Before any of us were quite ready to speak, a tap at the door told
us that Durbin had arrived with Mr. Jeffrey. When they had been
admitted and the latter saw Miss Tuttle standing there, he, too,
seemed to realize that a turn had come in their affairs, and that
courage rather than endurance was the quality most demanded from
him. Facing the small group clustered in the dismal hall fraught
with such unutterable associations, he earnestly prayed:
"Do not keep me in suspense. Why am I summoned here?"
The reply was as grave as the occasion warranted.
"You are summoned to learn the murderous secret of these old walls,
and who it was that last made use of it. Do you feel inclined to
hear these details from my lips, or are you ready to state that you
already know the means by which so many persons, in times past as
well as in times present, have met death here? We do not require
you to answer us."
"I know the means," he allowed, recognizing without doubt that the
crisis of crises had come, and that denial would be worse than
useless.
"Then it only remains for us to acquaint you with the identity of
the person who last pressed the fatal spring. But perhaps you know
that, too?"
"I - " He paused; words were impossible to him; and in that pause
his eyes flashed helplessly in the direction of Miss Tuttle.
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