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〃Well； if you're not going to blow up； or open； or something； I'll
say good night。〃
I gave the box a final rap with my knuckles and a final shake；
replaced it on the table； put out the gas； and returned to bed。
I was just sinking again into slumber； when that box began again。
It was true that Pugh had purchased the puzzle； but it was evident
that the whole enjoyment of the purchase was destined to be mine。
It was useless to think of sleep while that performance was going
on。 I sat up in bed once more。
〃It strikes me that the puzzle consists in finding out how it is
possible to go to sleep with Pugh's purchase in your bedroom。 This
is far better than the old…fashioned prescription of cats on the
tiles。〃
It struck me the noise was distinctly louder than before； this
applied both to the tick； tick； tick； and the screeching。
〃Possibly；〃 I told myself； as I relighted the gas； 〃the explosion
is to come off this time。〃
I turned to look at the box。 There could be no doubt about it； the
noise was louder。 And； if I could trust my eyes； the box was
movinggiving a series of little jumps。 This might have been an
optical delusion； but it seemed to me that at each tick the box
gave a little bound。 During the screecheswhich sounded more like
the cries of an animal in an agony of pain even than beforeif it
did not tilt itself first on one end； and then on another； I shall
never be willing to trust the evidence of my own eyes again。 And
surely the box had increased in size； I could have sworn not only
that it had increased； but that it was increasing； even as I stood
there looking on。 It had grown； and still was growing； both
broader； and longer； and deeper。 Pugh； of course； would have
attributed it to supernatural agency； there never was a man with
such a nose for a ghost。 I could picture him occupying my
position； shivering in his nightshirt； as he beheld that miracle
taking place before his eyes。 The solution which at once suggested
itself to meand which would NEVER have suggested itself to Pugh！
was that the box was fashioned； as it were； in layers； and that
the ingenious mechanism it contained was forcing the sides at once
both upward and outward。 I took it in my hand。 I could feel
something striking against the bottom of the box； like the tap；
tap； tapping of a tiny hammer。
〃This is a pretty puzzle of Pugh's。 He would say that that is the
tapping of a deathwatch。 For my part I have not much faith in
deathwatches； et hoc genus omne； but it certainly is a curious
tapping； I wonder what is going to happen next？〃
Apparently nothing； except a continuation of those mysterious
sounds。 That the box had increased in size I had； and have； no
doubt whatever。 I should say that it had increased a good inch in
every direction； at least half an inch while I had been looking on。
But while I stood looking its growth was suddenly and perceptibly
stayed； it ceased to move。 Only the noise continued。
〃I wonder how long it will be before anything worth happening does
happen！ I suppose something is going to happen； there can't be all
this to…do for nothing。 If it is anything in the infernal machine
line； and there is going to be an explosion； I might as well be
here to see it。 I think I'll have a pipe。〃
I put on my dressing…gown。 I lit my pipe。 I sat and stared at the
box。 I dare say I sat there for quite twenty minutes when； as
before； without any sort of warning； the sound was stilled。 Its
sudden cessation rather startled me。
〃Has the mechanism again hung fire？ Or； this time； is the
explosion coming off？〃 It did not come off； nothing came off。
〃Isn't the box even going to open？〃
It did not open。 There was simply silence all at once； and that
was all。 I sat there in expectation for some moments longer。 But
I sat for nothing。 I rose。 I took the box in my hand。 I shook
it。
〃This puzzle IS a puzzle。〃 I held the box first to one ear； then
to the other。 I gave it several sharp raps with my knuckles。
There was not an answering sound； not even the sort of
reverberation which Pugh and I had noticed at first。 It seemed
hollower than ever。 It was as though the soul of the box was dead。
〃I suppose if I put you down； and extinguish the gas and return to
bed； in about half an hour or so； just as I am dropping off to
sleep； the performance will be recommenced。 Perhaps the third time
will be lucky。〃
But I was mistakenthere was no third time。 When I returned to
bed that time I returned to sleep； and I was allowed to sleep；
there was no continuation of the performance； at least so far as I
know。 For no sooner was I once more between the sheets than I was
seized with an irresistible drowsiness； a drowsiness which so
mastered me that II imagine it must have been instantlysank
into slumber which lasted till long after day had dawned。 Whether
or not any more mysterious sounds issued from the bowels of Pugh's
puzzle is more than I can tell。 If they did； they did not succeed
in rousing me。
And yet； when at last I did awake； I had a sort of consciousness
that my waking had been caused by something strange。 What it was I
could not surmise。 My own impression was that I had been awakened
by the touch of a person's hand。 But that impression must have
been a mistaken one； because； as I could easily see by looking
round the room； there was no one in the room to touch me。
It was broad daylight。 I looked at my watch； it was nearly eleven
o'clock。 I am a pretty late sleeper as a rule； but I do not
usually sleep as late as that。 That scoundrel Bob would let me
sleep all day without thinking it necessary to call me。 I was just
about to spring out of bed with the intention of ringing the bell
so that I might give Bob a piece of my mind for allowing me to
sleep so late； when my glance fell on the dressing…table on which；
the night before； I had placed Pugh's puzzle。 It had gone！
Its absence so took me by surprise that I ran to the table。 It HAD
gone。 But it had not gone far； it had gone to pieces！ There were
the pieces lying where the box had been。 The puzzle had solved
itself。 The box was open； open with a vengeance； one might say。
Like that unfortunate Humpty Dumpty； who； so the chroniclers tell
us； sat on a wall； surely 〃all the king's horses and all the king's
men〃 never could put Pugh's puzzle together again！
The marquetry had resolved itself into its component parts。 How
those parts had ever been joined was a mystery。 They had been laid
upon no foundation； as is the case with ordinary inlaid work。 The
several pieces of wood were not only of different shapes and sizes；
but they were as thin as the thinnest veneer； yet the box had been
formed by simply joining them together。 The man who made that box
must have been possessed of ingenuity worthy of a better cause。
I perceived how the puzzle had been worked。 The box had contained