FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180  
181   182   183   184   185   >>  
He half glanced at the solicitor's door--but on reflection went forward. A man who was walking across the Close pointed out the Folliot residence--Glassdale entered by the garden door, and in another minute came face to face with Folliot himself, busied, as usual, amongst his rose-trees. Glassdale saw Folliot and took stock of him before Folliot knew that a stranger was within his gates. Folliot, in an old jacket which he kept for his horticultural labours, was taking slips from a standard; he looked as harmless and peaceful as his occupation. A quiet, inoffensive, somewhat benevolent elderly man, engaged in work, which suggested leisure and peace. But Glassdale, after a first quick, searching glance, took another and longer one--and went nearer with a discreet laugh. Folliot turned quietly, and seeing the stranger, showed no surprise. He had a habit of looking over the top rims of his spectacles at people, and he looked in this way at Glassdale, glancing him up and down calmly. Glassdale lifted his slouch hat and advanced. "Mr. Folliot, I believe, sir?" he said. "Mr. Stephen Folliot?" "Aye, just so!" responded Folliot. "But I don't know you. Who may you be, now?" "My name, sir, is Glassdale," answered the other. "I've just come from your solicitor's. I called to see him this afternoon--and he told me that the business I called about could only be dealt with--or discussed--with you. So--I came here." Folliot, who had been cutting slips off a rose-tree, closed his knife and put it away in his old jacket. He turned and quietly inspected his visitor once more. "Aye!" he said quietly. "So you're after that thousand pound reward, eh?" "I should have no objection to it, Mr. Folliot," replied Glassdale. "I dare say not," remarked Folliot, dryly. "I dare say not! And which are you, now?--one of those who think they can tell something, or one that really can tell? Eh?" "You'll know that better when we've had a bit of talk, Mr. Folliot," answered Glassdale, accompanying his reply with a direct glance. "Oh, well, now then, I've no objection to a bit of talk--none whatever!" said Folliot. "Here!--we'll sit down on that bench, amongst the roses. Quite private here--nobody about. And now," he continued, as Glassdale accompanied him to a rustic bench set beneath a pergola of rambler roses, "who are you, like? I read a queer account in this morning's local paper of what happened in the Cathedral grounds yonde
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180  
181   182   183   184   185   >>  



Top keywords:

Folliot

 

Glassdale

 

quietly

 
called
 

looked

 
glance
 

objection

 
answered
 

turned

 

stranger


solicitor

 

jacket

 

morning

 

account

 
business
 
rambler
 
visitor
 

inspected

 

grounds

 

happened


Cathedral
 

cutting

 

discussed

 
closed
 

direct

 

accompanying

 

private

 

replied

 
beneath
 
pergola

reward
 

rustic

 
continued
 

remarked

 
accompanied
 

thousand

 

horticultural

 

labours

 

taking

 

standard


harmless

 

benevolent

 

elderly

 

engaged

 

inoffensive

 

peaceful

 

occupation

 
walking
 

pointed

 

forward