ARTHUR
49

I continued, at a fairly large rate, at random. Finally I came to a spacious building on the Fourth Street, which was shown by the signboard to me as an inn. I knock on the door hard and often. Finally a woman opened the second-floor window, and, in an annoyed tone, demanded what I wanted. I told him I wanted to stay.

"Go hunt for it somewhere else," he said; "You won't find it here." I began to argue; but he closed the window quickly, and left me in my own shadow.

Now I am beginning to feel a bit of regret for the journey I have taken. Never, in the depths of a cave or a forest, was I equally aware of loneliness. I was surrounded by human habitation; but I was a poor colleague or friend. I have money, but a horse shelter, or a piece of food, cannot be bought. I came with the goal of relieving others, but I myself needed it most. Even in health my condition was helpless and sad; but what would happen to me if this fatal disease were to catch on? Hoping that asylum would be granted to the sick, who were rejected for a healthy person, is absurd.

The first impulse that flows from this reflection is to rush back to Malverton; which, with enough perseverance, I might hope to get back before the morning light. I could not, I thought, return to my steps at too high a speed. I was encouraged to run away, as if the pest was invading me and could only be avoided with the fastest flight.

This impulse is quickly countered by new ideas. I thought with anger and shame over the stupidity of my process. I call pictures of Susan Hadwin, and Wallace. I revisit the motives that led me on this journey. Time did not reduce their strength. Indeed, I almost came to the achievement of what I meant. A few steps will lead me to Thetford's residence. This may be a critical time when help is most needed and most efficacious.

I had previously decided to postpone going there until the next morning; but why should I allow myself to delay for a moment? At least I was able to get a view of the outdoors, and circumstances might arise that would relieve me of the obligation to stay an hour longer in the city. Everything I came to could be done; the fate of Wallace was ascertained; and I was once again safe within the Malverton area before the day returned.

I immediately directed my steps towards Thetford's residence. Trains carrying the dead are often found. Several passengers also occurred, whose hasty and agitated steps indicated their participation in the mutual distress. The house I was looking for quickly appeared. The light from the upper window indicates that it is still inhabited.

I paused for a moment to ponder in what way I should continue. To ensure the whereabouts and condition of Wallace is the purpose of my trip. He has inhabited this house; and whether he remains in it must now be known. I felt disgusted to enter, because my safety might, by entering, become unconscious and threatened in vain. Most of the neighbors' houses looked deserted. In some there are various signs of people being inside. May I not ask, in any of these, about the condition of the Thetford family? Yet why should I bother them with such disrespectful questions at this inopportune hour? Knocking on Thetford's door, and asking my question to him who had to obey the signal, was the obvious method.

I contemplate the causes that might hinder my call to be obeyed. I thought of nothing but the helplessness of disease, or the insensitivity of death. These images only urge me to persevere in an attempt to gain recognition. Without weighing the consequences of my actions, I unknowingly lifted the hook. The door gave up on my hand, and I put my foot inside the hallway.

Once again I stopped. The passage was quite wide, and at the end I saw a light like from a lamp or a candle. It pushed me forward, until I reached the foot of the stairs. A candle stands on the bottom of the stairs.

This is new evidence that the house is not deserted. I hit my heels to the floor with some violence; but this, like my previous signal, went unnoticed. Having walked this far, it makes no sense to retire with my goals unaffected . Taking the candle in my hand, I opened the door close . It leads to a spacious living room, equipped with luxury and grandeur. I walked to and fro, staring at things that presented themselves; and, engaged in confusion, I knocked with my heels harder than ever; but no less effectively.

Regardless of the lights I saw, it was possible that the house was uninhabited. This I decided to make sure, by proceeding to the room I had observed, from the outside, to be illuminated. This room, as far as the comparison of circumstances allowed me to decide, I believed the same where I had passed the first night of my late stay in the city. Now it was me, for the second time, in almost equal ignorance of my situation, and the consequences to come, exploring my path to the same recess.

I put up the stairs. As I approached the door I was looking for, a steam, infectious and deadly, invaded my senses. It doesn't resemble anything I previously thought made sense. Many smells have met, even since my arrival in the city, less supportive than this. It seems I don't smell much more than taste the elements that now surround me. I felt as if I had inhaled a poisonous and delicate liquid, whose strength instantly made my stomach lose all strength. Some fatal influences seemed to overwhelm my vitals, and the work of corrosion and decomposition was about to begin.

I put up the stairs. As I approached the door I was looking for, a steam, infectious and deadly, invaded my senses. It doesn't resemble anything I previously thought made sense. Many smells have met, even since my arrival in the city, less supportive than this. It seems I don't smell much more than taste the elements that now surround me. I felt as if I had inhaled a poisonous and delicate liquid, whose strength instantly made my stomach lose all strength. Some fatal influences seemed to overwhelm my vitals, and the work of corrosion and decomposition was about to begin.

I put up the stairs. As I approached the door I was looking for, a steam, infectious and deadly, invaded my senses. It doesn't resemble anything I previously thought made sense. Many smells have met, even since my arrival in the city, less supportive than this. It seems I don't smell much more than taste the elements that now surround me. I felt as if I had inhaled a poisonous and delicate liquid, whose strength instantly made my stomach lose all strength. Some fatal influences seemed to overwhelm my vitals, and the work of corrosion and decomposition was about to begin.