Chapter 43

Rigid, motionless, Marwood stared in front of him, gripping the arms of his chair. Stab . . . stab . . . stab . . . an excruciating pain had suddenly begun to pierce him like a knife. It started from the region of his right shoulder and spread to his chest. With monotonous regularity it continued, while the flames flickered in the grate, and fantastic shadows danced round the darkening room. Stab . . . stab . . . every four or five seconds: till his whole body seemed to be burning with the agony. Once he raised his…