Anthony Hope

The Secret of the Tower Anthony Hope

Book Excerpt: ...week; her books must have tallied almost to a penny every month, Mrs. Naylor! I know it! And it was a very rare thing indeed for Mr. Saffron to go to London--though I have known him to be away once or twice. But very, very rarely!" She paused and added dramatically, "Until the armistice!""Full of ramifications, that event, Miss Wall. It affects even my business." Mr. Naylor, though now withdrawn from an active share in its conduct, was still interested in the large shipping firm from which he had drawn his comfortable fortune. She looked at him suspiciously, as he put the ends of the slender white fingers of his two hands together, and leant forward to listen with that smile of his and eyes faintly twinkling. But the problem was seething in her brain; she had to go on."A week after the armistice Mr. Saffron went to London by the 9.50. He traveled first, Anna.""Did he, dear?" Mrs. Naylor, a stout and placid dame, was not yet stirred to excitement."He came down by the 4.11...