The Mystery of M. FelixFarjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold)
General
The Mystery of M. Felix
Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold)
Detective and mystery stories; English fiction -- 19th century
Neither telegram nor letter had arrived for me at the inn, and a
little after eleven I was at the station, awaiting the train. It was
punctual to time, and stopped just long enough to enable me to jump
in. Then we whirled on to London, which we reached at three o'clock in
the morning. At such an hour a visit to Emilia was out of the
question, and I had perforce to bide till morning. The delay gave me
opportunity for a few hours' sleep, and at nine o'clock I was in the
presence of Emilia. Although she received me with signs of
perturbation I observed a change in her. Her eyes were brighter, and
there was a certain joyousness in her manner which I was glad to see.
"You have had good news," I said.
"I have," she replied, "the best of good news. But what brings you
again to London so unexpectedly, dear friend?"
I thought of the secret in my possession which identified Dr.
Peterssen's patient, Number One, as Gerald Paget, whom she had mourned
as dead for nineteen years. But I did not dare to whisper it to her
lest I should inspire delusive hopes. The proof had yet to be
established, and until that was done it would be best and most
merciful to preserve silence.
"I come entirely upon your business," I said, "and I wish to get back
at once."
"How good you are to me!" she murmured. "Never, never can I repay you
for all your kindness."
"We will not speak of that. But you can give me some return now. I
think I may truly say that I deserve your confidence."
"Indeed, indeed you do."
"I sent you a telegram yesterday."
"Yes, I received it."
"I expected one from you."
"I am sorry," she said, "but I had nothing to communicate, and M.
Bordier desired me neither to write nor telegraph to anyone till he
saw me. I was bound to obey him with so much at stake."
"Yes, I understand all that. He is aware that I am a reporter on a
newspaper, and he fears I shall make improper use of information. I
cannot blame him, but he is mistaken. Did not M. Bordier return to
London yesterday?"
"No."
"He gave you instructions, then, by letter."
"By letter and telegrams."
She took from her pocket a letter, and two telegrams in their familiar
buff-colored envelopes, and, after a little hesitation, handed me the
latter.
"I cannot think I am doing wrong in letting you see them," she said.
The first telegram ran: "I have good news, the best of news. Keep a
good heart. Julian unites with me in love to you and Constance."
"His son is with him?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied. "Poor Julian!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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