Fire-Tongue by Sax Rohmer
page 18 of 293 (06%)
page 18 of 293 (06%)
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characterize the house when viewed from outside. The focus of
menace, therefore, lay not inside the house of Sir Charles but without. It was very curious. In the next instant came a possible explanation. "Mr. Paul Harley?" said the butler tentatively. "Yes, I am he." "Sir Charles is expecting you, sir. He apologizes for not being in to receive you, but he will only be absent a few minutes." "Sir Charles has been called out?" inquired Harley as he handed hat and coat to the man. "Yes, sir. He is attending Mr. Chester Wilson on the other side of the square, and Mr. Wilson's man rang up a few moments ago requesting Sir Charles to step across." "I see," murmured Harley, as the butler showed him into a small but well-filled library on the left of the lobby. Refreshments were set invitingly upon a table beside a deep lounge chair. But Harley declined the man's request to refresh himself while waiting and began aimlessly to wander about the room, apparently studying the titles of the works crowding the bookshelves. As a matter of fact, he was endeavouring to arrange certain ideas in order, and if he had been questioned on the subject it is improbable that he could have mentioned the title of one book in the library. |
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