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167 pages

English

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Settle in for a pulse-pounding read with this fast-paced Victorian mystery from author George Manville Fenn. With the unexpected arrival of a beautiful and mysterious visitor, a physician finds himself thrust into the middle of a very strange situation.

Informations

Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 décembre 2015
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781776593255
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0134€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

BLIND POLICY
* * *
GEORGE MANVILLE FENN

*
Blind Policy First published in 1904 Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-325-5 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-326-2 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
*
Chapter One - In Raybeck Square Chapter Two - A Strange Case Chapter Three - Two Hundred Guineas Chapter Four - The Strange Attraction Proves Too Strong Chapter Five - Aunt Grace Sows the Seed of Discontent Chapter Six - In Danger Chapter Seven - A Black Cloud Behind Chapter Eight - "Whither?" Chapter Nine - A Blacker Cloud in Front Chapter Ten - The Bookworm at Home Chapter Eleven - Mr Roach Lowers Himself Chapter Twelve - A Fatal Attraction Chapter Thirteen - Workers at a Train Chapter Fourteen - Face to Face Again Chapter Fifteen - Aunt Grace's Cure Chapter Sixteen - A Dangerous Case Chapter Seventeen - Assaulting the Castle Chapter Eighteen - The Bookworm Tries to Bore Chapter Nineteen - By the Skin of His Teeth Chapter Twenty - Strangely Mysterious Proceedings Chapter Twenty One - Going Shares Chapter Twenty Two - Man Masters Chapter Twenty Three - The Game is Up Chapter Twenty Four - And Grows Dangerous Chapter Twenty Five - The Collector Wakes Up Chapter Twenty Six - Grim Death Chapter Twenty Seven - Under the Beeches Chapter Twenty Eight - Caught Once More Chapter Twenty Nine - Light in Darkness Chapter Thirty - Love is Master Chapter Thirty One - "Sauve Qui Peut" Chapter Thirty Two - Something in the Sawdust Chapter Thirty Three - Tom Tiddler's Ground Chapter Thirty Four - A Sharp Shock Chapter Thirty Five - The Climax of a Madness Chapter Thirty Six - Why and Wherefore Chapter Thirty Seven - Chester Awakens from His Dream
Chapter One - In Raybeck Square
*
"Oh, you wicked old woman! Ah, you dare to cry, and I'll send you tobed."
"No, no, auntie, don't, please. What will dear Isabel think? You'renot going to spoil a delightful evening?"
"Of course she is not. Here, old lady; have another glass of claret—medicinally."
Dr Chester jumped up, gave his sister and the visitor a merry look,took the claret to the head of the table and refilled his own glass.
But the lady shook her grey sausage curls slowly, and elaborately beganto unfold a large bordered pocket-handkerchief, puckered up her plumpcountenance, gazed piteously at the sweet face on her right, bent herhead over to her charming niece on the left, and then proceeded to up afew tears.
"No, no, no, Fred; not a drop more. It only makes me worse; I can'thelp it, my love."
"Yes, you can, old lady. Come, try and stop it. You'll make Bel crytoo."
"I wish she would, Fred, and repent before it's too late."
"What!" cried the doctor.
"Don't shout at me, my dear. I want to see her repent. It's very niceto see the carriages come trooping, and to know what a famous doctor youare; but you don't understand my complaint, Fred."
"Oh yes, I do, old lady. Grumps, eh, Laury?"
"No, no, my dear. It's heart. I've suffered too much, and the sight ofIsabel Lee, here, coming and playing recklessly on the very brink ofsuch a precipice, is too much for me."
The tears now began to fall fast, and the two girls rose from theirseats simultaneously to try and comfort the sufferer.
"Playing? Precipice?" cried the young doctor. "Step back, Bel dear;you shouldn't. Auntie, what do you mean?"
"Marriage, my dear, marriage," wailed the old lady.
"Fudge?" cried the doctor. "Here, take your medicine. No; I'll pouryou out a fresh glass. You've poisoned that one with salt water."
"I haven't, Fred."
"You have, madam. I saw two great drops fall in—plop. Come, swallowyour physic. Bel, give her one of those grapes to take after it."
"No, no, no!" cried the old lady, protesting. "Don't, Laury;" but herniece held the glass to her lips till she gulped the claret down, and itmade her cough, while the visitor exchange glances with the doctor.
"I—I didn't want it, Fred; and it's not fudge. Oh, my dear Isabel, bewarned before it is too late. Marriage is a delusion and a snare."
"Yes, and Bel's caught fast, auntie. Just going to pop her finger intothe golden wire."
"Don't, my dear; be warned in time," cried the old lady, piteously. "Iwas once as young and beautiful as you are, and I said yes, and wasmarried, only to be forsaken at the end of ten years, to become a weary,unhappy woman, with only three thousand four hundred and twenty-twopounds left; and it's all melting slowly away, while when it's all goneHeaven only knows what's to become of me."
"Poor old auntie!" said Laura Chester soothingly, taking the old lady'shead on her shoulder; but it would shake all the same.
"I had a house of my own, and now I have come down to keeping mynephew's. Don't you marry, my poor child: take warning by me. Men areso deceitful."
"Wrong, auntie. Men were deceivers ever."
"I'm not wrong, Fred. You've been a very good boy to me, but you're agrown man now, and though I love you I couldn't trust you a bit."
"Thank you, aunt dear."
"I can't, my love, knowing what I do. Human nature is human nature."
"Aunt dear, for shame!" cried Laura.
"No, my dear, it's no shame, but the simple truth, and I always toldyour poor father it was a sin and a crime to expose a young man to suchtemptation."
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the doctor, boisterously. "Here, Bel dear, don'tyou trust me."
The young people's eyes met, full of confidence, and the old lady shookher head again.
"I know what the world is and what men are," she continued, "and nothingshall make me believe that some of these fashionable patients haveanything the matter with them."
"Oh, you wicked old woman!" cried the doctor.
"I'm not, Fred," she cried angrily.
"Oh yes, you are, old lady. You say I don't understand your complaint;it's conscience."
"It is not, sir. I've nothing on my conscience at all."
"I don't believe you, auntie," he cried banteringly. "You must havebeen a wicked old flirt."
"It is false, sir; and I don't hold with doctors being young andhandsome."
"No; I twig. Repentance. You used to go and see one when you wereyoung, and give him guineas to feel your pulse."
"How can you say such wicked things, Fred?" cried the old lady, turningscarlet. "But I will say it now. I'm sure it's not right for you to beseeing all these fine fashionable ladies, scores of them, every day."
"Do take her upstairs, Laury," said the doctor, merrily. "Help her, Beldear. You hear; I'm a horribly wicked man, and so fascinating that theladies of Society flock to see me. Now, I appeal to you, dear. Did youever hear such a wicked, suspicious old woman?"
"Don't, don't, don't, Fred," sobbed the lady in question. "I only spokefor your good. But it can't last long now; and when I'm dead and goneyou'll be sorry for all you've said."
"Poor old darling!" said the doctor, affectionately; "she sha'n't haveher feelings hurt. Now then, toddle up to the drawing-room. Lie down abit; and have an early cup of tea, Laury."
"No, no, no," sobbed the old lady. "I'm only a poor, worn-out, uselesscreature, and the sooner the grave closes over me the better."
She was out at the foot of the stairs, leaning upon her niece's arm,before she had finished her sentence, and Isabel Lee, half troubled,half amused, was following through the door, which the doctor kept open,but he let it go and held out his hands, as the girl looked tenderly upa him. Then the door swung to, and the next moment she was clasped inhis arms.
"My darling!" he whispered; and then in the silence which followed theycould hear faintly the voice of the old lady on the stairs.
"I'm so sorry, Bel dear," said the doctor tenderly. "She has one of herfits on to-day. Poor old soul, she has had a great deal of trouble."
"I know, Fred dear. I don't mind."
"But it's rather hard on our visitor, whom we want to entertain—queerentertainment."
"Don't talk about it, Fred. Let me go now."
"Without any balm for the suffering, deceitful wretch? Just one."
"Well, only one. Come up soon."
It was, as the doctor said, a very tiny one, and then the girl hadstruggled free and hurried up to the drawing-room, while the giver wentback to his seat.
"Bless her! I honestly believe she's the most amiable girl in theworld," said the doctor; as he sat sipping his claret. "Only afortnight now, and then no more going away. I do love her with all myheart, and I say devoutly, thank God for giving me the chance ofpossessing so good a partner for life."
He sat sipping thoughtfully.
"Bother the old woman!" he cried suddenly. "To break out like that.Suspicious as ever; but Bel took it the right way. I didn't know I wassuch a Lothario. How absurd! Now about to-morrow's engagements. Let'ssee."
He took out a memorandum book, wrinkled up his forehead, and the nextminute was deep in thought over first one and then another of theserious cases in which he had to do battle with the grim Shade, endingby getting up and pacing the room, forgetful of all social ties and thepresence of his betrothed overhead.
"Oh, Fred!" brought him back to the present.
"Eh? What's the matter, dear?"
"Matter? Well, if ever I have a lover I hope he'll be different to you.There's auntie fast asleep, and poor Isabel sitting watching the doorwith the tears in her eyes."
"Tut-tut-tut!" ejaculated the brother. "Yes; too bad, but I have a veryserious case on hand, dear, and I am obliged to give it a great deal ofcareful consideration."
"You're always like that now, Fred," said his sister, pettishly. "Ihope you don't