26 chapters
12 hour read
Selected Chapters
26 chapters
Preface.
Preface.
In this story I have dealt with an extraordinary phase of modern life in London, which to the majority will come as a startling revelation. Some will, perhaps, declare that no such amazing state of things exists in this, the most enlightened age the world has known. To such, I can only assert that in this decadent civilisation of ours the things which I have described actually take place in secret, as certain facts in my possession indisputably show. It is no unhealthy problem of sex, or of the
18 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter One.
Chapter One.
But I uttered one word, expressive though not polite, and strode on; for, truth to tell, I had read the paper an hour before, and by it discovered to my chagrin that I had been rather hard hit over a race. Therefore, a list of the winners being pushed into my face by this man was an unintentional insult. Yes, I was decidedly out of sorts. Self-absorbed, a trifle melancholy, and undecided where to spend the evening, I was passing the corner of Bond Street, when I felt a hand upon my arm, as a voi
28 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Two.
Chapter Two.
She protested instantly, but on being pressed sipped half a glass and left the remainder. We chatted on as Simes, who had been waiting on us, with a glance of wonder, left and closed the door. Then, rising, I took down the Directory from the bookcase and opened it at the “Streets.” She rose from her chair, and gazed eagerly upon the great puzzling volume until I came to Ellerdale Street. “Ellerdale Street, Lewisham,” I read aloud. “From Porson Street to Ermine Road. Do those names bring back to
22 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Three.
Chapter Three.
I nodded. At that instant a thought occurred to me, and I wondered whether Roddy had encountered Aline, and whether she was the woman he did not wish to meet. “Was she young?” I asked, laughing. “Not very,” he replied vaguely, adding, “There are some persons who, being associated with the melancholy incidents in one’s life, bring back bitter memories that one would fain forget.” “Yes, yes; I understand,” I said. Then presently, when I had got my cigar under way, I related to him what had afterwa
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Four.
Chapter Four.
“Why did you ask me to come here?” she asked, with a slightly nervous laugh when, at my suggestion, she had drawn off her gloves. “Because I did not intend that we should drift apart altogether,” I answered. “If you had refused, I should have come to you.” “At Ellerdale Road?” she exclaimed in alarm. “Yes; why not? Is your aunt such a terrible person?” “No,” she exclaimed in all seriousness. “Promise me you will not seek me—never.” “I can scarcely promise that,” I laughed. “But why were you so r
32 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Five.
Chapter Five.
As lover of a woman possessed of a mysterious influence, the like of which I had never before heard, my position was certainly an unique one. In the days which followed I tried to argue with myself that I did not love her; to convince myself that what she had alleged was true, namely, that I admired but did not love her. Yet all was in vain. I was fascinated by her large blue eyes, which looked out upon me with that calm, childlike innocence, and remaining beneath their spell, believed that I lo
29 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Six.
Chapter Six.
But the flush of health had faded. Her cheeks were just as beautiful as they had ever been, but the bloom of youth had died from them, and her complexion was a yellowish brown, like that of a woman of sixty. The light in her blue eyes had faded; they were now dull and leaden. “At last!” I cried happily. “I am so glad you’ve come, for I’ve waited so long, Aline.” She allowed her hand to rest in mine, then sank wearily into my armchair without a word. “You are not well,” I cried, in concern. “What
28 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Seven.
Chapter Seven.
I said nothing to the detective, but replaced the card in the frame of the mirror. The detective strolled around the other rooms in an aimless sort of way, and when he returned I asked— “What is your opinion of this affair?” “I really don’t know, sir,” he answered in a puzzled tone. “It may be suicide.” “Suicide!” I gasped, recollecting Aline’s declaration. “What causes you to surmise that?” “From the fact that the valet is absent,” he answered. “The gentleman, if he desired to take his own life
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Eight.
Chapter Eight.
“No,” answered the man. “And as far as you are aware there was no reason for Mr Morgan taking his life?” “None. He was exceedingly merry all the morning, whistling to himself, and once or twice joking with me when I waited on him at breakfast.” The doctor was then called, and having given his name and stated his professional qualifications, said— “When I saw the deceased he was dead. I should think about half an hour had elapsed since respiration ceased. The room appeared in perfect order, and t
25 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Nine.
Chapter Nine.
“My niece!” she exclaimed in surprise. “My poor niece died ten years ago.” “Ten years ago!” I gasped. “And is not Miss Cloud your niece?” “I have no niece of that name, sir,” she answered. “The name indeed is quite strange to me. There must be some mistake.” “But your name is Popejoy,” I exclaimed, “and this is Number sixteen, Ellerdale Road?” “Certainly.” “Truth to tell, madam,” I said, “I have called on you in order to assure myself of a certain very extraordinary fact.” “What is it?” “Well, l
30 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Ten.
Chapter Ten.
Yes, Tixover was a fine old place, perhaps not architecturally so handsome as many residences in the vicinity, yet my father, like his father and grandfather before him, did not believe in modernising its interior, hence it was entirely antique with genuine old oak of the time of the first Charles,—queer old high-backed chairs, covered with time-dimmed tapestry that had been worked by hands that had fallen to dust in the days before the Plague devastated London. The old diamond-panes set in lead
31 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Eleven.
Chapter Eleven.
His words admitted of no argument. I sat silent, oppressed, smoking and thinking. Then at length I rose to go. “We are friends still, Clifton,” he said, as he gripped my hand warmly. “But you understand my position, don’t you?” “Yes,” I answered. “That you cannot speak is plain. Good night,” and I went forth into the quiet village street where the only light came from the cottage windows here and there. The good people of Duddington go to bed early and rise with the dawn, therefore there was lit
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Twelve.
Chapter Twelve.
How could she know? I wondered. Aline herself must have told her. She uttered a falsehood when she declared that she did not know the mysterious fair-faced woman whose power was so mysterious and unnatural. I was puzzled. “Well,” I said at length, “I admit it. I admit that in a moment of mad ecstasy I made a foolish declaration of affection—an avowal which I have ever since regretted.” She gave me a pitying, scornful look, a glance which proved to me how fierce was her hatred of Aline. “If you h
26 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Thirteen.
Chapter Thirteen.
“But why can you not trust me? Surely I have given you no great offence?” I said, bewildered at her strange attitude. “I regret that you should have declared love to me, that’s all,” she answered, quite philosophically. “Why? Is it such a very extraordinary proceeding?” “Yes,” she replied petulantly. “You know well that marriage is entirely out of the question. What would your friends say if you hinted at such a thing?” “The opinion of my friends is nothing to me,” I replied. “I am fortunately n
29 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Fourteen.
Chapter Fourteen.
An hour later I left, and that afternoon arrived home to find that my father had been thrown from his horse, while riding towards Deene by a bridlepath, and was lying in a dangerous condition, with my old friend Dr Lewis, of Cliffe, and Dr Richardson, of Stamford, in attendance upon him. As may be imagined, my mother was in a state of terrible anxiety, and I at once telegraphed to my sister, who had left Beaulieu long before, and was now at Bournemouth. Next morning she arrived, but by that time
25 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Fifteen.
Chapter Fifteen.
“Yes. I hope she won’t discover me. If she does—well, I must move again. Should I disappear suddenly you will know the cause, old fellow.” These words caused me to doubt the truth of my surmise. His manner was as though he had not kept the appointment, as I had suspected, and indeed I had no absolute knowledge that Aline and this woman whom he held in fear were one and the same person. Thus I left him with my mind in a state of indecision and bewilderment. I knew not what to think. Through the c
28 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Sixteen.
Chapter Sixteen.
“Certainly!” she responded. “Nevertheless during our acquaintance I have, you must admit, been as open with you as I have dared. You professed your love for me,” she went on ruthlessly, “but I urged you to hesitate. Was I not frank with you when I told you plainly that we could never be lovers?” I nodded in the affirmative, and sighed when I recollected my lost Muriel. “Then why do you charge me with deception?” she asked, stretching out her tiny foot neat in its suède shoe, and contemplating it
30 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Seventeen.
Chapter Seventeen.
After waiting nearly half an hour Muriel at last came forth, dressed neatly in cotton blouse and dark skirt, with a large black hat. She went to the kerb, glanced up and down the broad thoroughfare, as if looking for an omnibus or tram, then, there being none in sight, she commenced to walk along the Holloway Road in the direction of the City. For some distance I followed, then with beating heart I overtook her, and, raiding my hat, addressed her. “You!” she gasped, halting suddenly, and looking
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Eighteen.
Chapter Eighteen.
“Why, what has occurred?” “I have been ill,” she answered vaguely, and she sank into a chair and placed her hand to her heart, panting for the exertion of walking had been too great for her. “I’m exceedingly sorry,” I replied. “I’ve been expecting you for several weeks. Why did you not leave your address with me last time?” “A letter would not have found me,” she answered. “When I pass from sight of my friends I pass beyond reach of their messages.” I drew forth a footstool for her, and noting h
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Nineteen.
Chapter Nineteen.
“Strange!” he cried. “It’s marvellous. Feel! The ashes are quite warm! The heat required to melt and fuse a heavy vessel like that would be enormous. It couldn’t have been done by any natural means.” “How, then, do you account for it?” I inquired quickly. “I can’t account for it,” he answered in a hoarse voice, gazing about the darkened church, for the lights had been nearly all extinguished, and the place was weird and eerie. Then, with his lips compressed for a moment, he looked straight at me
26 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Twenty.
Chapter Twenty.
“The firm, of course,” she answered. “They’re supposed to go towards the library; but the latter consists of only about fifty worn-out, tattered books which haven’t been added to for the past three years.” “I don’t wonder that such an existence should crush all life from you. It’s enough to render any one old before their time, slaving away in that place from morning till night, without even sufficient time for your meals. But why are you a favourite?” I asked. She looked at me for an instant, t
25 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Twenty One.
Chapter Twenty One.
Both of us agreed that her heart had ceased its beating, yet, a moment later, we rejoiced to see, as she lay with her head resting upon Bryant’s arm, a slight rising and falling of the breast. Respiration had returned. I bent, fondly kissing her chilly lips, and striving vainly to staunch the ugly wound, until suddenly it struck me that the best course to pursue would be to at once remove her to my room; therefore we carefully raised her, and with difficulty succeeded in carrying her upstairs, a
28 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Twenty Two.
Chapter Twenty Two.
Puzzled at this strange complication, I spoke mechanically, explaining that Muriel was engaged to marry me, and that she had been ill, although I did not tell him the cause. Yet all Jack Yelverton’s levity had in that brief moment of unexpected meeting departed. He had become brooding and thoughtful. I confess that I entertained doubts. So many things had recently occurred which she refused to explain, that day by day I was haunted by a horrible consuming suspicion that, after all, she did not l
20 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Twenty Three.
Chapter Twenty Three.
Within the old tangled garden, where the shrubs, weeds, and flowers had grown wild and unpruned for years, all was silent as the grave. The old place, partly overgrown with ivy, which had almost hidden several of the windows, looked grim and ghostly in the gloom, for the moon was hidden behind a bank of fleecy cloud, and only shed a mystic half-light, which added to rather than decreased the sense of forlorn dreariness which oppressed one. By the aspect of the place it appeared as though it had
21 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Twenty Four.
Chapter Twenty Four.
The scene was strangely weird, but utterly horrible, for on regaining their feet all formed a row and filed past the altar, each taking up a dagger, and as they passed stabbed the consecrated host within the casket. Then, at sign from the hideous man upon the pedestal, a Satanic liturgy was chanted, and a brazier was lit by the acolyte in the centre of the chamber, when each worshipper producing a crucifix spat three times upon it and cast it into the fire, while Satan laughed in triumph and the
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Chapter Twenty Five.
Chapter Twenty Five.
At the moment Muriel, who had remained silent and motionless, as if listening intently, suddenly disengaged herself from my embrace, and walking boldly forward, exclaimed in a loud, firm voice— “Enough! The mystery of poor Roddy’s death shall no longer cause your estrangement from your lover, Aline. Listen!” Then turning to me, she added: “You will remember that once, about eighteen months ago, when I was having tea one Sunday at your rooms, Roddy called, and you introduced us.” “Yes,” I cried,
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter