Gibbous House 63

The very moment I crossed the threshold, the Professor appeared from behind the trompe l'oeil like a mischievous sprite. He halloed us cheerily from the head of the staircase and waved, savouring the opportunity -most likely- to look down upon us. Taking the stairs with his peculiar scuttling gait, he held up a hand to hold me fast in the vestibule. As his tiny limbs skittered to a halt on the parquet of the floor, he said:

'Mr Moffat, would you be so kind as to attend me once more in the library? I think perhaps you have a question or two about your situation. I shall do my utmost to answer them as fully as ever I can.'

'I would not be so kind, Professor: I prefer that you attend me in whatever place I choose. The library will suit me as well as any.'

The professor accepted this with little outward damage to his equanimity.

'Quite so, Mr Moffat, I forget myself.'

But I thought perhaps that he did not and I caught the briefest glimpse once more of the corrupt and evil gnome I believed him to be.

'You will excuse us, Miss Pardoner.' I said as I turned to that lady.

'It seems I must.' She replied.

She seemed unperturbed by the prospect, I was disappointed to see, and we abandoned her in the vestibule among the vertiginously piled furniture.

This time I led the Professor through the dining room, hearing the familiar snick snack of his dainty feet on the flooring. The debris of breakfast yet remained on the table. In the next room, the stuffed menagerie proved more sinister than I had previously thought. One corner, at the far end of the room, to the left of the door, appeared to be dedicated to a collection of the most fantastical chimerae. The unknown taxidermist had created vile corruptions and combinations of fowl, fish and fauna. For seasoning there were one or two examples of the kind of abomination I had seen in the stables. I had read that certain collectors in Bavaria had a taste for such pieces, many purchasers actually believing them real exemplars of formerly living beasts.

'A little Germanic, for my taste, Professor. And so much effort to create such - unconvincing - monsters, don't you agree?' I asked him.

'Much -in science, as in creation- is unlikely, I have found, Mr Moffat.' he replied.

We passed through into the room with the picture covered walls, again the queasy feeling forced me onward quickly and the dwarf tarried not behind me. In the room containing the geological specimens, I picked up a beautiful milky stone and pocketed it. It was the largest opal I had ever seen. I turned to read the expression on the Professor's face: but there was none. The vivarium was filled with the sounds of its diurnal occupants. Intent as I was on reaching the library, I did not peer too closely at the vitrines as I passed them; although I had the impression of unnatural forms moving behind them. Thankfully in the library itself, the disquieting hubbub made by the rubbing of insect legs and slithering was inaudible.

I poured the Professor and myself some of the almost excellent sherry, and lifted my glass:

'To purgatory.' I said.

'Too kind.' The man replied.