Chapter 23: Pepper

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​⁠I was seated in my chair, back again in this old study. My glance wandered 'round the room. For a minute, it had a strange, quivery appearance—unreal and unsubstantial. This disappeared, and I saw that nothing was altered in any way. I looked toward the end window—the blind was up.

I rose to my feet, shakily. As I did so, a slight noise, in the direction of the door, attracted my attention. I glanc