One can't get away
from the thing. It--it disturbs me--"
"What paper?" said Lankester, close to the dreamer's ear.
"The _Herald_," said Marsham, impatiently.
"Where is it?"
"In that cabinet by the fire."
"Shall I burn it?"
"Yes--don't bother me!" Evidently he now thought he was speaking to his
valet, and a moan of pain escaped him. Lankester walked over to the
cabinet and opened the top drawer. He saw a folded newspaper lying
within it. After a moment's hesitation he lifted it, and perceived by
the light of the night-lamp that it was the _Herald_ of August 2--the
famous number issued on the morning of Ferrier's death. All the story of
the communicated article and the "Barrington letter" ran through his
mind. He stood debating with himself, shaken by emotion. Then he
deliberately took the paper to the fire, stirred the coals, and, tearing
up the paper, burned it piece by piece.
After it was done he walked back to Marsham's side. "I have burned the
paper," he said, kneeling down by him.
Marsham, who was breathing lightly with occasional twitchings of the
brow, took no notice. But after a minute he said, in a steady yet
thrilling voice:
"Ferrier!"
Silence.
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