, therawmaterialoftheanatomistskeptperpetuallyrunningout;andthebusinessthusrenderednecessarywasnotonlyunpleasantinitself, ."Theybringthebody, andwepaytheprice," heusedtosay, dwellingonthealliteration—"QUIDPROQUO".And, again, andsomewhatprofanely, "Asknoquestions," hewouldtellhisassistants, "forconscience'." Hadthatideabeenbroachedtohiminwords, hewouldhaverecoiledinhorror;butthelightnessofhisspeechuponsograveamatterwas, initself, anoffenceagainstgoodmanners, , forinstance, -dog, abominablelooksoftheruffianswhocametohimbeforethedawn;andputtingthingstogetherclearlyinhisprivatethoughts, , inshort, tohavethreebranches:totakewhatwasbrought, topaytheprice, andtoaverttheeyefromanyevidenceofcrime.
—pacinghisroomlikeacagedbeastorthrowinghimselfinfuryonhisbed—andhadfallenatlastintothatprofound, uneasyslumberthatsooftenfollowsonanightofpain, , brightmoonshine;itwasbittercold, windy, andfrosty;thetownhadnotyetawakened, , , sickwithsleep, ;andastheystrippedthesackfromtheirsadmerchandiseheleaneddozing, withhisshoulderproppedagainstthewall;;hetooktwostepsnearer, withthecandleraised.
"GodAlmighty!" hecried."ThatisJaneGalbraith!"
Themenanswerednothing, buttheyshufflednearerthedoor.
"Iknowher, Itellyou," hecontinued."'simpossibleshecanbedead;it'simpossibleyoushouldhavegotthisbodyfairly."
"Sure, sir, you'remistakenentirely," saidoneofthemen.
ButtheotherlookedFettesdarklyintheeyes, anddemandedthemoneyonthespot.
