The Mystery of the Clasped Hands: A NovelBoothby, Guy
General
The Mystery of the Clasped Hands: A Novel
Boothby, Guy
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction
“You may rely upon my not doing so,” said Godfrey, and then Sir Vivian
entered his carriage and drove away.
Later, when Godfrey bade Molly good-night, she looked up at him with
sorrowful eyes.
“I feel sure,” she said, “that there is something you are keeping back
from me. I beg of you not to do so. You know how I love you, and how
earnest is my desire to share both your joys and your sorrows with you.
Will you not confide in me and tell me everything?”
“When there is anything worth the hearing, you may be sure I will tell
you, dear,” he answered, not daring to let her know the truth that
night. “In the morning we will talk the whole matter over and you shall
give me your advice. And now you must go to bed and try to obtain a good
night’s rest, for I am sure you did not sleep well last night.”
“I did not,” she answered. “I was thinking of you all night, for I knew
how you were dreading going up to-day.”
He did not tell her that he dreaded going up on Wednesday a great deal
more. He preferred to take her in his arms and kiss her, calling her his
good angel, swearing that he would love her all his life long, and that
even death itself should not separate them. Then he went to his room,
prepared to spend what he knew would be a sleepless night, and he was
not destined to be wrong. Hour after hour he tumbled and tossed upon his
bed, going over the day’s proceedings again and again, and speculating
with never-ceasing anxiety as to what was to happen in the future. At
last, unable to bear it any longer, he rose from his bed and went
downstairs to his studio, where he lighted his fire and smoked and read
until daylight. Then a cold bath somewhat refreshed him, and, as soon as
he had dressed, he set off across the park to the home farm. He was
always an early riser, and his presence there at that hour excited no
comment. He watched the sleek, soft-eyed cows being milked, saw the
handsome cart-horses, of which he had once been so proud, set off upon
their day’s work, had a quarter of an hour’s conversation with his
head-keeper at his cottage gate, and then returned home through the
plantations to breakfast. It was his mother’s habit to read prayers to
the household immediately before the meal, and, as he knelt by Molly’s
side, and listened to the old familiar words, his heart ached when he
thought of the misery that any moment might bring upon them.
As the first train from London did not arrive until somewhat late, the
morning papers were delivered with the letters, which usually reached
the Hall about half-past nine. When they arrived Godfrey selected one,
and took it with him to his studio. With a feeling that he had never
before experienced when opening a paper, he turned the crisp pages in
search of the column which he knew he would find. Then he saw in large
type:
THE BURFORD STREET MURDER
* * * * *
EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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