[A Strange Disappearance by Anna Katharine Green]@TWC D-Link book
A Strange Disappearance

CHAPTER X
20/21

"This is my justification.

Do you note the color of the woman's hair whose portrait hangs with its face turned to the wall in your room?
Is it like or unlike that of the strand you held in your hand a few moments ago; a strand taken as I swear, hair by hair from the comb of the poor creature who occupied the room above.

But that is not all," he continued as Mr.Blake fell a trifle aback; "just observe the dress in which this woman is painted; blue silk you see, dark and rich; a wide collar cunningly executed, you can almost trace the pattern; a brooch; then the roses in the hand, do you see?
Now come with me upstairs." Too much startled to speak, Mr.Blake, haughty aristocrat as he was, turned like a little child and followed the detective who with an assured step and unembarassed mien led the way into the deserted room above.
"You accuse me of insulting you, when I express disbelief of your assertion that there was no connection between you and the girl Emily," said Mr.Gryce as he lit the gas and unlocked that famous bureau drawer.
"Will you do so any longer in face of these ?" And drawing off the towel that lay uppermost, he revealed the neatly folded dress, wide collar, brooch and faded roses that lay beneath.

"Mrs.Daniels assures us these articles belonged to the sewing-woman Emily; were brought here by her.
Dare you say they are not the ones reproduced in the portrait below ?" Mr.Blake uttering a cry sank on his knees before the drawer.

"My God! My God!" was his only reply, "what are these ?" Suddenly he rose, his whole form quivering, his eyes burning.


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