[After Dark by Wilkie Collins]@TWC D-Link book
After Dark

PROLOGUE TO THE SECOND STORY
40/53

4 ACROSS." I understood everything but those words and figures, so of course I copied them out into my own book.
Then I waited in the pantry till Boots had brushed the clothes, and had taken them upstairs.

His report when he came down was, that Mr.D------ had asked if it was a fine morning.

Being told that it was, he had ordered breakfast at nine, and a saddle-horse to be at the door at ten, to take him to Grimwith Abbey--one of the sights in our neighborhood which I had told him of the evening before.
"I'll be here, coming in by the back way, at half-past ten," says I to the head chambermaid.
"What for ?" says she.
"To take the responsibility of making Mr.Davager's bed off your hands for this morning only," says I.
"Any more orders ?" says she.
"One more," says I."I want to hire Sam for the morning.

Put it down in the order-book that he's to be brought round to my office at ten." In case you should think Sam was a man, I'd better perhaps tell you he was a pony.

I'd made up my mind that it would be beneficial to Tom's health, after the tarts, if he took a constitutional airing on a nice hard saddle in the direction of Grimwith Abbey.
"Anything else ?" says the head chambermaid.
"Only one more favor," says I."Would my boy Tom be very much in the way if he came, from now till ten, to help with the boots and shoes, and stood at his work close by this window which looks out on the staircase ?" "Not a bit," says the head chambermaid.
"Thank you," says I; and stepped back to my office directly.
When I had sent Tom off to help with the boots and shoes, I reviewed the whole case exactly as it stood at that time.
There were three things Mr.Davager might do with the letter.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books