When Mrs. Witham was herself again she almost assailed the Doctor with
angry questions as to what he meant by putting such horrible ideas into
the poor young man's mind. 'He has quite enough there already to upset
him,' she added. Dr. Thornhill replied:

'My dear madam, I had a distinct purpose in it! I wanted to draw his
attention to the bell rope, and to fix it there. It may be that he is in
a highly overwrought state, and has been studying too much, although I
am bound to say that he seems as sound and healthy a young man, mentally
and bodily, as ever I saw--but then the rats--and that suggestion of the
devil.' The doctor shook his head and went on. 'I would have offered to
go and stay the first night with him but that I felt sure it would have
been a cause of offence. He may get in the night some strange fright or
hallucination; and if he does I want him to pull that rope. All alone as
he is it will give us warning, and we may reach him in time to be of
service. I shall be sitting up pretty late tonight and shall keep my
ears open. Do not be alarmed if Benchurch gets a surprise before
morning.'

'Oh, Doctor, what do you mean? What do you mean?'

'I mean this; that possibly--nay, more probably--we shall hear the great
alarm bell from the Judge's House tonight,' and the Doctor made about as
effective an exit as could be thought of.

When Malcolmson arrived home he found that it was a little after his
usual time, and Mrs. Dempster had gone away--the rules of Greenhow's
Charity were not to be neglected. He was glad to see that the place was
bright and tidy with a cheerful fire and a well-trimmed lamp. The