Buried Alive : A Tale of These Days: Complete

"Will there have to be an inquest?" Priam Farll asked at 6 a.m.He had collapsed in the hard chair on the ground-floor.

The indispensable Henry Leek was lost tohim for ever.

He could not imagine what would happen to his existence in the future.

He could notconceive himself without Leek. And, still worse, the immediate prospect of unknown horrors ofpublicity in connection with the death of Leek overwhelmed him."No!" said the doctor, cheerfully. "Oh no! I was present. Acute double pneumonia! Sometimeshappens like that! I can give a certificate. But of course you will have to go to the registrar's andregister the death."Even without an inquest, he saw that the affair would be unthinkably distressing.

He felt that itwould kill him, and he put his hand to his face."Where are Mr. Farll's relatives to be found?" the doctor asked."Mr. Farll's relatives?" Priam Farll repeated without comprehending.Then he understood.

Dr. Cashmore thought that Henry Leek's name was Farll! And all the sensitivetimidity in Priam Farll's character seized swiftly at the mad chance of escape from any kind of publicappearance as Priam Farll.

Why should he not let it be supposed that he, and not Henry Leek, hadexpired suddenly in Selwood Terrace at 5 a.m.

He would be free, utterly free!"Yes," said the doctor. "They must be informed, naturally."Priam's mind ran rapidly over the catalogue of his family.

He could think of no one nearer than acertain Duncan Farll, a second cousin."I don't think he had any," he replied in a voice that trembled with excitement at the capriciousrashness of what he was doing. "Perhaps there were distant cousins. But Mr. Farll never talked ofthem."Which was true.He could scarcely articulate the words 'Mr Farll.' But when they were out of his mouth he felt thatthe deed was somehow definitely done.