Aaron Rodd, DivinerOppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
General
Aaron Rodd, Diviner
Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Detective and mystery stories, English; English fiction -- 20th century
The artificer did not hesitate for a moment. He looked in the mirror
opposite to him and straightened a little more naturally the coal black
hair which only an artist could have arranged. With his foot he
stopped the dynamo. From a cupboard opposite to him he brought out a
dozen cheap watches and spread them around. One of these he proceeded
with neat fingers to take to pieces.
"It is well to be careful, Abraham Letchowiski," he agreed softly. "Go
back to the shop. Is supper ready?"
"There is a little cold fish upon the table," Letchowiski replied. "It
is useless to wait for Rosa. We will sit down, you and I, when you
wish."
A faint flicker of disgust crossed the face of the listener. He
watched the disappearing figure of the old man. Then he half closed
his eyes.
"It is the end," he reminded himself softly. "All that remains is to
get away."
Mr. Harvey Grimm took off his overalls and looked at himself carefully
in the glass. He was wearing a well-worn blue serge suit, a flannel
shirt and collar, a faded wisp of blue tie. His black hair was
plastered down on to his forehead, ending on one side in a little curl,
after the fashion of the neighbourhood. The man was so consummate an
actor that his very cast of features seemed to have assumed a Semitic
aspect. He readjusted his spectacles, busied himself at the bench for
a few more minutes, covered over the dynamo, and finally made his way
stealthily into the shop. He paused for a moment with his hand upon
the counter, listening to the old man who stood in the doorway. His
fingers played with a tray of atrocious-looking pieces of cut-glass,
set in common brass. Abraham Letchowiski, in one of his pauses for
breath, glanced around and saw him.
"You have finished?" he asked eagerly.
"Finished," was the quiet reply. "Let us eat together."
The jeweller abandoned his place, which was promptly taken by the small
boy.
"You go and have your supper, granfer," he begged. "I do some good
business."
"Aren't you hungry?" the old man asked affectionately.
The small boy shook his head.
"I rather stay here and do business," he declared. "Young shentleman
went by just now wants diamond ring to give to the lady. He promised
to come back."
They left him standing upon the threshold, eager and expectant, and
took their places in the musty little room before the fragment of cold
fish, at which Harvey Grimm glanced for a moment in disgust. They had
barely settled down before the door was thrown vigorously open. A
tall, dark young woman, dressed in all the finery of the neighbourhood,
swung into the room. She held out her cheek to her grandfather, but
her bold black eyes rested upon Harvey Grimm.
"What a supper!" she exclaimed scornfully. "And after I've been away
for nearly ten days, too! You don't expect me to eat this, do you?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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