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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 supposed
that I should put myself out in a matter which in no way concerned
me。 If Tress chose to poison the man； it was his affair； not mine。
He went to the door and shouted：
〃Bob！ Come here； you scoundrel！〃
That is the way in which he speaks to him。 No really decent
servant would stand it。 I shouldn't care to address Nalder； my
servant； in such a way。 He would give me notice on the spot。 Bob
came in。 He is a great hulking fellow who is always on the grin。
Tress had a decanter of brandy in his hand。 He filled a tumbler
with the neat spirit。
〃Bob； what would you say to a glassful of brandythe real thing
my boy？〃
〃Thank you； sir。〃
〃And what would you say to a pull at a pipe when the brandy is
drunk！〃
〃A pipe？〃 The fellow is sharp enough when he likes。 I saw him
look at the pipe upon the table； and then at us； and then a gleam
of intelligence came into his eyes。 〃I'd do it for a dollar； sir。〃
〃A dollar； you thief？〃
〃I meant ten shillings； sir。〃
〃Ten shillings； you brazen vagabond？〃
〃I should have said a pound。〃
〃A pound！ Was ever the like of that！ Do I understand you to ask a
pound for taking a pull at your master's pipe？〃
〃I'm thinking that I'll have to make it two。〃
〃The deuce you are！ Here； Pugh； lend me a pound。〃
〃I'm afraid I've left my purse behind。〃
〃Then lend me ten shillingsAnanias！〃
〃I doubt if I have more than five。〃
〃Then give me the five。 And； Brasher； lend me the other fifteen。〃
Brasher lent him the fifteen。 I doubt if we shall either of us
ever see our money again。 He handed the pound to Bob。
〃Here's the brandydrink it up！〃 Bob drank it without a word；
draining the glass of every drop。 〃And here's the pipe。〃
〃Is it poisoned； sir？〃
〃Poisoned； you villain！ What do you mean？〃
〃It isn't the first time I've seen your tricks； siris it now？
And you're not the one to give a pound for nothing at all。 If it
kills me you'll send my body to my mothershe'd like to know that
I was dead。〃
〃Send your body to your grandmother！ You idiot； sit down and
smoke！〃
Bob sat down。 Tress had filled the pipe； and handed it； with a
lighted match； to Bob。 The fellow declined the match。 He handled
the pipe very gingerly； turning it over and over； eying it with all
his eyes。
〃Thank you； sirI'll light up myself if it's the same to you。 I
carry matches of my own。 It's a beautiful pipe； entirely。 I never
see the like of it for ugliness。 And what's the slimy…looking
varmint that looks as though it would like to have my life？ Is it
living； or is it dead？〃
〃Come； we don't want to sit here all day； my man！〃
〃Well； sir； the look of this here pipe has quite upset my stomach。
I'd like another drop of liquor； if it's the same to you。〃
〃Another drop！ Why； you've had a tumblerful already！ Here's
another tumblerful to put on top of that。 You won't want the pipe
to kill youyou'll be killed before you get to it。〃
〃And isn't it better to die a natural death？〃
Bob emptied the second tumbler of brandy as though it were water。
I believe he would empty a hogshead without turning a hair！ Then
he gave another look at the pipe。 Then； taking a match from his
waistcoat pocket； he drew a long breath； as though he were
resigning himself to fate。 Striking the match on the seat of his
trousers； while； shaded by his hand； the flame was gathering
strength； he looked at each of us in turn。 When he looked at Tress
I distinctly saw him wink his eye。 What my feelings would have
been if a servant of mine had winked his eye at me I am unable to
imagine！ The match was applied to the tobacco； a puff of smoke
came through his lipsthe pipe was alight！
During this process of lighting the pipe we had satI do not wish
to use exaggerated language； but we had sat and watched that
alcoholic scamp's proceedings as though we were witnessing an
action which would leave its mark upon the age。 When we saw the
pipe was lighted we gave a simultaneous start。 Brasher put his
hands under his coat tails and gave a kind of hop。 I raised myself
a good six inches from my chair； and Tress rubbed his palms
together with a chuckle。 Bob alone was calm。
〃Now；〃 cried Tress； 〃you'll see the devil moving。〃
Bob took the pipe from between his lips。
〃See what？〃 he said。
〃Bob； you rascal； put that pipe back into your mouth； and smoke it
for your life！〃
Bob was eying the pipe askance。
〃I dare say； but what I want to know is whether this here varmint's
dead or whether he isn't。 I don't want to have him flying at my
noseand he looks vicious enough for anything。〃
〃Give me back that pound； you thief； and get out of my house； and
bundle。〃
〃I ain't going to give you back no pound。〃
〃Then smoke that pipe！〃
〃I am smoking it； ain't I？〃
With the utmost deliberation Bob returned the pipe to his mouth。
He emitted another whiff or two of smoke。
〃Nownow！〃 cried Tress； all excitement； and wagging his hand in
the air。
We gathered round。 As we did so Bob again withdrew the pipe。
〃What is the meaning of all this here？ I ain't going to have you
playing none of your larks on me。 I know there's something up； but
I ain't going to throw my life away for twenty shillingsnot quite
I ain't。〃
Tress； whose temper is not at any time one of the best； was seized
with quite a spasm of rage。
〃As I live； my lad； if you try to cheat me by taking that pipe from
between your lips until I tell you； you leave this room that
instant； never again to be a servant of mine。〃
I presume the fellow knew from long experience when his master
meant what he said； and when he didn't。 Without an attempt at
remonstrance he replaced the pipe。 He continued stolidly to puff
away。 Tress caught me by the arm。
〃What did I tell you？ Therethere！ That tentacle is moving。〃
The uplifted tentacle WAS moving。 It was doing what I had seen it
do； as I supposed； in my distorted imaginationit was reaching
forward。 Undoubtedly Bob saw what it was doing； but； whether in
obedience to his master's commands； or whether because the drug was
already beginning to take effect； he made no movement to withdraw
the pipe。 He watched the slowly advancing tentacle； coming closer
and closer toward his nose； with an expression of such intense
horror on his countenance that it became quite shocking。 Farther
and farther the creature reached forward； until on a sudden； with a
sort of jerk； the movement assumed a downward direction； and the
tentacle was slowly lowered until the tip rested on the stem of the
pipe。 For a moment the creature remained motionless。 I was
quieting my nerves with the reflection that this thing was but some
trick of the carver's art； and th