Read "Powers of Darkness" by Fred M. White online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Draycott came down to lunch the following afternoon, to Alice's secret annoyance. She would willingly have dispensed with his company till Clench's return. It was no time for the exchange of ordinary civilities, and she was glad to find him disinclined for talk. He was gaunt and hollow-eyed, and the trembling nervousness about him was not entirely due to his recent excesses. He sat down with a surely nod and made some show of eating. Alice noticed that he touched nothing but soda water.
"What has become of Bassett?" he asked irritably, "and Dr. Blaydes? Have they deserted me? Everybody seems to be fighting shy of me Where are they?"