The Crooked House

rooke

sed them-on others he contented himself with less harrowing minor freaks-but the object of thoroughly upsetting and confounding the mental balances of his victims was invariably achieved. He delighted, and displayed remarkable ingenuity, in providing orgies of the abnormal. He reveled in producing an atmosphere of brain-storm, and in deal

was said that things took place in his house that sealed the lips of men and women. When his name was mentioned in the clubs, some men shrugged their shoulders. When it was spoken in the drawing-rooms, some women remained silent. There had been an att

ole building were the same size-scarcely two rooms were the same shape-and not even two contortions corresponded. There must have been a mile of unnecessary corridors, dozens of incomprehensible corners and turnings, and at least a score of unwanted entrances and exits. If the aim and object of the architect, whoever he wa

at a general suggestion of something between a Royal visit and preparations for a wildly enthusiastic Christmas. Flags and festoons, flowers, real and imitation, fairy-candles and colored lamps, burning

id from an excess of luxury, unable to brook opposition even to a whim, and as yet undefeated in the attainment of her desires, which were not, perhaps, always to the credit of her sex. She had an insufficient income, and a weakness for inscribing her signature on stamped

ets were all in the name of his wife. A bejeweled Russian danseuse, who spoke broken English with a Highland accent, extolled the attractions of theatrical investment to a Hebrew financier, who was feasti

scending to visit our plane? The mystery is explained at o

er. He stood aside. "Permit me to i

lightful!"

pont bent o

"I change completely

er inquired, gazing with amaz

over Mrs. Astle

a message asking us to wait for him h

particularly susceptible-but to an artistic temperament I can understand that the effe

rned, a little shortly.

to the door. The movement

e," she muttered-and

is companion a

g. "How do you like this

pont slowly-"into what manner

Tranter replied. "I warned you to

tands on a crooked road, and there are crooked paths

crooked enough, at any

sieur Dupont, "are not only c

There was a gleam of e

are a mockery of all decorations-a travesty the most heartless of the motives for which good and pure people decorate. There is nothing hones

lled appearance burst into the room. His eyes were wild, a

he panted. "C

in a dazed fashion, clenchin

rward with a suppressed cry

d sharply-"what

e was staring at the flags, the light

," he muttered.

death. Her hands were lo

true?" sh

opplestone's elderly manservant appear

requests that you will leave his house. I ha

posed and dignified. The passion died out of his face, l

"that, rather than allow Christine Manderson to become engaged to George Copplestone, I will tear her t

seemed to have grown old and weak. Her whole frame appeared to have shrunk under an overwhelming blow. For som

hat if Miss Manderson is in th

," said the the

t," agreed the R

" Tranter remarked, "if he

y like contempt in Mrs.

nine hundred and ninety-nine pounds a week on saving lives and souls in places in London that people like us try to avoid e

le," said the H

back on them, a

laid a hand on

est tremor in his voice, "I ask you again-in

d not brought you," Tranter retur

r. To me the atmosphere is extremely interesting. If I were a sport

that we should be wise to leave. We don't wa

upont shoo

e may have been mad yesterday. He may be m

uld much rather go. Events under this roof h

he conclusion of a story with which the theatrical manager had attempte

lle Manderson-d

she is some new friend of Copplestone's. If she is really e

s glance found M

d softly-"I do n

man appeared between them-a tall, thick-set man, in full evening-dress, with a large whi

ranter whispered

muttered Mon

forehead proclaimed a mind that might have placed him among the rulers of men-but instead he was little above the level of a clown. The destinies of a nation might have rested in the hands that he turned

ey-Rolfe turned quickly to him with something of a challenge in her bearing, a faint mocking smi

erately, "permit me to present you to

he curtai

aid Monsieur

e. Tranter uttered an exclamation. The danseuse, the clergy

ranscendent loveliness. In the soft light it seemed almost a celestia

ile vanished. Her eyes became fixed and staring; her face se