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I looked at Tress。 I half suspected that he was poking fun at us。
But he appeared to be serious enough。
〃In these matters；〃 remarked Brasher； as though he were giving
utterance to a new and important truth； 〃there is a scientific and
nonscientific method of inquiry。 The scientific method is to begin
at the beginning。 May I ask how this pipe came into your
possession？〃
Tress paused before he answered。
〃You may ask。〃 He paused again。 〃Oh； you certainly may ask。 But
it doesn't follow that I shall tell you。〃
〃Surely your object； like ours； can be but the Spreading About of
the Truth？〃
〃I don't see it at all。 It is possible to imagine a case in which
the spreading about of the truth might make me look a little
awkward。〃
〃Indeed！〃 Brasher pursed up his lips。 〃Your words would almost
lead one to suppose that there was something about your method of
acquiring the pipe which you have good and weighty reasons for
concealing。〃
〃I don't know why I should conceal the thing from you。 I don't
suppose either of you is any better than I am。 I don't mind
telling you how I got the pipe。 I stole it。〃
〃Stole it！〃
Brasher seemed both amazed and shocked。 But I； who had previous
experience of Tress's methods of adding to his collection； was not
at all surprised。 Some of the pipes which he calls his； if only
the whole truth about them were publicly known； would send him to
jail。
〃That's nothing！〃 he continued。 〃All collectors steal！ The eighth
commandment was not intended to apply to them。 Why； Pugh there has
'conveyed' three fourths of the pipes which he flatters himself are
his。〃
I was so dumfoundered by the charge that it took my breath away。 I
sat in astounded silence。 Tress went raving on：
〃I was so shy of this particular pipe when I had obtained it； that
I put it away for quite three months。 When I took it out to have a
look at it something about the thing so tickled me that I resolved
to smoke it。 Owing to peculiar circumstances attending the manner
in which the thing came into my possession； and on which I need not
dwellyou don't like to dwell on those sort of things； do you；
Pugh？I knew really nothing about the pipe。 As was the case with
Pugh； one peculiarity I learned from actual experience。 It was
also from actual experience that I learned that the thing was
well； I said haunted； but you may use any other word you like。〃
〃Tell us； as briefly as possible； what it was you really did
discover。〃
〃Take the pipe out of the box！〃 Brasher took the pipe out of the
box and held it in his hand。 〃You see that creature on it。 Well；
when I first had it it was underneath the pipe。〃
〃How do you mean that it was underneath the pipe？〃
〃It was bunched together underneath the stem； just at the end of
the mouthpiece； in the same way in which a fly might be suspended
from the ceiling。 When I began to smoke the pipe I saw the
creature move。〃
〃But I thought that unconsciousness immediately followed。〃
〃It did follow； but not before I saw that the thing was moving。 It
was because I thought that I had been； in a way； a victim of
delirium that I tried the second smoke。 Suspecting that the thing
was drugged I swallowed what I believed would prove a powerful
antidote。 It enabled me to resist the influence of the narcotic
much longer than before； and while I still retained my senses I saw
the creature crawl along under the stem and over the bowl。 It was
that sight； I believe； as much as anything else； which sent me
silly。 When I came to I then and there decided to present the pipe
to Pugh。 There is one more thing I would remark。 When the pipe
left me the creature's legs were twined about the bowl。 Now they
are withdrawn。 Possibly you； Pugh； are able to cap my story with a
little one which is all your own。〃
〃I certainly did imagine that I saw the creature move。 But I
supposed that while I was under the influence of the drug
imagination had played me a trick。〃
〃Not a bit of it！ Depend upon it； the beast is bewitched。 Even to
my eye it looks as though it were； and to a trained eye like yours；
Pugh！ You've been looking for the devil a long time； and you've
got him at last。〃
〃II wish you wouldn't make those remarks； Tress。 They jar on
me。〃
〃I confess；〃 interpolated BrasherI noticed that he had put the
pipe down on the table as though he were tired of holding it
〃that； to MY thinking； such remarks are not appropriate。 At the
same time what you have told us is； I am bound to allow； a little
curious。 But of course what I require is ocular demonstration。 I
haven't seen the movement myself。〃
〃No； but you very soon will do if you care to have a pull at the
pipe on your own account。 Do； Brasher； to oblige me！ There's a
dear！〃
〃It appears； then； that the movement is only observable when the
pipe is smoked。 We have at least arrived at step No。 1。〃
〃Here's a match； Brasher！ Light up； and we shall have arrived at
step No。 2。〃
Tress lit a match and held it out to Brasher。 Brasher retreated
from its neighborhood。
〃Thank you； Mr。 Tress； I am no smoker； as you are aware。 And I
have no desire to acquire the art of smoking by means of a poisoned
pipe。〃
Tress laughed。 He blew out the match and threw it into the grate。
〃Then I tell you what I'll doI'll have up Bob。〃
〃Bobwhy Bob？〃
〃Bob〃whose real name was Robert Haines； though I should think he
must have forgotten the fact； so seldom was he addressed by itwas
Tress's servant。 He had been an old soldier； and had accompanied
his master when he left the service。 He was as depraved a
character as Tress himself。 I am not sure even that he was not
worse than his master。 I shall never forget how he once behaved
toward myself。 He actually had the assurance to accuse me of
attempting to steal the Wardour Street relic which Tress fondly
deludes himself was once the property of Sir Walter Raleigh。 The
truth is that I had slipped it with my handkerchief into my pocket
in a fit of absence of mind。 A man who could accuse ME of such a
thing would be guilty of anything。 I was therefore quite at one
with Brasher when he asked what Bob could possibly be wanted for。
Tress explained。
〃I'll get him to smoke the pipe；〃 he said。
Brasher and I exchanged glances； but we refrained from speech。
〃It won't do him any harm；〃 said Tress。
〃Whatnot a poisoned pipe？〃 asked Brasher。
〃It's not poisonedit's only drugged。〃
〃ONLY drugged！〃
〃Nothing hurts Bob。 He is like an ostrich。 He has digestive
organs which are peculiarly his own。 It will only serve him as it
served meand Pughit will knock him over。 It is all done in the
Pursuit of Truth and for the Advancement of Inquiry。〃
I could see that Brasher did not altogether like the tone in which
Tress repeated his words。 As for me； it was not to be suppose