2 Enfield’s Story

CHAPTER 2 Enfield's Story After some time, Mr. Enfield replied, "Well, it was this way. I was walking home very late one night. The path I took was completely empty. I saw no one for many blocks. The fog had set in, so there was no moonlight, only the streetlights to keep me company. I'll admit that I felt a bit scared. It's odd to be the only human in a dark and

lonely area. At least, I thought I was the only person out that night. Quite suddenly, I saw two other figures on the street. One was a man walking away from me. He was rather short and stooped over. I was surprised by his speed. He moved very quickly and with a clear purpose. The other was a little girl about eight or nine years old. She was running along the cross street. Naturally the two ran into each other as the girl turned around the corner. The man knocked the girl down. It was horrible. He did not stop! He stepped on her leg and continued on his way. He barely seemed to notice her. The poor girl lay crying on the street and the man did not stop or even look her way! I realize that my description doesn't sound like much, but it was horrible to see. His actions were so cold. I yelled at the man and ran after him. I caught up with him quite easily and grabbed his arm. He did not resist as I brought him

back to the screaming child. Actually, he looked perfectly calm. He wasn't the least bit bothered by his actions. Just then, the man gave me a look so ugly that I began to sweat. It was as though I had just finished exercising. The girl's family rushed outside. She had been returning from going to get the doctor when this man knocked her over. Thankfully, the doctor wasn't far behind her in the street. He attended to the screaming child at once. He said she was more frightened than hurt. In any other circumstances, that might have been the end of it. But I had taken such a disliking to this strange fellow that I couldn't let it go. I wasn't alone in this feeling, either. The girl's family was similarly horrified, of course. But it was the doctor's reaction that struck me most. Whenever he looked at the man, the doctor grew sick and white with anger and hatred. At first, I thought he

recognized this strange man, but I don't think that was the case. There was something about the man that caused so strong a reaction. Looking into this villain's face made you feel so uncomfortable that you wanted to turn away instantly. His eyes were lifeless and cold. His mouth was twisted into a cruel smile. I can only describe what I felt as horror. It was quite unusual." "What did you do?" Mr. Utterson asked. "Did you call the police?" Mr. Utterson was gripped by this story. He needed to hear the ending. How was this strange man connected with the battered door across the street from them? "We tried a different tactic," Mr. Enfield continued. "We told this man that we would spread the story of his cruel deed throughout London. Everyone would be talking about it. We warned him that if he had any friends or business, he would soon lose them. i

expected this man to be sorry, but he seemed little affected by our comments. 'If you chose to make such a fuss about this accident,' he said to me coldly, 'then I have no choice but to obey your demands. After all, no gentleman wants to make a scene.' His voice was so calm that it gave me shivers. And then this awful man actually smiled! It was an awful, sinister smile. 'Name your price,' he said. With very little argument, the strange man agreed to pay the girl's family one hundred pounds. The doctor and I agreed to stay with the man and get the money. We followed him to the door—this very door that stands across from you and me right now —where he disappeared for a few minutes. He came back outside with a check for one hundred pounds. I examined it. I was shocked by the name on the check. It was the name of a well-known and upstanding citizen. Clearly this strange man had forged a

signature or obtained it by unlawful means. 'Set your mind at rest,' the man sneered. 'I will stay with you until morning and cash the check myself. You will see it is good.' So, the doctor, the strange man, and I returned to my house, where we waited until the banks opened. It was a very uncomfortable wait. None of us spoke. The doctor and I watched this man with great curiosity. He stared into the fireplace the whole time. Finally morning arrived and we set off for the bank. I told the teller that I had every reason to believe that the check was fake. I was shocked to learn that it was real." "Tut-tut," Mr. Utterson replied. He shook his head. "I can see you feel the same as I do," Mr. Enfield said. "Yes, it is a sad story. The strange man that I met was a truly awful fellow, someone that you would never want to meet. He was frightening and evil." Mr.