Shortly he began examining the other pictures. Two of these were
simple flower studies. Watson scarcely knew which puzzled him most; the
blossoms or their containers. For the vases were like large-sized loving
cups, broad as to body, and provided with a handle on either side. Their
colours were unfamiliar. As for the blossoms--in one study the blooms
were a half-dozen in number, and more like Shasta daisies than anything
else. But their colour was totally unlike, while they possessed wide,
striped stamens that gave the flowers an identity all their own. In
the other vase were several varieties, and every one absolutely
unrecognisable.
On the opposite side of the room was something fairly familiar. At
first glance it seemed a simple basket of kittens, done in black and
white--something like crayon, and yet resembling sepia. Alongside the
basket, however, was a spoon, one end resting on the edge of a saucer.
And it was the size of the spoon that commanded Chick's attention;
rather, the size of the kittens, any one of which could have curled up
comfortably in the bowl of the spoon! Judging relatively, if it were an
ordinary tablespoon, then the kittens were smaller than the smallest of
mice.
Chick gave it up. Presently he began speculating about the time. He
decided that, whatever the hour might be, it was still daylight. In one
wall of the room was a large, oval window, of a material which may as
well be called glass, frosted, so as to permit no view of what might lie
outside. But it allowed plenty of light to enter.
Cut in the opposite wall was a doorway, hung with a curtain instead of
a door. This curtain was a gauzy material, but its maroonlike shade
completely hid all view of whatever lay beyond.
Chick waited and listened. Hitherto he had not heard a sound. There was
not even that subtle, mixed hum from the distance that we are accustomed
to associate with silence. He felt certain that he was inside the Blind
Spot; but as to just where that locality might lie, he knew as little
as before. He knew only that he in a building of some sort. Where, and
what, was the building?
Just then he noticed a cord dangling from the ceiling. It came down to
within six inches of his head. He gave it a pull.
Whereupon he heard a faint, musical jangling in the distance. He tried
to analyse the sound. It was not bell-like; perhaps the word “tinkling”
would serve better. Provisionally, Chick placed the key at middle D.
A moment later he heard steps outside the curtain. They were very soft
and light and deliberate; and almost at the same instant a delicate
white hand moved the curtain aside.
It was a woman. Chick lay back and wondered. Although not beautiful she
was very good to look at, with large blue eyes of a deep tenderness and
sympathy, even features, and a wonderful fold of rich brown hair held in
place by a satiny net.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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