The Bandbox

Оглавление

Vance Louis Joseph. The Bandbox

I. INTRODUCING MR. IFF

II. THE BANDBOX

III. TWINS

IV. QUEENSTOWN

V. ISMAY?

VI. IFF?

VII. STOLE AWAY!

VIII. THE WRONG BOX

IX. A LIKELY STORY

X. DEAD O’ NIGHT

XI. THE COLD GREY DAWN

XII. WON’T YOU WALK INTO MY PARLOUR?

XIII. WRECK ISLAND

XIV. THE STRONG-BOX

XV. THE ENEMY’S HAND

XVI. NINETY MINUTES

XVII. HOLOCAUST

Отрывок из книги

In the playhouses of France, a hammering on the stage alone heralds the rising of the curtain to disclose illusory realms of romance. Precisely so with Mr. Staff, upon the door of whose lodging, at nine o’clock the next morning, a knocking announced the first overt move against his peace of mind.

At that time, Staff, all unconscious of his honourable peril, was standing in the middle of the floor of the inner room (his lodgings comprised two) and likewise in the approximate geographical centre of a chaotic assemblage of assorted wearing apparel and other personal impedimenta.

.....

“The woman what keeps the ’at-shop said as ’ow the ’at wasn’t to come back, sir. She said a young lidy bought it yestiddy ahfternoon and awsked to ’ave it sent you this mornin’ before nine o’clock.”

“The deuce she did!” said Staff blankly.

.....