three stood just in front of the heavy locked door facing the dim hall. On the bottom stair was Crispin Senior, and on the floor below him, one on either side, the two Japanese servants.

A glittering candelabrum, hanging high up, was fully lit, but it seemed to give a very feeble illumination, as though the fog had penetrated here also.