TheJudgewasseatedinagreathigh-backedcarvedoakchair, ontheright-handsideofagreatstonefireplacewhere, inthecorner, aropehungdownfromtheceiling, , Malcolmsonrecognizedthesceneoftheroomasitstood, —andwithaloudcryheletthelampfallfromhishand.
There, intheJudge'sarm-chair, withtheropehangingbehind, sattheratwiththeJudge'sbalefuleyes, .
, , , hewipedhisbrowandthoughtforamoment.
"Thiswillnotdo," hesaidtohimself."!, hewasprettyright!, itisallrightnow, andIshallnotbesuchafoolagain."
Thenhemixedhimselfagoodstiffglassofbrandyandwaterandresolutelysatdowntohiswork.
Itwasnearlyanhourwhenhelookedupfromhisbook, , thewindhowledandroaredlouderthanever, andtheraindroveinsheetsagainstthewindows, beatinglikehailontheglass;butwithintherewasnosoundwhateversavetheechoofthewindasitroaredinthegreatchimney, , , andpresentlyheardathin, squeakingnoise, , , however, —, andtheseveredendoftheropefellclatteringontheoakenfloor, whilstforaninstantthegreatratremainedlikeaknobortasselattheendoftherope, , butanintenseangertookitsplace, , , , anddeterminedthenandtheretovarythemonotonyoftheproceedingsbyahuntfortherat, , andinthenewfloodoflight, greatbycomparisonwiththepreviousdarkness, , , andthenagreatfearbegantocomeuponhim.
Inthecentreofthepicturewasagreatirregularpatchofbrowncanvas, , withchairandchimney-cornerandrope, butthefigureoftheJudgehaddisappeared.
Malcolmson, almostinachillofhorror, turnedslowlyround, , andhewasincapableofactionormovement, .
