"In this mansion," said Sir Francis Varney--"for a mansion it is,
although under the unpretending name of a lodge--in this mansion there
is a large apartment which was originally fitted up by a scientific
proprietor of the place, for the purpose of microscopic and other
experiments, which required a darkness total and complete, such a
darkness as seems as if it could be felt--palpable, thick, and obscure
as the darkness of the tomb, and I know what that is." "The devil you do!" said this admiral "It's damp, too, ain't it?" "The room?" "No; the grave." "Oh! uncommonly, after autumnal rains. But to resume--this room is
large, lofty, and perfectly empty." "Well?" "I propose that we procure two scythes." "Two what?" "Scythes, with their long handles, and their convenient holding places." "Well, I'll be hanged! What next do you propose?" "You may be hanged. The next is, that with these scythes we be both of
us placed in the darkened room, and the door closed, and doubly locked
upon us for one hour, and that then and there we do our best each to cut
the other in two. If you succeed in dismembering me, you will have won
the day; but I hope, from my superior agility"--here Sir Francis jumped
upon his chair, and sat upon the back of it--"to get the better of you. How do you like the plan I have proposed? Does it meet your wishes?" "Curse your impudence!" said the admiral, placing his elbows upon the
table and resting his chin in astonishment upon his two hands. "Nay," interrupted Sir Francis, "you challenged me; and, besides, you'll
have an equal chance, you know that. If you succeed in striking me
first, down I go; whereas it I succeed in striking you first, down you
go." As he spoke, Sir Francis Varney stretched out his foot, and closed a
small bracket which held out the flap of the table on which the admiral
was leaning, and, accordingly, down the admiral went, tea-tray and all. Mr. Chillingworth ran to help him up, and, when they both recovered
their feet, they found they were alone. CHAPTER LXI. THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER.--THE PARTICULARS OF THE SUICIDE AT BANNERWORTH
HALL. [Illustration]

"Hilloa where the deuce is he?" said the admiral. "Was there ever such a
confounded take-in?" "Well, I really don't know," said Mr. Chillingworth; "but it seems to me
that he must have gone out of that door that was behind him: I begin, do
you know, admiral, to wish--"

"What?" "That we had never come here at all; and I think the sooner we get out
of it the better." "Yes; but I am not going to be hoaxed and humbugged in this way. I will
have satisfaction, but not with those confounded scythes and things he
talks about in the dark room. Give me broad daylight and no favour;
yardarm and yardarm; broadside and broadside; hand-grenades and
marling-spikes." "Well, but that's what he won't do. Now, admiral, listen to me." "Well, go on; what next?" "Come away at once." "Oh, you said that before." "Yes; but I'm going to say something else. Look round you. Don't you
think this a large, scientific-looking room?" "What of that?" "Why, what if suppose it was to become as dark as the grave, and Varney
was to enter with his scythe, that he talks of, and begin mowing about
our legs." "The devil! Come along!" The door at which they entered was at this moment opened, and the old
woman made her appearance. "Please, sir," she said, "here's a Mr. Mortimer," in a loud voice. "Oh,
Sir Francis ain't here! Where's he gone, gentlemen?" "To the devil!" said the admiral. "Who may Mr. Mortimer be?" There walked past the woman a stout, portly-looking man, well dressed,
but with a very odd look upon his face, in consequence of an obliquity
of vision, which prevented the possibility of knowing which way he was
looking. "I must see him," he said; "I must see him." Mr. Chillingworth started back as if in amazement. "Good God!" he cried, "you here!" "Confusion!" said Mortimer; "are you Dr.---- Dr.----"


"The same. Hush! there is no occasion to betray--that is, to state my
secret." "And mine, too," said Chillingworth. "But what brings you here?" "I cannot and dare not tell you. Farewell!" He turned abruptly, and was leaving the room; but he ran against some
one at the entrance, and in another moment Henry Bannerworth, heated and
almost breathless by evident haste, made his appearance. "Hilloa! bravo!" cried the admiral; "the more the merrier! Here's a
combined squadron! Why, how came you here, Mr. Henry Bannerworth?" "Bannerworth!" said Mortimer; "is that young man's name Bannerworth?" "Yes," said Henry. "Do you know me, sir?" "No, no; only I--I--must be off. Does anybody know anything of Sir
Francis Varney?" "We did know something of him," said the admiral, "a little while ago;
but he's taken himself off. Don't you do so likewise. If you've got
anything to say, stop and say it, like an Englishman." "Stuff! stuff!" said Mortimer, impatiently. "What do you all want here?" "Why, Sir Francis Varney," said Henry,--"and I care not if the whole
world heard it--is the persecutor of my family." "How? in what way?" "He has the reputation of a vampyre; he has hunted me and mine from
house and home." "Indeed!" "Yes," cried Dr. Chillingworth; "and, by some means or another, he seems
determined to get possession of Bannerworth Hall." "Well, gentlemen," said Mortimer, "I promise you that I will inquire
into this. Mr. Chillingworth, I did not expect to meet you. Perhaps the
least we say to each other is, after all, the better." "Let me ask but one question," said Dr. Chillingworth, imploringly. "Ask it." "Did he live after--"

"Hush! he did." "You always told me to the contrary." "Yes; I had an object; the game is up. Farewell; and, gentlemen, as I am
making my exit, let me do so with a sentiment:--Society at large is
divided into two great classes." "And what may they be?" said the admiral. "Those who have been hanged, and those who have not. Adieu!" He turned and left the room; and Mr. Chillingworth sunk into a chair,
and said, in a low voice,--

"It's uncommonly true; and I've found out an acquaintance among the
former." "-D--n it! you seem all mad," said the admiral. "I can't make out what
you are about. How came you here, Mr. Henry Bannerworth?" "By mere accident I heard," said Henry, "that you were keeping watch and
ward in the Hall. Admiral, it was cruel, and not well done of you, to
attempt such an enterprise without acquainting me with it. Did you
suppose for a moment that I, who had the greatest interest in this
affair, would have shrunk from danger, if danger there be; or lacked
perseverance, if that quality were necessary in carrying out any plan by
which the safety and honour of my family might be preserved?" "Nay, now, my young friend," said Mr. Chillingworth. "Nay, sir; but I take it ill that I should have been kept out of this
affair; and it should have been sedulously, as it were, kept a secret
from me." "Let him go on as he likes," said the admiral; "boys will be boys.