Read Online The Affair Next Door by Anna Katherine Green - Free Book Online
Authors: Anna Katherine Green
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Gryce's deft hand, an appearance which some might
have called charming, but to me was simply grotesque and absurd.
"Is that a last spring's hat?" he inquired.
"I don't know, but I should say it had come fresh from the milliner's."
"I found it lying with a pair of gloves tucked inside it on an otherwise
empty shelf in the dining-room closet. It struck me as looking too new
for a discarded hat of either of the Misses Van Burnam. What do you
think?"
"Let me take it," said I.
"O, it's been worn," he smiled, "several times. And the hat-pin is in
it, too."
"There is something else I wish to see."
He handed it over.
"I think it belongs to one of them," I declared. "It was made by La Mole
of Fifth Avenue, whose prices are simply—wicked."
"But the young ladies have been gone—let me see—five months. Could
this have been bought before then?"
"Possibly, for this is an imported hat. But why should it have been left
lying about in that careless way? It cost twenty dollars, if not thirty,
and if for any reason its owner decided not to take it with her, why
didn't she pack it away properly? I have no patience with the modern
girl; she is made up of recklessness and extravagance."
"I hear that the young ladies are staying with you," was his suggestive
remark.
"They are."
"Then you can make some inquiries about this hat; also about the gloves,
which are an ordinary street pair."
"Of what color?"
"Grey; they are quite fresh, size six."
"Very well; I will ask the young ladies about them."
"This third room is used as a dining-room, and the closet where I found
them is one in which glass is kept. The presence of this hat there is a
mystery, but I presume the Misses Van Burnam can solve it. At all
events, it is very improbable that it has anything to do with the crime
which has been committed here."
"Very," I coincided.
"So improbable," he went on, "that on second thoughts I advise you not
to disturb the young ladies with questions concerning it unless further
reasons for doing so become apparent."
"Very well," I returned. But I was not deceived by his second thoughts.
As he was holding open the parlor door before me in a very significant
way, I tied my veil under my chin, and was about to leave when he
stopped me.
"I have another favor to ask," said he, and this time with his most
benignant smile. "Miss Butterworth, do you object to sitting up for a
few nights till twelve o'clock?"
"Not at all," I returned, "if there is any good reason for it."
"At twelve o'clock to-night a gentleman will enter this house. If you
will note him from your window I will be obliged."
"To see whether he is the same one I saw last night? Certainly I will
take a look, but—"
"To-morrow night," he went on, imperturbably, "the test will be
repeated, and I should like to have you take another look; without
prejudice, madam; remember, without prejudice."
"I have no prejudices—" I began.
"The test may not be concluded in two nights," he proceeded, without any
notice of my words. "So do not be in haste to spot your man, as the
vulgar expression is. And now good-night—we shall meet again
to-morrow."
"Wait!" I called peremptorily, for he was on the point of closing the
door. "I saw the man but faintly; it is an impression only that I
received. I would not wish a man to hang through any identification I
could make."
"No man hangs on simple identification. We shall have to prove the
crime, madam, but identification is important; even such as you can
make."
There was no more to be said; I uttered a calm good-night and hastened
away. By a judicious use of my opportunities I had become much less
ignorant on the all-important topic than when I entered the house.
It was half past eleven when I returned home, a late hour for me to
enter my respectable front door alone. But circumstances had warranted
my escapade, and it was with quite an easy conscience and a cheerful
sense of accomplishment that I went up to my room and prepared to sit
out the
have called charming, but to me was simply grotesque and absurd.
"Is that a last spring's hat?" he inquired.
"I don't know, but I should say it had come fresh from the milliner's."
"I found it lying with a pair of gloves tucked inside it on an otherwise
empty shelf in the dining-room closet. It struck me as looking too new
for a discarded hat of either of the Misses Van Burnam. What do you
think?"
"Let me take it," said I.
"O, it's been worn," he smiled, "several times. And the hat-pin is in
it, too."
"There is something else I wish to see."
He handed it over.
"I think it belongs to one of them," I declared. "It was made by La Mole
of Fifth Avenue, whose prices are simply—wicked."
"But the young ladies have been gone—let me see—five months. Could
this have been bought before then?"
"Possibly, for this is an imported hat. But why should it have been left
lying about in that careless way? It cost twenty dollars, if not thirty,
and if for any reason its owner decided not to take it with her, why
didn't she pack it away properly? I have no patience with the modern
girl; she is made up of recklessness and extravagance."
"I hear that the young ladies are staying with you," was his suggestive
remark.
"They are."
"Then you can make some inquiries about this hat; also about the gloves,
which are an ordinary street pair."
"Of what color?"
"Grey; they are quite fresh, size six."
"Very well; I will ask the young ladies about them."
"This third room is used as a dining-room, and the closet where I found
them is one in which glass is kept. The presence of this hat there is a
mystery, but I presume the Misses Van Burnam can solve it. At all
events, it is very improbable that it has anything to do with the crime
which has been committed here."
"Very," I coincided.
"So improbable," he went on, "that on second thoughts I advise you not
to disturb the young ladies with questions concerning it unless further
reasons for doing so become apparent."
"Very well," I returned. But I was not deceived by his second thoughts.
As he was holding open the parlor door before me in a very significant
way, I tied my veil under my chin, and was about to leave when he
stopped me.
"I have another favor to ask," said he, and this time with his most
benignant smile. "Miss Butterworth, do you object to sitting up for a
few nights till twelve o'clock?"
"Not at all," I returned, "if there is any good reason for it."
"At twelve o'clock to-night a gentleman will enter this house. If you
will note him from your window I will be obliged."
"To see whether he is the same one I saw last night? Certainly I will
take a look, but—"
"To-morrow night," he went on, imperturbably, "the test will be
repeated, and I should like to have you take another look; without
prejudice, madam; remember, without prejudice."
"I have no prejudices—" I began.
"The test may not be concluded in two nights," he proceeded, without any
notice of my words. "So do not be in haste to spot your man, as the
vulgar expression is. And now good-night—we shall meet again
to-morrow."
"Wait!" I called peremptorily, for he was on the point of closing the
door. "I saw the man but faintly; it is an impression only that I
received. I would not wish a man to hang through any identification I
could make."
"No man hangs on simple identification. We shall have to prove the
crime, madam, but identification is important; even such as you can
make."
There was no more to be said; I uttered a calm good-night and hastened
away. By a judicious use of my opportunities I had become much less
ignorant on the all-important topic than when I entered the house.
It was half past eleven when I returned home, a late hour for me to
enter my respectable front door alone. But circumstances had warranted
my escapade, and it was with quite an easy conscience and a cheerful
sense of accomplishment that I went up to my room and prepared to sit
out the
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