[The Silent House by Fergus Hume]@TWC D-Link bookThe Silent House CHAPTER I 5/13
In a short space of time quite a collection of stories were told about the newcomer and his strange ways. Lucian heard many of these tales from his landlady.
How Mr.Berwin lived all alone in the Silent House without servant or companion; how he spoke to none, and admitted no one into the mansion; how he appeared to have plenty of money, and was frequently seen coming home more or less intoxicated; and how Mrs.Kebby, the deaf charwoman who cleaned out Mr. Berwin's rooms, declined to sleep in the house because she considered that there was something wrong about her employer. To such gossip Denzil paid little attention, until his skein of life became unexpectedly entangled with that of the strange gentleman.
The manner of their meeting was unforeseen and peculiar. One foggy November night, Lucian, returning from the theatre, shortly after eleven o'clock, dismissed his hansom at the entrance to the square and walked thereinto through the thick mist, trusting to find his way home by reason of two years' familiarity with the precincts.
As it was impossible to see even the glare of the near gas lamp in the murky air, Lucian felt his way cautiously along the railings.
The square was filled with fog, dense to the eye and cold to the feel, so that Lucian shivered with the chill, in spite of the fur coat over his evening clothes. As he edged gingerly along, and thought longingly of the fire and supper awaiting him in his comfortable rooms, he was startled by hearing a deep, rich voice boom out almost at his feet.
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