Melville Davisson Post

The Sleuth of St. James's Square Melville Davisson Post

Book Excerpt: ut putting down the glass.... His face was strange, Excellency.... Then he looked at me."'Put a log on the fire, ' he said."I went in and added wood to the fire and came out."The Master remained in the doorway; he reentered when I came out, and closed the door behind him.... There was a long silence after that; them I heard the voice, permitted to the devocation thin, metallic, offering the barter to the Master. It began and ceased because the Master was on his feet and before the fireplace. I heard him swear again, and presently return to his place by the table."The big Oriental lifted his face and looked out at the sweep of country before the window."The thing went on, Excellency, the voice offering its lure, and presenting it in brief flashes of materialization, and the Master endeavoring to seize and detain the visitations, which ceased instantly at his approach to the hearth."The man paused."I knew the Master contended in vain against the thing; if hRead More