As Usher stopped abruptly in his walk the priest added apologetically: "I've been told a bullet is not half so useful without it."
"Ah!" said Mr Usher dryly, and handing across another scrap of newspaper.
The official second-in-command under the Governor was an ex-detective named Greywood Usher, a cadaverous, careful-spoken Yankee philosopher, occasionally varying a very rigid visage with an odd apologetic grimace.
"It did in this case, as I'll show you," went on Usher positively.
"I reckon you'll be shocked," replied Greywood Usher, "as I know you don't cotton to the march of science in these matters.
His clerical friend asked faintly: "But how?" And Greywood Usher threw down the newspapers and took up the two press-cuttings again.
"And it's hardly worth speculating on," said Usher, turning to some other papers, "for we know it's the man by this time."
"Anyhow," said Usher, "Last-Trick Todd counts for a great deal in this rum affair."
One favourite volume was a small octavo edition of the Directorium Inquisitorum, by the Dominican Eymeric de Gironne; and there were passages in Pomponius Mela, about the old African Satyrs and OEgipans, over which Usher would sit dreaming for hours.
At the request of Usher, I personally aided him in the arrangements for the temporary entombment.
A striking similitude between the brother and sister now first arrested my attention; and Usher, divining, perhaps, my thoughts, murmured out some few words from which I learned that the deceased and himself had been twins, and that sympathies of a scarcely intelligible nature had always existed between them.
I presently recognized it as that of Usher. In an instant afterwards he rapped, with a gentle touch, at my door, and entered, bearing a lamp.
"You must not--you shall not behold this!" said I, shudderingly, to Usher, as I led him, with a gentle violence, from the window to a seat.
The antique volume which I had taken up was the "Mad Trist" of Sir Launcelot Canning; but I had called it a favourite of Usher's more in sad jest than in earnest; for, in truth, there is little in its uncouth and unimaginative prolixity which could have had interest for the lofty and spiritual ideality of my friend.
The valet now threw open a door and ushered me into the presence of his master.
