Genre - Mystery & Crime. You are on the page - 11
preliminary examination.II The banking-house of Andre Fauvel, No. 87 Rue de Provence, is animportant establishment, and, owing to its large force of clerks,presents very much the appearance of a government department. On the ground-floor are the offices, with windows opening on thestreet, fortified by strong iron bars sufficiently large and closetogether to discourage all burglarious attempts. A large glass door opens into a spacious vestibule where three or fouroffice-boys are always in
shoulders. And under the table there were those long, slender, beautiful legs.This was their wedding anniversary. He couldn't even remember which one. It didn't really matter. All that mattered was the waking up every morning and seeing her long, silky hair spread out on the pillow, and her face, childlike in sleep, nestled in her arm. Coffee in the sunroom in the morning, Helene in her violet chiffon negligee, or her fluffy white robe, or her bandanna sunsuit, or, on special occasions, the
es. You have matches and a revolver?"He nodded, quietly showing me first the one, then the other; then with a sheepish air which he endeavored to carry of with a laugh, he cried: "Have you use for 'em? If so, I'm quite willing, to part with 'em for a half-hour." I was more than amazed at this evidence of weakness in one I had always considered as tough and impenetrable as flint rock. Thrusting back the hand with which he had half drawn into view the weapon I had mentioned, I put
was more astonished than I when it passed beyond the narrowcircle for which it had originally been intended.My mind made up on this point, I enquired of a leading Melbournebookseller what style of book he sold most of He replied that thedetective stories of Gaboriau had a large sale; and as, at this time, Ihad never even heard of this author, I bought all his works--eleven orthereabouts--and read them carefully. The style of these storiesattracted me, and I determined to write a book of the
Slinkton. There he was, standing before the fire, with good large eyes and an open expression of face; but still (I thought) requiring everybody to come at him by the prepared way he offered, and by no other.I noticed him ask my friend to introduce him to Mr. Sampson, and my friend did so. Mr. Slinkton was very happy to see me. Not too happy; there was no over-doing of the matter; happy in a thoroughly well-bred, perfectly unmeaning way. 'I thought you had met,' our host observed. 'No,' said
nd we must all know each other. I know I may not be acting according to the present usages of society, but that does not trouble me a little bit."Accordingly, with the utmost good taste, she introduced me to a number of the people who had been invited. I need make no special mention of most of them. Some of the young ladies simpered, others were frank, some were fairly good looking, while others were otherwise, and that is about all that could be said. None had sufficient individuality to