This novel is narrated by John Fothergill West, who tries to discover why the tenant of Cloomber Hall, General Heatherstone, is nervous to the point of being paranoid. Why are his fears becoming stronger every year at the fifth of October? And why doesn't he let his children leave home? This is a great mystery novel with a sharp twist at the end.
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Arthur Conan Doyle. The Mystery of Cloomber
I. The Hegira of the Wests from Edinburgh
II. Of the strange manner in which a tenant came to Cloomber
III. Of our further acquaintance with major-general J. B. Heatherstone
IV. Of a young man with a grey head
V. How four of us came to be under the shadow of Cloomber
VI. How I came to be enlisted as one of the Garrison of Cloomber
VII. Of corporal Rufus Smith and his coming to Cloomber
VIII. Statement of Israel stakes
IX. Narrative of John Easterling, F.R.C.P. EDIN
X. Of the letter which came from the Hall
XI. Of the casting away of the barque "Belinda"
XII. Of the three foreign men upon the coast
XIII. In which I see that which has been seen by few
XIV. Of the visitor who ran down the road in the night-time
XV. The day-book of John Berthier Heatherstone
XVI. At the hole of Cree
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Branksome might have appeared a poor dwelling-place when compared with the house of an English squire, but to us, after our long residence in stuffy apartments, it was of regal magnificence.
The building was broad-spread and low, with red-tiled roof, diamond-paned windows, and a profusion of dwelling rooms with smoke-blackened ceilings and oaken wainscots. In front was a small lawn, girt round with a thin fringe of haggard and ill grown beeches, all gnarled and withered from the effects of the sea-spray. Behind lay the scattered hamlet of Branksome-Bere – a dozen cottages at most – inhabited by rude fisher-folk who looked upon the laird as their natural protector.
.....
"I came up," I explained, "because I saw your lights in the windows, and I bought that something might be wrong. I am very glad I did so, since it has given me the chance of making the general's acquaintance."
Whilst I was talking, I was conscious that the new tenant of Cloomber Hall was peering at me very closely through the darkness. As I concluded, he stretched out a long, tremulous arm, and turned the gig-lamp in such a way as to throw a flood of light upon my face.
