The Silent House

lively in the extreme, wore very fashionable garments of the brightest colours, and-although some

he pinched her waist, dyed her hair, powdered her face, and affected juvenile dress of the white frock and blue sash kind. In the distance she looked a girlish twenty; close at hand various a

e death of her father, and had grown up to assist her mother in ministering to the exactions of a continuous procession of lodgers. These came and went, married and died; but not one of the desirable young men had borne Miss Greeb to the altar

poor little woman really fell in love with his handsome face. But, in strange contrast to her other efforts, Miss Greeb never for a moment deemed

eb would retire to her own sitting-room and indulge in day dreams which she well knew would never be realised. The romances she wove herself were even more marvellous than those she read in her favourite penny novelettes; but, unlike the printed tales, her romance never culminated in marriage. Poor brainless, silly, pitiful

Greeb lingered about the room, putting this straight and that crooked, in the hope that Lucian would converse with her. In this she was gratified, as Denzil wished to learn details about the strange man he had assisted on the previou

about No. 13?" asked L

. "Of course I do, Mr. Denzil. There ain't a thing I don't know about that

l Mr. Berwi

ystery, sir, that's what Mr. Berwin is, and I d

demanded Denzil, approaching th

, "no one can find out anything about him. He's full of secrets and underhand

ntleman should tell his private affairs to

retorted Miss Greeb tartly. "And the way in which Mr. Berwin lives is enoug

e you to believe him

tements. Nevertheless, she made a determined attempt to substantiate them by hearsay evide

the right to be a misa

s. Mr. Berwin won't have a servant to live under his roof, and Mrs. Kebby, who does his charing, says he drinks awful. Then he has his meals sent in from the Nelson Hotel round the corner, and eat

llow-men, and desire t

is fellow-men," she said with emphasis, "but that

hat?" said Lucian, contemptuo

zil; but where do tho

u mean, Mi

ce to this square, sir, and Blinders, the policeman, is frequently on duty there. Two or three nights he's met Mr

of that?" said D

has seen shadows-two or three of them-on the sitting-room blind. Now, sir," cried Miss Greeb,

e back," conje

a fence, but no entrance. To get in there you have to go in by the front door or down the aiery steps; and you can't do neithe

e square during the day, wh

t myself, and as my duty to the square I have inquired-that I have. On

puzzled, "Mr. Berwin canno

over the house, and there isn't another soul in it. No, Mr. Denzil, take it what way you will, ther

Miss G

think of having anything to do with this mystery, Mr. Denzil, I beg of you not

ch

e to say what I think. I am the last person in the world to meddle with what don't concern me-that I

no tangible charge against her opposite neighbour; and therefore hinted at his complicity i

there was something queer about Mr. Berwin and his mode of life. The man's self-pity and self-condemnation; his hints that certain people wished to do him harm; the curious episode of the shadows on the blind-

ourably strove to dismiss the tenant of No. 13 and his tantalising environments from his mi

various inquiries of her gossips regarding the doings of Mr. Berwin, and in default of reporting the same to her lodger, occupied herself in discussing them with her neighbours. The cons

osity to such a pitch that, with some feeling of shame for his weakness, he walked round the squar

re had been a slight fall of snow, so Lucian wrapped himself up well, lighted his pipe, and proceeded to take the air by tramping twice or thrice round the square. Overhead the sky

ted blind. Even as he looked, two shadows darkened the white surface-the shadows of a man and a woman. Evidently they had come between the lamp and the window, and

phere of light, and again came into it, still continuing their furious gestures. Unexpectedly the male shadow seized the female by

nguished, and he could see nothing more. Again and again he rang, but without attracting attention; so Lucian finally left the house and went in search

ise he behel