The King of Diamonds: A Tale of Mystery and AdventureTracy, Louis
General
The King of Diamonds: A Tale of Mystery and Adventure
Tracy, Louis
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction
"We were fortunate in finding the managing director of the Cardiff
and Havre Coal Company, Ltd., at his office. Although the company
require the mews for the purpose of a depot, they are not unwilling
to sell, with a stipulation that the premises shall not be used by
any competing company during a period of twenty years from the date
of transfer. We stated that the site was required for a
philanthropic purpose, but the latter stipulation is insisted on.
The price asked is two thousand two hundred pounds, which we
consider excessive, there being a very inadequate approach.
Moreover, we wish to point out that O'Brien's shop does not adjoin
the mews, and it would be necessary to purchase two other houses to
make the entire property a compact one.
"However, adhering to the letter of your instructions, we have
pleasure in informing you that the two properties can be acquired
with very little delay, for two thousand six hundred and fifty
pounds. The legal and other charges will not exceed one hundred and
fifty pounds. We trust, etc."
Philip immediately wrote:
"I am greatly obliged by your promptitude in the matter of
Johnson's Mews and the shop. I inclose check herewith for two
thousand eight hundred pounds. The purchase of the other houses can
stand over for a few days."
This he dispatched by special messenger, and in a few minutes he held a
formal receipt.
A telegram came for him. It was from Mr. Abingdon.
"Can see you after six at my house."
Then Philip enjoyed his first real breathing space during hours of
daylight. He went by train to the cemetery in which his mother was
buried, carrying with him a beautiful wreath.
It was a remarkable fact that this was the first visit he had paid to
her grave. During the days of misery and partial madness which followed
her death he never lost the delusion that her spirit abided with him in
the poor dwelling they called "home."
Hence, the narrow resting place beneath the green turf in no way
appealed to him. But now, that a succession of extraordinary external
events had restored the balance of his mind, he realized that she was
really dead and buried; that what he revered as her spirit was in truth
a fragrant memory; that he would be nearest to her mortal remains when
standing in the remote corner of the burial ground allotted to the
poorest of the poor--those removed by one degree from pauperdom and a
parish grave.
It happened, by mere chance, that since Mrs. Anson's funeral no one had
been interred on one side of the small space purchased for her. There
were three vacant plots here, and a surprised official told Philip there
would be no difficulty in acquiring these for the purpose of erecting a
suitable monument.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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