rtainable cause of death--sheep and other animals have
been found in the fields, bleeding from open wounds. There have been
other matters--many of them apparently trivial in themselves. Some
sinister influence has been at work, and I admit that I have suspected
Lady Arabella--that is why I questioned you so closely about the mongoose
and its strange attack upon Lady Arabella. You will think it strange
that I should suspect the mistress of Diana's Grove, a beautiful woman of
aristocratic birth. Let me explain--the family seat is near my own
place, Doom Tower, and at one time I knew the family well. When still a
young girl, Lady Arabella wandered into a small wood near her home, and
did not return. She was found unconscious and in a high fever--the
doctor said that she had received a poisonous bite, and the girl being at
a delicate and critical age, the result was serious--so much so that she
was not expected to recover. A great London physician came down but
could do nothing--indeed, he said that the girl would not survive the
night. All hope had been abandoned, when, to everyone's surprise, Lady
Arabella made a sudden and startling recovery. Within a couple of days
she was going about as usual! But to the horror of her people, she
developed a terrible craving for cruelty, maiming and injuring birds and
small animals--even killing them. This was put down to a nervous
disturbance due to her age, and it was hoped that her marriage to Captain
March would put this right. However, it was not a happy marriage, and
eventually her husband was found shot through the head. I have always
suspected suicide, though no pistol was found near the body. He may have
discovered something--God knows what!--so possibly Lady Arabella may
herself have killed him. Putting together many small matters that have
come to my knowledge, I have come to the conclusion that the foul White
Worm obtained control of her body, just as her soul was leaving its
earthly tenement--that would explain the sudden revival of energy, the
strange and inexplicable craving for maiming and killing, as well as many
other matters with which I need not trouble you now, Adam. As I said
just now, God alone knows what poor Captain March discovered--it must
have been something too ghastly for human endurance, if my theory is
correct that the once beautiful human body of Lady Arabella is under the
control of this ghastly White Worm."

Adam nodded.

"But what ca