Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
¡¡¡¡ It was to this breezy and whimsical spot that Jude ascended from the nearest station for the first time in his life about four o'clock one afternoon, and entering on the summit of the peak after a toilsome climb, passed the first houses of the aerial town; and drew towards the school-house. The hour was too early; the pupils were still in school, humming small, like a swarm of gnats; and he withdrew a few steps along Abbey Walk, whence he regarded the spot which fate had made the home of all he loved best in the world. In front of the schools, which were extensive and stone-built, grew two enormous beeches with smooth mouse-coloured trunks, as such trees will only grow on chalk uplands. Within the mullioned and transomed windows he could see the black, brown, and flaxen crowns of the scholars over the sills, and to pass the time away he walked down to the level terrace where the abbey gardens once had spread, his heart throbbing in spite of him. ¡¡¡¡ Unwilling to enter till the children were dismissed he remained here till young voices could be heard in the open air, and girls in white pinafores over red and blue frocks appeared dancing along the paths which the abbess, prioress, subprioress, and fifty nuns had demurely paced three centuries earlier. Retracing his steps he found that he had waited too long, and that Sue had gone out into the town at the heels of the last scholar, Mr. Phillotson having been absent all the afternoon at a teachers' meeting at Shottsford.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
seated nude
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
¡¡¡¡ "Oh dear no!--'twould alarm the neighbourhood.... Yes, there is one. I am not familiar with it now, though I was interested in it when my former friend was alive. Cowper's APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS." ¡¡¡¡ "That sounds like what I want." His thoughts, however reverted with a twinge to the "former friend"--by whom she meant, as he knew, the university comrade of her earlier days. He wondered if she talked of him to Phillotson. ¡¡¡¡ "The Gospel of Nicodemus is very nice," she went on to keep him from his jealous thoughts, which she read clearly, as she always did. Indeed when they talked on an indifferent subject, as now, there was ever a second silent conversation passing between their emotions, so perfect was the reciprocity between them. "It is quite like the genuine article. All cut up into verses, too; so that it is like one of the other evangelists read in a dream, when things are the same, yet not the same. But, Jude, do you take an interest in those questions still? Are you getting up APOLOGETICA?" ¡¡¡¡ "Yes. I am reading Divinity harder than ever." ¡¡¡¡ She regarded him curiously. ¡¡¡¡ "Why do you look at me like that?" said Jude. ¡¡¡¡ "Oh--why do you want to know?" ¡¡¡¡ "I am sure you can tell me anything I may be ignorant
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
¡¡¡¡ "Oh dear no!--'twould alarm the neighbourhood.... Yes, there is one. I am not familiar with it now, though I was interested in it when my former friend was alive. Cowper's APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS." ¡¡¡¡ "That sounds like what I want." His thoughts, however reverted with a twinge to the "former friend"--by whom she meant, as he knew, the university comrade of her earlier days. He wondered if she talked of him to Phillotson. ¡¡¡¡ "The Gospel of Nicodemus is very nice," she went on to keep him from his jealous thoughts, which she read clearly, as she always did. Indeed when they talked on an indifferent subject, as now, there was ever a second silent conversation passing between their emotions, so perfect was the reciprocity between them. "It is quite like the genuine article. All cut up into verses, too; so that it is like one of the other evangelists read in a dream, when things are the same, yet not the same. But, Jude, do you take an interest in those questions still? Are you getting up APOLOGETICA?" ¡¡¡¡ "Yes. I am reading Divinity harder than ever." ¡¡¡¡ She regarded him curiously. ¡¡¡¡ "Why do you look at me like that?" said Jude. ¡¡¡¡ "Oh--why do you want to know?" ¡¡¡¡ "I am sure you can tell me anything I may be ignorant
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
¡¡¡¡ "I went to see him." ¡¡¡¡ "Oh, you goose--to do just what I should have done! Why did you?" ¡¡¡¡ "Because we are not alike," he said drily. ¡¡¡¡ "Now we'll have some tea," said Sue. "Shall we have it here instead of in my house? It is no trouble to get the kettle and things brought in. We don't live at the school you know, but in that ancient dwelling across the way called Old-Grove Place. It is so antique and dismal that it depresses me dreadfully. Such houses are very well to visit, but not to live in--I feel crushed into the earth by the weight of so many previous lives there spent. In a new place like these schools there is only your own life to support. Sit down, and I'll tell Ada to bring the tea-things across." ¡¡¡¡ He waited in the light of the stove, the door of which she flung open before going out, and when she returned, followed by the maiden with tea, they sat down by the same light, assisted by the blue rays of a spirit-lamp under the brass kettle on the stand. ¡¡¡¡ "This is one of your wedding-presents to me," she said, signifying the latter. ¡¡¡¡ "Yes," said Jude. ¡¡¡¡ The kettle of his gift sang with some satire in its note, to his mind; and to change the subject he said, "Do you know of any good readable edition of the uncanonical books of the New Testament? You don't read them in the school I suppose?"
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
¡¡¡¡ "I went to see him." ¡¡¡¡ "Oh, you goose--to do just what I should have done! Why did you?" ¡¡¡¡ "Because we are not alike," he said drily. ¡¡¡¡ "Now we'll have some tea," said Sue. "Shall we have it here instead of in my house? It is no trouble to get the kettle and things brought in. We don't live at the school you know, but in that ancient dwelling across the way called Old-Grove Place. It is so antique and dismal that it depresses me dreadfully. Such houses are very well to visit, but not to live in--I feel crushed into the earth by the weight of so many previous lives there spent. In a new place like these schools there is only your own life to support. Sit down, and I'll tell Ada to bring the tea-things across." ¡¡¡¡ He waited in the light of the stove, the door of which she flung open before going out, and when she returned, followed by the maiden with tea, they sat down by the same light, assisted by the blue rays of a spirit-lamp under the brass kettle on the stand. ¡¡¡¡ "This is one of your wedding-presents to me," she said, signifying the latter. ¡¡¡¡ "Yes," said Jude. ¡¡¡¡ The kettle of his gift sang with some satire in its note, to his mind; and to change the subject he said, "Do you know of any good readable edition of the uncanonical books of the New Testament? You don't read them in the school I suppose?"
precious time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
¡¡¡¡ "It is odd," she said, in a voice quite changed, "that I should care about that air; because----" ¡¡¡¡ "Because what?" ¡¡¡¡ "I am not that sort--quite." ¡¡¡¡ "Not easily moved?" ¡¡¡¡ "I didn't quite mean that." ¡¡¡¡ "Oh, but you ARE one of that sort, for you are just like me at heart!" ¡¡¡¡ "But not at head." ¡¡¡¡ She played on and suddenly turned round; and by an unpremeditated instinct each clasped the other's hand again. ¡¡¡¡ She uttered a forced little laugh as she relinquished his quickly. "How funny!" she said. "I wonder what we both did that for?" ¡¡¡¡ "I suppose because we are both alike, as I said before." ¡¡¡¡ "Not in our thoughts! Perhaps a little in our feelings." ¡¡¡¡ "And they rule thoughts.... Isn't it enough to make one blaspheme that the composer of that hymn is one of the most commonplace men I ever met!" ¡¡¡¡ "What--you know him?"
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
¡¡¡¡ "It is odd," she said, in a voice quite changed, "that I should care about that air; because----" ¡¡¡¡ "Because what?" ¡¡¡¡ "I am not that sort--quite." ¡¡¡¡ "Not easily moved?" ¡¡¡¡ "I didn't quite mean that." ¡¡¡¡ "Oh, but you ARE one of that sort, for you are just like me at heart!" ¡¡¡¡ "But not at head." ¡¡¡¡ She played on and suddenly turned round; and by an unpremeditated instinct each clasped the other's hand again. ¡¡¡¡ She uttered a forced little laugh as she relinquished his quickly. "How funny!" she said. "I wonder what we both did that for?" ¡¡¡¡ "I suppose because we are both alike, as I said before." ¡¡¡¡ "Not in our thoughts! Perhaps a little in our feelings." ¡¡¡¡ "And they rule thoughts.... Isn't it enough to make one blaspheme that the composer of that hymn is one of the most commonplace men I ever met!" ¡¡¡¡ "What--you know him?"
Naiade oil painting
Naiade oil painting
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
¡¡¡¡ Jude went into the empty schoolroom and sat down, the girl who was sweeping the floor having informed him that Mrs. Phillotson would be back again in a few minutes. A piano stood near-- actually the old piano that Phillotson had possessed at Marygreen-- and though the dark afternoon almost prevented him seeing the notes Jude touched them in his humble way, and could not help modulating into the hymn which had so affected him in the previous week. ¡¡¡¡ A figure moved behind him, and thinking it was still the girl with the broom Jude took no notice, till the person came close and laid her fingers lightly upon his bass hand. The imposed hand was a little one he seemed to know, and he turned. ¡¡¡¡ "Don't stop," said Sue. "I like it. I learnt it before I left Melchester. They used to play it in the training school." ¡¡¡¡ "I can't strum before you! Play it for me." ¡¡¡¡ "Oh well--I don't mind." ¡¡¡¡ Sue sat down, and her rendering of the piece, though not remarkable, seemed divine as compared with his own. She, like him, was evidently touched--to her own surprise--by the recalled air; and when she had finished, and he moved his hand towards hers, it met his own half-way. Jude grasped it--just as he had done before her marriage.
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
¡¡¡¡ Jude went into the empty schoolroom and sat down, the girl who was sweeping the floor having informed him that Mrs. Phillotson would be back again in a few minutes. A piano stood near-- actually the old piano that Phillotson had possessed at Marygreen-- and though the dark afternoon almost prevented him seeing the notes Jude touched them in his humble way, and could not help modulating into the hymn which had so affected him in the previous week. ¡¡¡¡ A figure moved behind him, and thinking it was still the girl with the broom Jude took no notice, till the person came close and laid her fingers lightly upon his bass hand. The imposed hand was a little one he seemed to know, and he turned. ¡¡¡¡ "Don't stop," said Sue. "I like it. I learnt it before I left Melchester. They used to play it in the training school." ¡¡¡¡ "I can't strum before you! Play it for me." ¡¡¡¡ "Oh well--I don't mind." ¡¡¡¡ Sue sat down, and her rendering of the piece, though not remarkable, seemed divine as compared with his own. She, like him, was evidently touched--to her own surprise--by the recalled air; and when she had finished, and he moved his hand towards hers, it met his own half-way. Jude grasped it--just as he had done before her marriage.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
the polish rider
the polish rider
the Night Watch
The Nut Gatherers
The Painter's Honeymoon
And the other--this undergraduate in cap and gown--who is he?" ¡¡¡¡ "He is a friend, or was. She has never told his name." ¡¡¡¡ "Was it either of these two who came for her?" ¡¡¡¡ "No." ¡¡¡¡ "You are sure 'twas not the undergraduate?" ¡¡¡¡ "Quite. He was a young man with a black beard." ¡¡¡¡ The lights were promptly extinguished, and till they fell asleep the girls indulged in conjectures about Sue, and wondered what games she had carried on in London and at Christminster before she came here, some of the more restless ones getting out of bed and looking from the mullioned windows at the vast west front of the cathedral opposite, and the spire rising behind it. ¡¡¡¡ When they awoke the next morning they glanced into Sue's nook, to find it still without a tenant. After the early lessons by gas-light, in half-toilet, and when they had come up to dress for breakfast, the bell of the entrance gate was heard to ring loudly. The mistress of the dormitory went away, and presently came back to say that the principal's orders were that nobody was to speak to Bridehead without permission.
the Night Watch
The Nut Gatherers
The Painter's Honeymoon
And the other--this undergraduate in cap and gown--who is he?" ¡¡¡¡ "He is a friend, or was. She has never told his name." ¡¡¡¡ "Was it either of these two who came for her?" ¡¡¡¡ "No." ¡¡¡¡ "You are sure 'twas not the undergraduate?" ¡¡¡¡ "Quite. He was a young man with a black beard." ¡¡¡¡ The lights were promptly extinguished, and till they fell asleep the girls indulged in conjectures about Sue, and wondered what games she had carried on in London and at Christminster before she came here, some of the more restless ones getting out of bed and looking from the mullioned windows at the vast west front of the cathedral opposite, and the spire rising behind it. ¡¡¡¡ When they awoke the next morning they glanced into Sue's nook, to find it still without a tenant. After the early lessons by gas-light, in half-toilet, and when they had come up to dress for breakfast, the bell of the entrance gate was heard to ring loudly. The mistress of the dormitory went away, and presently came back to say that the principal's orders were that nobody was to speak to Bridehead without permission.
Spring Breeze
Spring Breeze
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
More lanterns were procured, and the river examined; and then, at last, on the opposite shore, which was open to the fields, some little boot-tracks were discerned in the mud, which left no doubt that the too excitable girl had waded through a depth of water reaching nearly to her shoulders--for this was the chief river of the county, and was mentioned in all the geography books with respect. As Sue had not brought disgrace upon the school by drowning herself, the matron began to speak superciliously of her, and to express gladness that she was gone. ¡¡¡¡ On the self-same evening Jude sat in his lodgings by the Close Gate. Often at this hour after dusk he would enter the silent Close, and stand opposite the house that contained Sue, and watch the shadows of the girls' heads passing to and fro upon the blinds, and wish he had nothing else to do but to sit reading and learning all day what many of the thoughtless inmates despised. But to-night, having finished tea and brushed himself up, he was deep in the perusal of the Twenty-ninth Volume of Pusey's Library of the Fathers, a set of books which he had purchased of a second-hand dealer at a price that seemed to him to be one of miraculous cheapness for that invaluable work. He fancied he heard something rattle lightly against his window; then he heard it again. Certainly somebody had thrown gravel. He rose and gently lifted the sash.
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
More lanterns were procured, and the river examined; and then, at last, on the opposite shore, which was open to the fields, some little boot-tracks were discerned in the mud, which left no doubt that the too excitable girl had waded through a depth of water reaching nearly to her shoulders--for this was the chief river of the county, and was mentioned in all the geography books with respect. As Sue had not brought disgrace upon the school by drowning herself, the matron began to speak superciliously of her, and to express gladness that she was gone. ¡¡¡¡ On the self-same evening Jude sat in his lodgings by the Close Gate. Often at this hour after dusk he would enter the silent Close, and stand opposite the house that contained Sue, and watch the shadows of the girls' heads passing to and fro upon the blinds, and wish he had nothing else to do but to sit reading and learning all day what many of the thoughtless inmates despised. But to-night, having finished tea and brushed himself up, he was deep in the perusal of the Twenty-ninth Volume of Pusey's Library of the Fathers, a set of books which he had purchased of a second-hand dealer at a price that seemed to him to be one of miraculous cheapness for that invaluable work. He fancied he heard something rattle lightly against his window; then he heard it again. Certainly somebody had thrown gravel. He rose and gently lifted the sash.
The Broken Pitcher
The Broken Pitcher
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
Presently, towards dusk, the pupils, as they sat, heard exclamations from the first-year's girls in an adjoining classroom, and one rushed in to say that Sue Bridehead had got out of the back window of the room in which she had been confined, escaped in the dark across the lawn, and disappeared. How she had managed to get out of the garden nobody could tell, as it was bounded by the river at the bottom, and the side door was locked. ¡¡¡¡ They went and looked at the empty room, the casement between the middle mullions of which stood open. The lawn was again searched with a lantern, every bush and shrub being examined, but she was nowhere hidden. Then the porter of the front gate was interrogated, and on reflection he said that he remembered hearing a sort of splashing in the stream at the back, but he had taken no notice, thinking some ducks had come down the river from above. ¡¡¡¡ "She must have walked through the river!" said a mistress. ¡¡¡¡ "Or drownded herself," said the porter. ¡¡¡¡ The mind of the matron was horrified--not so much at the possible death of Sue as at the possible half-column detailing that event in all the newspapers, which, added to the scandal of the year before, would give the college an unenviable notoriety for many months to come.
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
Presently, towards dusk, the pupils, as they sat, heard exclamations from the first-year's girls in an adjoining classroom, and one rushed in to say that Sue Bridehead had got out of the back window of the room in which she had been confined, escaped in the dark across the lawn, and disappeared. How she had managed to get out of the garden nobody could tell, as it was bounded by the river at the bottom, and the side door was locked. ¡¡¡¡ They went and looked at the empty room, the casement between the middle mullions of which stood open. The lawn was again searched with a lantern, every bush and shrub being examined, but she was nowhere hidden. Then the porter of the front gate was interrogated, and on reflection he said that he remembered hearing a sort of splashing in the stream at the back, but he had taken no notice, thinking some ducks had come down the river from above. ¡¡¡¡ "She must have walked through the river!" said a mistress. ¡¡¡¡ "Or drownded herself," said the porter. ¡¡¡¡ The mind of the matron was horrified--not so much at the possible death of Sue as at the possible half-column detailing that event in all the newspapers, which, added to the scandal of the year before, would give the college an unenviable notoriety for many months to come.
the night watch by rembrandt
the night watch by rembrandt
The Jewel Casket
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
¡¡¡¡ When, accordingly, Sue came into the dormitory to hastily tidy herself, looking flushed and tired, she went to her cubicle in silence, none of them coming out to greet her or to make inquiry. When they had gone downstairs they found that she did not follow them into the dining-hall to breakfast, and they then learnt that she had been severely reprimanded, and ordered to a solitary room for a week, there to be confined, and take her meals, and do all her reading. ¡¡¡¡ At this the seventy murmured, the sentence being, they thought, too severe. A round robin was prepared and sent in to the principal, asking for a remission of Sue's punishment. No notice was taken. Towards evening, when the geography mistress began dictating her subject, the girls in the class sat with folded arms. ¡¡¡¡ "You mean that you are not going to work?" said the mistress at last. "I may as well tell you that it has been ascertained that the young man Bridehead stayed out with was not her cousin, for the very good reason that she has no such relative. We have written to Christminster to ascertain." ¡¡¡¡ "We are willing to take her word," said the head girl. ¡¡¡¡ "This young man was discharged from his work at Christminster for drunkenness and blasphemy in public-houses, and he has come here to live, entirely to be near her." ¡¡¡¡ However, they remained stolid and motionless, and the mistress left the room to inquire from her superiors what was to be done.
The Jewel Casket
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
¡¡¡¡ When, accordingly, Sue came into the dormitory to hastily tidy herself, looking flushed and tired, she went to her cubicle in silence, none of them coming out to greet her or to make inquiry. When they had gone downstairs they found that she did not follow them into the dining-hall to breakfast, and they then learnt that she had been severely reprimanded, and ordered to a solitary room for a week, there to be confined, and take her meals, and do all her reading. ¡¡¡¡ At this the seventy murmured, the sentence being, they thought, too severe. A round robin was prepared and sent in to the principal, asking for a remission of Sue's punishment. No notice was taken. Towards evening, when the geography mistress began dictating her subject, the girls in the class sat with folded arms. ¡¡¡¡ "You mean that you are not going to work?" said the mistress at last. "I may as well tell you that it has been ascertained that the young man Bridehead stayed out with was not her cousin, for the very good reason that she has no such relative. We have written to Christminster to ascertain." ¡¡¡¡ "We are willing to take her word," said the head girl. ¡¡¡¡ "This young man was discharged from his work at Christminster for drunkenness and blasphemy in public-houses, and he has come here to live, entirely to be near her." ¡¡¡¡ However, they remained stolid and motionless, and the mistress left the room to inquire from her superiors what was to be done.
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
¡¡¡¡ "Then don't come down. Shut the window." ¡¡¡¡ Jude waited, knowing that she could enter easily enough, the front door being opened merely by a knob which anybody could turn, as in most old country towns. He palpitated at the thought that she had fled to him in her trouble as he had fled to her in his. What counterparts they were! He unlatched the door of his room, heard a stealthy rustle on the dark stairs, and in a moment she appeared in the light of his lamp. He went up to seize her hand, and found she was clammy as a marine deity, and that her clothes clung to her like the robes upon the figures in the Parthenon frieze. ¡¡¡¡ "I'm so cold!" she said through her chattering teeth. "Can I come by your fire, Jude?" ¡¡¡¡ She crossed to his little grate and very little fire, but as the water dripped from her as she moved, the idea of drying herself was absurd. "Whatever have you done, darling?" he asked, with alarm, the tender epithet slipping out unawares. ¡¡¡¡ "Walked through the largest river in the county--that's what I've done! They locked me up for being out with you; and it seemed so unjust that I couldn't bear it, so I got out of the window and escaped across the stream!" She had begun the explanation in her usual slightly independent tones, but before she had finished the thin pink lips trembled, and she could hardly refrain from crying.
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
¡¡¡¡ "Then don't come down. Shut the window." ¡¡¡¡ Jude waited, knowing that she could enter easily enough, the front door being opened merely by a knob which anybody could turn, as in most old country towns. He palpitated at the thought that she had fled to him in her trouble as he had fled to her in his. What counterparts they were! He unlatched the door of his room, heard a stealthy rustle on the dark stairs, and in a moment she appeared in the light of his lamp. He went up to seize her hand, and found she was clammy as a marine deity, and that her clothes clung to her like the robes upon the figures in the Parthenon frieze. ¡¡¡¡ "I'm so cold!" she said through her chattering teeth. "Can I come by your fire, Jude?" ¡¡¡¡ She crossed to his little grate and very little fire, but as the water dripped from her as she moved, the idea of drying herself was absurd. "Whatever have you done, darling?" he asked, with alarm, the tender epithet slipping out unawares. ¡¡¡¡ "Walked through the largest river in the county--that's what I've done! They locked me up for being out with you; and it seemed so unjust that I couldn't bear it, so I got out of the window and escaped across the stream!" She had begun the explanation in her usual slightly independent tones, but before she had finished the thin pink lips trembled, and she could hardly refrain from crying.
Monday, October 29, 2007
The Jewel Casket
The Jewel Casket
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
done!" said several, enjoying the last word, as being the first and only one they had recognized. ¡¡¡¡ Then Jude seemed to shake the fumes from his brain, as he stared round upon them. ¡¡¡¡ "You pack of fools!" he cried. "Which one of you knows whether I have said it or no? It might have been the Ratcatcher's Daughter in double Dutch for all that your besotted heads can tell! See what I have brought myself to--the crew I have come among!" ¡¡¡¡ The landlord, who had already had his license endorsed for harbouring queer characters, feared a riot, and came outside the counter; but Jude, in his sudden flash of reason, had turned in disgust and left the scene, the door slamming with a dull thud behind him. ¡¡¡¡ He hastened down the lane and round into the straight broad street, which he followed till it merged in the highway, and all sound of his late companions had been left behind. Onward he still went, under the influence of a childlike yearning for the one being in the world to whom it seemed possible to fly--an unreasoning desire, whose ill judgement was not apparent to him now. In the course of an hour, when it was between ten and eleven o'clock, he entered the village of Lumsdon, and reaching the cottage, saw that a light was burning in a downstairs room, which he assumed, rightly as it happened, to be hers. ¡¡¡¡ Jude stepped close to the wall, and tapped with his finger on the pane, saying impatiently, "Sue, Sue!"
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
done!" said several, enjoying the last word, as being the first and only one they had recognized. ¡¡¡¡ Then Jude seemed to shake the fumes from his brain, as he stared round upon them. ¡¡¡¡ "You pack of fools!" he cried. "Which one of you knows whether I have said it or no? It might have been the Ratcatcher's Daughter in double Dutch for all that your besotted heads can tell! See what I have brought myself to--the crew I have come among!" ¡¡¡¡ The landlord, who had already had his license endorsed for harbouring queer characters, feared a riot, and came outside the counter; but Jude, in his sudden flash of reason, had turned in disgust and left the scene, the door slamming with a dull thud behind him. ¡¡¡¡ He hastened down the lane and round into the straight broad street, which he followed till it merged in the highway, and all sound of his late companions had been left behind. Onward he still went, under the influence of a childlike yearning for the one being in the world to whom it seemed possible to fly--an unreasoning desire, whose ill judgement was not apparent to him now. In the course of an hour, when it was between ten and eleven o'clock, he entered the village of Lumsdon, and reaching the cottage, saw that a light was burning in a downstairs room, which he assumed, rightly as it happened, to be hers. ¡¡¡¡ Jude stepped close to the wall, and tapped with his finger on the pane, saying impatiently, "Sue, Sue!"
Return of the Prodigal Son
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
seated nude
Spring Breeze
always was fond o' books, I've heard," said Tinker Taylor, "and I don't doubt what you state. Now with me 'twas different. I always saw there was more to be learnt outside a book than in; and I took my steps accordingly, or I shouldn't have been the man I am." ¡¡¡¡ "You aim at the Church, I believe?" said Uncle Joe. "If you are such a scholar as to pitch yer hopes so high as that, why not give us a specimen of your scholarship? Canst say the Creed in Latin, man? That was how they once put it to a chap down in my country." ¡¡¡¡ "I should think so!" said Jude haughtily. ¡¡¡¡ "Not he! Like his conceit!" screamed one of the ladies. ¡¡¡¡ "Just you shut up, Bower o' Bliss!" said one of the undergraduates. "Silence!" He drank off the spirits in his tumbler, rapped with it on the counter, and announced, "The gentleman in the corner is going to rehearse the Articles of his Belief, in the Latin tongue, for the edification of the company." ¡¡¡¡ "I won't!" said Jude.
Samson And Delilah
seated nude
Spring Breeze
always was fond o' books, I've heard," said Tinker Taylor, "and I don't doubt what you state. Now with me 'twas different. I always saw there was more to be learnt outside a book than in; and I took my steps accordingly, or I shouldn't have been the man I am." ¡¡¡¡ "You aim at the Church, I believe?" said Uncle Joe. "If you are such a scholar as to pitch yer hopes so high as that, why not give us a specimen of your scholarship? Canst say the Creed in Latin, man? That was how they once put it to a chap down in my country." ¡¡¡¡ "I should think so!" said Jude haughtily. ¡¡¡¡ "Not he! Like his conceit!" screamed one of the ladies. ¡¡¡¡ "Just you shut up, Bower o' Bliss!" said one of the undergraduates. "Silence!" He drank off the spirits in his tumbler, rapped with it on the counter, and announced, "The gentleman in the corner is going to rehearse the Articles of his Belief, in the Latin tongue, for the edification of the company." ¡¡¡¡ "I won't!" said Jude.
Red Nude painting
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
¡¡¡¡ The conversation waxed general. Christminster society was criticized, the dons, magistrates, and other people in authority being sincerely pitied for their shortcomings, while opinions on how they ought to conduct themselves and their affairs to be properly respected, were exchanged in a large-minded and disinterested manner. ¡¡¡¡ Jude Fawley, with the self-conceit, effrontery, and APLOMB of a strong-brained fellow in liquor, threw in his remarks somewhat peremptorily; and his aims having been what they were for so many years, everything the others said turned upon his tongue, by a sort of mechanical craze, to the subject of scholarship and study, the extent of his own learning being dwelt upon with an insistence that would have appeared pitiable to himself in his sane hours. ¡¡¡¡ "I don't care a damn," he was saying, "for any provost, warden, principal, fellow, or cursed master of arts in the university! What I know is that I'd lick 'em on their own ground if they'd give me a chance, and show 'em a few things they are not up to yet!" ¡¡¡¡ "Hear, hear!" said the undergraduates from the corner, where they were talking privately about the pups
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
¡¡¡¡ The conversation waxed general. Christminster society was criticized, the dons, magistrates, and other people in authority being sincerely pitied for their shortcomings, while opinions on how they ought to conduct themselves and their affairs to be properly respected, were exchanged in a large-minded and disinterested manner. ¡¡¡¡ Jude Fawley, with the self-conceit, effrontery, and APLOMB of a strong-brained fellow in liquor, threw in his remarks somewhat peremptorily; and his aims having been what they were for so many years, everything the others said turned upon his tongue, by a sort of mechanical craze, to the subject of scholarship and study, the extent of his own learning being dwelt upon with an insistence that would have appeared pitiable to himself in his sane hours. ¡¡¡¡ "I don't care a damn," he was saying, "for any provost, warden, principal, fellow, or cursed master of arts in the university! What I know is that I'd lick 'em on their own ground if they'd give me a chance, and show 'em a few things they are not up to yet!" ¡¡¡¡ "Hear, hear!" said the undergraduates from the corner, where they were talking privately about the pups
Nude on the Beach
Nude on the Beach
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
¡¡¡¡ In the evening the frequenters of the house dropped in one by one, Jude still retaining his seat in the corner, though his money was all spent, and he had not eaten anything the whole day except a biscuit. He surveyed his gathering companions with all the equanimity and philosophy of a man who has been drinking long and slowly, and made friends with several: to wit, Tinker Taylor, a decayed church-ironmonger who appeared to have been of a religious turn in earlier years, but was somewhat blasphemous now; also a red-nosed auctioneer; also two Gothic masons like himself, called Uncle Jim and Uncle Joe. There were present, too, some clerks, and a gown- and surplice-maker's assistant; two ladies who sported moral characters of various depths of shade, according to their company, nicknamed "Bower o' Bliss" and "Freckles"; some horsey men "in the know" of betting circles; a travelling actor from the theatre, and two devil-may-care young men who proved to be gownless undergraduates; they had slipped in by stealth to meet a man about bull-pups, and stayed to drink and smoke short pipes with the racing gents aforesaid, looking at their watches every now and then.
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
¡¡¡¡ In the evening the frequenters of the house dropped in one by one, Jude still retaining his seat in the corner, though his money was all spent, and he had not eaten anything the whole day except a biscuit. He surveyed his gathering companions with all the equanimity and philosophy of a man who has been drinking long and slowly, and made friends with several: to wit, Tinker Taylor, a decayed church-ironmonger who appeared to have been of a religious turn in earlier years, but was somewhat blasphemous now; also a red-nosed auctioneer; also two Gothic masons like himself, called Uncle Jim and Uncle Joe. There were present, too, some clerks, and a gown- and surplice-maker's assistant; two ladies who sported moral characters of various depths of shade, according to their company, nicknamed "Bower o' Bliss" and "Freckles"; some horsey men "in the know" of betting circles; a travelling actor from the theatre, and two devil-may-care young men who proved to be gownless undergraduates; they had slipped in by stealth to meet a man about bull-pups, and stayed to drink and smoke short pipes with the racing gents aforesaid, looking at their watches every now and then.
Mother and Child
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
Naiade oil painting
Nighthawks Hopper
¡¡¡¡ THE stroke of scorn relieved his mind, and the next morning he laughed at his self-conceit. But the laugh was not a healthy one. He re-read the letter from the master, and the wisdom in its lines, which had at first exasperated him, chilled and depressed him now. He saw himself as a fool indeed. ¡¡¡¡ Deprived of the objects of both intellect and emotion, he could not proceed to his work. Whenever he felt reconciled to his fate as a student, there came to disturb his calm his hopeless relations with Sue. That the one affined soul he had ever met was lost to him through his marriage returned upon him with cruel persistency, till, unable to bear it longer, he again rushed for distraction to the real Christminster life. He now sought it out in an obscure and low-ceiled tavern up a court which was well known to certain worthies of the place, and in brighter times would have interested him simply by its quaintness. Here he sat more or less all the day, convinced that he was at bottom a vicious character, of whom it was hopeless to expect anything.
My Sweet Rose painting
Naiade oil painting
Nighthawks Hopper
¡¡¡¡ THE stroke of scorn relieved his mind, and the next morning he laughed at his self-conceit. But the laugh was not a healthy one. He re-read the letter from the master, and the wisdom in its lines, which had at first exasperated him, chilled and depressed him now. He saw himself as a fool indeed. ¡¡¡¡ Deprived of the objects of both intellect and emotion, he could not proceed to his work. Whenever he felt reconciled to his fate as a student, there came to disturb his calm his hopeless relations with Sue. That the one affined soul he had ever met was lost to him through his marriage returned upon him with cruel persistency, till, unable to bear it longer, he again rushed for distraction to the real Christminster life. He now sought it out in an obscure and low-ceiled tavern up a court which was well known to certain worthies of the place, and in brighter times would have interested him simply by its quaintness. Here he sat more or less all the day, convinced that he was at bottom a vicious character, of whom it was hopeless to expect anything.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Hylas and the Nymphs
Hylas and the Nymphs
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
Mother and Child
¡¡¡¡ NOT a soul was visible on the hedgeless highway, or on either side of it, and the white road seemed to ascend and diminish till it joined the sky. At the very top it was crossed at right angles by a green "ridgeway"-- the Ickneild Street and original Roman road through the district. This ancient track ran east and west for many miles, and down almost to within living memory had been used for driving flocks and herds to fairs and markets. But it was now neglected and overgrown. ¡¡¡¡ The boy had never before strayed so far north as this from the nestling hamlet in which he had been deposited by the carrier from a railway station southward, one dark evening some few months earlier, and till now he had had no suspicion that such a wide, flat, low-lying country lay so near at hand, under the very verge of his upland world. The whole northern semicircle between east and west, to a distance of forty or fifty miles, spread itself before him; a bluer, moister atmosphere, evidently, than that he breathed up here. ¡¡¡¡ Not far from the road stood a weather-beaten old barn of reddish-grey brick and tile. It was known as the Brown House by the people of the locality. He was about to pass it when he perceived a ladder against the eaves; and the reflection that the higher he got, the further he could see, led Jude to stand and regard it. On the slope of the roof two men were repairing the tiling. He turned into the ridgeway and drew towards the barn.
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
Mother and Child
¡¡¡¡ NOT a soul was visible on the hedgeless highway, or on either side of it, and the white road seemed to ascend and diminish till it joined the sky. At the very top it was crossed at right angles by a green "ridgeway"-- the Ickneild Street and original Roman road through the district. This ancient track ran east and west for many miles, and down almost to within living memory had been used for driving flocks and herds to fairs and markets. But it was now neglected and overgrown. ¡¡¡¡ The boy had never before strayed so far north as this from the nestling hamlet in which he had been deposited by the carrier from a railway station southward, one dark evening some few months earlier, and till now he had had no suspicion that such a wide, flat, low-lying country lay so near at hand, under the very verge of his upland world. The whole northern semicircle between east and west, to a distance of forty or fifty miles, spread itself before him; a bluer, moister atmosphere, evidently, than that he breathed up here. ¡¡¡¡ Not far from the road stood a weather-beaten old barn of reddish-grey brick and tile. It was known as the Brown House by the people of the locality. He was about to pass it when he perceived a ladder against the eaves; and the reflection that the higher he got, the further he could see, led Jude to stand and regard it. On the slope of the roof two men were repairing the tiling. He turned into the ridgeway and drew towards the barn.
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Head of Christ
¡¡¡¡ If he could only prevent himself growing up! He did not want to be a man. ¡¡¡¡ Then, like the natural boy, he forgot his despondency, and sprang up. During the remainder of the morning he helped his aunt, and in the afternoon, when there was nothing more to be done, he went into the village. Here he asked a man whereabouts Christminster lay. ¡¡¡¡ "Christminster? Oh, well, out by there yonder; though I've never bin there--not I. I've never had any business at such a place." ¡¡¡¡ The man pointed north-eastward, in the very direction where lay that field in which Jude had so disgraced himself. There was something unpleasant about the coincidence for the moment, but the fearsomeness of this fact rather increased his curiosity about the city. The farmer had said he was never to be seen in that field again; yet Christminster lay across it, and the path was a public one. So, stealing out of the hamlet, he descended into the same hollow which had witnessed his punishment in the morning, never swerving an inch from the path, and climbing up the long and tedious ascent on the other side till the track joined the highway by a little clump of trees. Here the ploughed land ended, and all before him was bleak open down.
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Head of Christ
¡¡¡¡ If he could only prevent himself growing up! He did not want to be a man. ¡¡¡¡ Then, like the natural boy, he forgot his despondency, and sprang up. During the remainder of the morning he helped his aunt, and in the afternoon, when there was nothing more to be done, he went into the village. Here he asked a man whereabouts Christminster lay. ¡¡¡¡ "Christminster? Oh, well, out by there yonder; though I've never bin there--not I. I've never had any business at such a place." ¡¡¡¡ The man pointed north-eastward, in the very direction where lay that field in which Jude had so disgraced himself. There was something unpleasant about the coincidence for the moment, but the fearsomeness of this fact rather increased his curiosity about the city. The farmer had said he was never to be seen in that field again; yet Christminster lay across it, and the path was a public one. So, stealing out of the hamlet, he descended into the same hollow which had witnessed his punishment in the morning, never swerving an inch from the path, and climbing up the long and tedious ascent on the other side till the track joined the highway by a little clump of trees. Here the ploughed land ended, and all before him was bleak open down.
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
¡¡¡¡ He then seated himself again, and waited. In the course of ten or fifteen minutes the thinning mist dissolved altogether from the northern horizon, as it had already done elsewhere, and about a quarter of an hour before the time of sunset the westward clouds parted, the sun's position being partially uncovered, and the beams streaming out in visible lines between two bars of slaty cloud. The boy immediately looked back in the old direction. ¡¡¡¡ Some way within the limits of the stretch of landscape, points of light like the topaz gleamed. The air increased in transparency with the lapse of minutes, till the topaz points showed themselves to be the vanes, windows, wet roof slates, and other shining spots upon the spires, domes, freestone-work, and varied outlines that were faintly revealed. It was Christminster, unquestionably; either directly seen, or miraged in the peculiar atmosphere. ¡¡¡¡ The spectator gazed on and on till the windows and vanes lost their shine, going out almost suddenly like extinguished candles. The vague city became veiled in mist. Turning to the west, he saw that the sun had disappeared. The foreground of the scene had grown funereally dark, and near objects put on the hues and shapes of chimaeras.
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
¡¡¡¡ He then seated himself again, and waited. In the course of ten or fifteen minutes the thinning mist dissolved altogether from the northern horizon, as it had already done elsewhere, and about a quarter of an hour before the time of sunset the westward clouds parted, the sun's position being partially uncovered, and the beams streaming out in visible lines between two bars of slaty cloud. The boy immediately looked back in the old direction. ¡¡¡¡ Some way within the limits of the stretch of landscape, points of light like the topaz gleamed. The air increased in transparency with the lapse of minutes, till the topaz points showed themselves to be the vanes, windows, wet roof slates, and other shining spots upon the spires, domes, freestone-work, and varied outlines that were faintly revealed. It was Christminster, unquestionably; either directly seen, or miraged in the peculiar atmosphere. ¡¡¡¡ The spectator gazed on and on till the windows and vanes lost their shine, going out almost suddenly like extinguished candles. The vague city became veiled in mist. Turning to the west, he saw that the sun had disappeared. The foreground of the scene had grown funereally dark, and near objects put on the hues and shapes of chimaeras.
One Moment in Time
One Moment in Time
precious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
¡¡¡¡ It was waning towards evening; there was still a faint mist, but it had cleared a little except in the damper tracts of subjacent country and along the river-courses. He thought again of Christminster, and wished, since he had come two or three miles from his aunt's house on purpose, that he could have seen for once this attractive city of which he had been told. But even if he waited here it was hardly likely that the air would clear before night. Yet he was loth to leave the spot, for the northern expanse became lost to view on retreating towards the village only a few hundred yards. ¡¡¡¡ He ascended the ladder to have one more look at the point the men had designated, and perched himself on the highest rung, overlying the tiles. He might not be able to come so far as this for many days. Perhaps if he prayed, the wish to see Christminster might be forwarded. People said that, if you prayed, things sometimes came to you, even though they sometimes did not. He had read in a tract that a man who had begun to build a church, and had no money to finish it, knelt down and prayed, and the money came in by the next post. Another man tried the same experiment, and the money did not come; but he found afterwards that the breeches he knelt in were made by a wicked Jew. This was not discouraging, and turning on the ladder Jude knelt on the third rung, where, resting against those above it, he prayed that the mist might rise.
precious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
¡¡¡¡ It was waning towards evening; there was still a faint mist, but it had cleared a little except in the damper tracts of subjacent country and along the river-courses. He thought again of Christminster, and wished, since he had come two or three miles from his aunt's house on purpose, that he could have seen for once this attractive city of which he had been told. But even if he waited here it was hardly likely that the air would clear before night. Yet he was loth to leave the spot, for the northern expanse became lost to view on retreating towards the village only a few hundred yards. ¡¡¡¡ He ascended the ladder to have one more look at the point the men had designated, and perched himself on the highest rung, overlying the tiles. He might not be able to come so far as this for many days. Perhaps if he prayed, the wish to see Christminster might be forwarded. People said that, if you prayed, things sometimes came to you, even though they sometimes did not. He had read in a tract that a man who had begun to build a church, and had no money to finish it, knelt down and prayed, and the money came in by the next post. Another man tried the same experiment, and the money did not come; but he found afterwards that the breeches he knelt in were made by a wicked Jew. This was not discouraging, and turning on the ladder Jude knelt on the third rung, where, resting against those above it, he prayed that the mist might rise.
My Sweet Rose painting
My Sweet Rose painting
Naiade oil painting
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
When he had wistfully watched the workmen for some time he took courage, and ascended the ladder till he stood beside them. ¡¡¡¡ "Well, my lad, and what may you want up here?~' ¡¡¡¡ "I wanted to know where the city of Christminster is, if you please." ¡¡¡¡ "Christminster is out across there, by that clump. You can see it-- at least you can on a clear day. Ah, no, you can't now." ¡¡¡¡ The other tiler, glad of any kind of diversion from the monotony of his labour, had also turned to look towards the quarter designated. "You can't often see it in weather like this," he said. "The time I've noticed it is when the sun is going down in a blaze of flame, and it looks like--I don't know what." ¡¡¡¡ "The heavenly Jerusalem," suggested the serious urchin. ¡¡¡¡ "Ay--though I should never ha' thought of it myself.... But I can't see no Christminster to-day." ¡¡¡¡ The boy strained his eyes also; yet neither could he see the far-off city. He descended from the barn, and abandoning Christminster with the versatility of his age he walked along the ridge-track, looking for any natural objects of interest that might lie in the banks thereabout. When he repassed the barn to go back to Marygreen he observed that the ladder was still in its place, but that the men had finished their day's work and gone away.
Naiade oil painting
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
When he had wistfully watched the workmen for some time he took courage, and ascended the ladder till he stood beside them. ¡¡¡¡ "Well, my lad, and what may you want up here?~' ¡¡¡¡ "I wanted to know where the city of Christminster is, if you please." ¡¡¡¡ "Christminster is out across there, by that clump. You can see it-- at least you can on a clear day. Ah, no, you can't now." ¡¡¡¡ The other tiler, glad of any kind of diversion from the monotony of his labour, had also turned to look towards the quarter designated. "You can't often see it in weather like this," he said. "The time I've noticed it is when the sun is going down in a blaze of flame, and it looks like--I don't know what." ¡¡¡¡ "The heavenly Jerusalem," suggested the serious urchin. ¡¡¡¡ "Ay--though I should never ha' thought of it myself.... But I can't see no Christminster to-day." ¡¡¡¡ The boy strained his eyes also; yet neither could he see the far-off city. He descended from the barn, and abandoning Christminster with the versatility of his age he walked along the ridge-track, looking for any natural objects of interest that might lie in the banks thereabout. When he repassed the barn to go back to Marygreen he observed that the ladder was still in its place, but that the men had finished their day's work and gone away.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Hylas and the Nymphs
Hylas and the Nymphs
Hylas and the Nymphs
jesus christ on the cross
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
"But you've been to tea there, haven't you?" he said.
"Yes, indeed. Most pleasant. I was a little disappointed that I didn't see old Mr. Crackenthorpe – but one can't have everything."
"Do you feel that if you saw the person who had done the murder, you'd know?" asked Lucy.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that, dear. One is always inclined to guess - and guessing would be very wrong when it is a question of anything as serious as murder. All one can do is to observe the people concerned - or who might have been concerned - and see of whom they remind you."
"Like Cedric and the bank manager?"
Miss Marple corrected her.
"The bank manager's son, dear. Mr. Eade himself was far more like Mr. Harold - a very conservative man - but perhaps a little too fond of money - the sort of man, too, who would go a long way to avoid scandal."
Craddock smiled, and said:
"And Alfred?"
Hylas and the Nymphs
jesus christ on the cross
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
"But you've been to tea there, haven't you?" he said.
"Yes, indeed. Most pleasant. I was a little disappointed that I didn't see old Mr. Crackenthorpe – but one can't have everything."
"Do you feel that if you saw the person who had done the murder, you'd know?" asked Lucy.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that, dear. One is always inclined to guess - and guessing would be very wrong when it is a question of anything as serious as murder. All one can do is to observe the people concerned - or who might have been concerned - and see of whom they remind you."
"Like Cedric and the bank manager?"
Miss Marple corrected her.
"The bank manager's son, dear. Mr. Eade himself was far more like Mr. Harold - a very conservative man - but perhaps a little too fond of money - the sort of man, too, who would go a long way to avoid scandal."
Craddock smiled, and said:
"And Alfred?"
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Rembrandt The Jewish Bride
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
seated nude
shook them up a little. Asked them to account for their movements on Friday, 20th December."
"And could they?"
"Harold could. Alfred couldn't - or wouldn't."
"I think alibis must be terribly difficult," said Lucy. "Times and places and dates. They must be hard to check up on, too."
"It takes time and patience – but we manage." He glanced at his watch. "I'll be coming along to Rutherford Hall presently to have a word with Cedric, but I want to get hold of Dr. Quimper first."
"You'll be just about right. He has his surgery at six and he's usually finished about half past. I must get back and deal with dinner."
"I'd like your opinion on one thing, Miss Eyelesbarrow. What's the family view about this Martine business - amongst themselves?"
Lucy replied promptly.
"They're all furious with Emma for going to you about it - and with Dr. Quimper who, it seemed, encouraged her to do so. Harold and Alfred think it was a try on and not genuine. Emma isn't sure. Cedric thinks it was phoney, too, but he doesn't take it as seriously as the other two. Bryan, on the other hand, seems quite sure that it's genuine."
"Why, I wonder?"
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
seated nude
shook them up a little. Asked them to account for their movements on Friday, 20th December."
"And could they?"
"Harold could. Alfred couldn't - or wouldn't."
"I think alibis must be terribly difficult," said Lucy. "Times and places and dates. They must be hard to check up on, too."
"It takes time and patience – but we manage." He glanced at his watch. "I'll be coming along to Rutherford Hall presently to have a word with Cedric, but I want to get hold of Dr. Quimper first."
"You'll be just about right. He has his surgery at six and he's usually finished about half past. I must get back and deal with dinner."
"I'd like your opinion on one thing, Miss Eyelesbarrow. What's the family view about this Martine business - amongst themselves?"
Lucy replied promptly.
"They're all furious with Emma for going to you about it - and with Dr. Quimper who, it seemed, encouraged her to do so. Harold and Alfred think it was a try on and not genuine. Emma isn't sure. Cedric thinks it was phoney, too, but he doesn't take it as seriously as the other two. Bryan, on the other hand, seems quite sure that it's genuine."
"Why, I wonder?"
precious time
recious time
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
And leave Rutherford Hall? Never! I'm the complete sleuth by now. Almost as bad as the boys. They spend their entire time looking for clues. They looked all through the dustbins yesterday. Most unsavoury - and they hadn't really the faintest idea what they were looking for. If they come to you in triumph, Inspector Craddock, bearing a torn scrap of paper with Martine - if you value your life keep away from the Long Barn! On it, you'll know that I've taken pity on them and concealed it in the pigsty!"
"Why the pigsty, dear?" asked Miss Marple with interest. "Do they keep pigs?"
"Oh, no, not nowadays. It's just - I go there sometimes."
For some reason Lucy blushed. Miss Marple looked at her with increased interest.
"Who's at the house now?" asked Craddock.
"Cedric's there, and Bryan's down for the weekend. Harold and Alfred are coming down tomorrow. They rang up this morning. I somehow got the impression that you had been putting the cat among the pigeons, Inspector Craddock."
Craddock smiled.
Red Hat Girl
Red Nude painting
Regatta At Argenteuil
Rembrandt Biblical Scene
And leave Rutherford Hall? Never! I'm the complete sleuth by now. Almost as bad as the boys. They spend their entire time looking for clues. They looked all through the dustbins yesterday. Most unsavoury - and they hadn't really the faintest idea what they were looking for. If they come to you in triumph, Inspector Craddock, bearing a torn scrap of paper with Martine - if you value your life keep away from the Long Barn! On it, you'll know that I've taken pity on them and concealed it in the pigsty!"
"Why the pigsty, dear?" asked Miss Marple with interest. "Do they keep pigs?"
"Oh, no, not nowadays. It's just - I go there sometimes."
For some reason Lucy blushed. Miss Marple looked at her with increased interest.
"Who's at the house now?" asked Craddock.
"Cedric's there, and Bryan's down for the weekend. Harold and Alfred are coming down tomorrow. They rang up this morning. I somehow got the impression that you had been putting the cat among the pigeons, Inspector Craddock."
Craddock smiled.
Naiade oil painting
Naiade oil painting
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
Yes," she said. "So like men - quite unable to see what's going on under their eyes. I don't believe you noticed yourself."
"No," admitted Lucy. "I never thought of anything of that kind. They both seemed to me –"
"So old?" said Miss Marple smiling a little. "But Dr. Quimper isn't much over forty, I should say, though he's going grey on the temples, and it's obvious that he's longing for some kind of home life; and Emma Crackenthorpe is under forty – not too old to marry and have a family. The doctor's wife died quite young having a baby, so I have heard."
"I believe she did. Emma said something about it one day."
"He must be lonely," said Miss Marple. "A busy hardworking doctor needs a wife – someone sympathetic - not too young."
"Listen, darling," said Lucy. "Are we investigating crime, or are we match-making?"
Miss Marple twinkled.
"I'm afraid I am rather romantic. Because I am an old maid, perhaps. You know, dear Lucy, that, as far as I am concerned, you have fulfilled your contract. If you really want a holiday abroad before taking up your next engagement, you would have time still for a short trip."
Nighthawks Hopper
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
Yes," she said. "So like men - quite unable to see what's going on under their eyes. I don't believe you noticed yourself."
"No," admitted Lucy. "I never thought of anything of that kind. They both seemed to me –"
"So old?" said Miss Marple smiling a little. "But Dr. Quimper isn't much over forty, I should say, though he's going grey on the temples, and it's obvious that he's longing for some kind of home life; and Emma Crackenthorpe is under forty – not too old to marry and have a family. The doctor's wife died quite young having a baby, so I have heard."
"I believe she did. Emma said something about it one day."
"He must be lonely," said Miss Marple. "A busy hardworking doctor needs a wife – someone sympathetic - not too young."
"Listen, darling," said Lucy. "Are we investigating crime, or are we match-making?"
Miss Marple twinkled.
"I'm afraid I am rather romantic. Because I am an old maid, perhaps. You know, dear Lucy, that, as far as I am concerned, you have fulfilled your contract. If you really want a holiday abroad before taking up your next engagement, you would have time still for a short trip."
Madonna Litta
Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
Jenkins at the garage," Miss Marple replied promptly. "He didn't exactly appropriate tools? - but he used to exchange a broken or inferior jack for a good one. And I believe he wasn't very honest over batteries - though I don't understand these things very well. I know Raymond left off dealing with him and went to the garage on the Milchester road. As for Emma," continued Miss Marple thoughtfully, "she reminds me very much of Geraldine Webb - always very quiet, almost dowdy – and bullied a good deal by her elderly mother. Quite a surprise to everybody when the mother died unexpectedly and Geraldine came into a nice sum of money and went and had her hair cut and permed, and went off on a cruise, and came back married to a very nice barrister. They had two children."
The parallel was clear enough. Lucy said, rather uneasily: "Do you think you ought to have said what you did about Emma marrying? It seemed to upset the brothers."
Miss Marple nodded.
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
Jenkins at the garage," Miss Marple replied promptly. "He didn't exactly appropriate tools? - but he used to exchange a broken or inferior jack for a good one. And I believe he wasn't very honest over batteries - though I don't understand these things very well. I know Raymond left off dealing with him and went to the garage on the Milchester road. As for Emma," continued Miss Marple thoughtfully, "she reminds me very much of Geraldine Webb - always very quiet, almost dowdy – and bullied a good deal by her elderly mother. Quite a surprise to everybody when the mother died unexpectedly and Geraldine came into a nice sum of money and went and had her hair cut and permed, and went off on a cruise, and came back married to a very nice barrister. They had two children."
The parallel was clear enough. Lucy said, rather uneasily: "Do you think you ought to have said what you did about Emma marrying? It seemed to upset the brothers."
Miss Marple nodded.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Abstract Painting
Abstract Painting
Mr. Wimborne gave Craddock a cold stare.
"Indeed? I am inclined, myself, to take statements of such a nature with what I might term a grain of salt. There are doubtless certain unworldly people who are indifferent to money. I myself have never met one."
Mr. Wimborne obviously derived a certain satisfaction from this remark.
Inspector Craddock hastened to take advantage of this ray of sunshine.
"Harold and Alfred Crackenthorpe, he ventured, seem to have been a good deal upset by the arrival of this letter?"
"Well they might be," said Mr. Wimborne. "Well they might be."
Abstract Painting
"It would reduce their eventual inheritance?"
"Certainly. Edmund Crackenthorpe's son - always presuming there is a son – would be entitled to a fifth share of the trust money."
"That doesn't really seem a very serious loss?"
Mr. Wimborne gave him a shrewd glance.
"It is a totally inadequate motive for murder, if that is what you mean."
"But I suppose they're both pretty hard up," Craddock murmured.
He sustained Mr. Wimborne's sharp glance with perfect impassively.
Abstract Painting
Mr. Wimborne gave Craddock a cold stare.
"Indeed? I am inclined, myself, to take statements of such a nature with what I might term a grain of salt. There are doubtless certain unworldly people who are indifferent to money. I myself have never met one."
Mr. Wimborne obviously derived a certain satisfaction from this remark.
Inspector Craddock hastened to take advantage of this ray of sunshine.
"Harold and Alfred Crackenthorpe, he ventured, seem to have been a good deal upset by the arrival of this letter?"
"Well they might be," said Mr. Wimborne. "Well they might be."
Abstract Painting
"It would reduce their eventual inheritance?"
"Certainly. Edmund Crackenthorpe's son - always presuming there is a son – would be entitled to a fifth share of the trust money."
"That doesn't really seem a very serious loss?"
Mr. Wimborne gave him a shrewd glance.
"It is a totally inadequate motive for murder, if that is what you mean."
"But I suppose they're both pretty hard up," Craddock murmured.
He sustained Mr. Wimborne's sharp glance with perfect impassively.
Abstract Painting
Rembrandt Painting
Rembrandt Painting
Just so," said Craddock. "What would her position, or her son's position be?"
"The idea was, I suppose, that she would get the Crackenthorpes to provide for her and for the boy."
"Yes, but I meant, what would she and the son be entitled to, legally speaking - if she could prove her claim?"
"Oh, I see." Mr. Wimborne picked up his spectacles which he had laid aside in his irritation, and put them on, staring through them at Inspector Craddock with shrewd attention. "Well, at the moment, nothing. But if she could prove that the boy was the son of Edmund Crackenthorpe, born in lawful wedlock, then the boy would be entitled to his share of Josiah Crackenthorpe's trust on the death of Luther Crackenthorpe. More than that, he'd inherit Rutherford Hall, since he's the son of the eldest son."
Rembrandt Painting
"Would anyone want to inherit the house?"
"To live in? I should say, certainly not. But that estate, my dear Inspector, is worth a considerable amount of money. Very considerable. Land for industrial and building purposes. Land which is now in the heart of Brackhampton. Oh, yes, a very considerable inheritance."
"If Luther Crackenthorpe dies, I believe you told me that Cedric gets it?"
"He inherits the real estate – yes, as the eldest surviving son."
"Cedric Crackenthorpe, I have been given to understand, is not interested in money?"
Rembrandt Painting
Just so," said Craddock. "What would her position, or her son's position be?"
"The idea was, I suppose, that she would get the Crackenthorpes to provide for her and for the boy."
"Yes, but I meant, what would she and the son be entitled to, legally speaking - if she could prove her claim?"
"Oh, I see." Mr. Wimborne picked up his spectacles which he had laid aside in his irritation, and put them on, staring through them at Inspector Craddock with shrewd attention. "Well, at the moment, nothing. But if she could prove that the boy was the son of Edmund Crackenthorpe, born in lawful wedlock, then the boy would be entitled to his share of Josiah Crackenthorpe's trust on the death of Luther Crackenthorpe. More than that, he'd inherit Rutherford Hall, since he's the son of the eldest son."
Rembrandt Painting
"Would anyone want to inherit the house?"
"To live in? I should say, certainly not. But that estate, my dear Inspector, is worth a considerable amount of money. Very considerable. Land for industrial and building purposes. Land which is now in the heart of Brackhampton. Oh, yes, a very considerable inheritance."
"If Luther Crackenthorpe dies, I believe you told me that Cedric gets it?"
"He inherits the real estate – yes, as the eldest surviving son."
"Cedric Crackenthorpe, I have been given to understand, is not interested in money?"
Rembrandt Painting
Jack Vettriano Painting
Jack Vettriano Painting
This letter…” Craddock pushed Martine's letter across the table. Mr. Wimborne touched it with a distasteful finger but did not pick it up. His colour rose very slightly and his lips tightened.
"Quite so," he said; “quite so! I received a letter from Miss Emma Crackenthorpe yesterday morning, informing me of her visit to Scotland Yard and of - ah – all the circumstances. I may say that I am at a loss to understand – quite at a loss - why I was not consulted about this letter at the time of its arrival! Most extraordinary! I should have been informed immediately…."
Inspector Craddock repeated soothingly such platitudes as seemed best calculated to reduce Mr. Wimborne to an amenable from of find.
"I'd no idea that there
Jack Vettriano Painting
Inspector Craddock said that he supposed – in war time - and left it to trail away vaguely.
"War time!" snapped Mr. Wimborne with waspish acerbity. "Yes, indeed, we were in Lincoln's Inn Fields at the outbreak of war and there was a direct hit on the house next door, and a great number of our records were destroyed. Not the really important documents, of course; they had been removed to the country of safety. But it caused a great deal of confusion. Of course, the Crackenthorpe business was in my father's hands at that time. He died six years ago. I dare say he may have been told about this so-called marriage of Edmund's - but on the face of it, it looks as though that marriage, even if contemplated, never took place, and so, no doubt, my father did not consider the story of nay importance. I must say, all this sounds very fishy to me. This coming forward, after all these years, and claiming a marriage and a legitimate son. Very fishy indeed. What proofs had she got, I'd like to know?"
Jack Vettriano Painting
This letter…” Craddock pushed Martine's letter across the table. Mr. Wimborne touched it with a distasteful finger but did not pick it up. His colour rose very slightly and his lips tightened.
"Quite so," he said; “quite so! I received a letter from Miss Emma Crackenthorpe yesterday morning, informing me of her visit to Scotland Yard and of - ah – all the circumstances. I may say that I am at a loss to understand – quite at a loss - why I was not consulted about this letter at the time of its arrival! Most extraordinary! I should have been informed immediately…."
Inspector Craddock repeated soothingly such platitudes as seemed best calculated to reduce Mr. Wimborne to an amenable from of find.
"I'd no idea that there
Jack Vettriano Painting
Inspector Craddock said that he supposed – in war time - and left it to trail away vaguely.
"War time!" snapped Mr. Wimborne with waspish acerbity. "Yes, indeed, we were in Lincoln's Inn Fields at the outbreak of war and there was a direct hit on the house next door, and a great number of our records were destroyed. Not the really important documents, of course; they had been removed to the country of safety. But it caused a great deal of confusion. Of course, the Crackenthorpe business was in my father's hands at that time. He died six years ago. I dare say he may have been told about this so-called marriage of Edmund's - but on the face of it, it looks as though that marriage, even if contemplated, never took place, and so, no doubt, my father did not consider the story of nay importance. I must say, all this sounds very fishy to me. This coming forward, after all these years, and claiming a marriage and a legitimate son. Very fishy indeed. What proofs had she got, I'd like to know?"
Jack Vettriano Painting
Edward Hopper Painting
Edward Hopper Painting
"We circularised the hotels – nobody registering as Martine Crackenthorpe anywhere. On receipt of your call from Paris, we checked up on Anna Stravinska. She was registered with other members of the company in a cheap hotel off Brook Green. Mostly theatricals there. She cleared out on the night of Thursday 19th after the show. No further record."
Craddock nodded. He suggested a line of further inquiries - though he had little hope of success from them.
After some thought, he rang up Wimborne, Henderson and Carstairs and asked for an appointment with Mr. Wimborne.
Edward Hopper Painting
In due course, he was ushered into a particularly airless room where Mr. Wimborne was sitting behind a large old-fashioned desk covered with bundles of dusty-looking papers. Various deed boxes labelled Sir John ffouldes, dec., Lady Derrin, George Rowbotham, Esq., ornamented the walls; whether as relics of a bygone era or as part of present-day legal affairs, the inspector did not know.
Mr. Wimborne eyed his visitor with the polite wariness characteristic of a family lawyer towards the police.
"What can I do for you, Inspector?"
Edward Hopper Painting
"We circularised the hotels – nobody registering as Martine Crackenthorpe anywhere. On receipt of your call from Paris, we checked up on Anna Stravinska. She was registered with other members of the company in a cheap hotel off Brook Green. Mostly theatricals there. She cleared out on the night of Thursday 19th after the show. No further record."
Craddock nodded. He suggested a line of further inquiries - though he had little hope of success from them.
After some thought, he rang up Wimborne, Henderson and Carstairs and asked for an appointment with Mr. Wimborne.
Edward Hopper Painting
In due course, he was ushered into a particularly airless room where Mr. Wimborne was sitting behind a large old-fashioned desk covered with bundles of dusty-looking papers. Various deed boxes labelled Sir John ffouldes, dec., Lady Derrin, George Rowbotham, Esq., ornamented the walls; whether as relics of a bygone era or as part of present-day legal affairs, the inspector did not know.
Mr. Wimborne eyed his visitor with the polite wariness characteristic of a family lawyer towards the police.
"What can I do for you, Inspector?"
Edward Hopper Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
He warned Craddock, however, that a definite answer was doubtful. The area in question had not only been occupied by the Germans at almost exactly that time, but subsequently that part of France had suffered severe war damage at the time of the invasion. Many building and records had been destroyed.
"But rest assured, my dear colleague, we shall do our best."
With this, he and Craddock took leave of each other.
Marc Chagall Painting
On Craddock's return Sergeant Wetherall was waiting to report with gloomy relish:
"Accommodation address, sir – that's what 126 Elvers Crescent is. Quite respectable and all that."
"Any identifications?"
"No, nobody could recognise the photograph as that of a woman who had called for letters, but I don't think they would anyway - it's a month ago, very near, and a good many people use the place. It's actually a boarding-house for students."
"She might have stayed there under another name."
"If so, they didn't recognise her as the original of the photograph."
He added:
Marc Chagall Painting
He warned Craddock, however, that a definite answer was doubtful. The area in question had not only been occupied by the Germans at almost exactly that time, but subsequently that part of France had suffered severe war damage at the time of the invasion. Many building and records had been destroyed.
"But rest assured, my dear colleague, we shall do our best."
With this, he and Craddock took leave of each other.
Marc Chagall Painting
On Craddock's return Sergeant Wetherall was waiting to report with gloomy relish:
"Accommodation address, sir – that's what 126 Elvers Crescent is. Quite respectable and all that."
"Any identifications?"
"No, nobody could recognise the photograph as that of a woman who had called for letters, but I don't think they would anyway - it's a month ago, very near, and a good many people use the place. It's actually a boarding-house for students."
"She might have stayed there under another name."
"If so, they didn't recognise her as the original of the photograph."
He added:
Marc Chagall Painting
The Birth of Venus
The Birth of Venus
One other possibility had to be considered – raised by the casual remark that Anna had once referred to having an English husband.
Had that husband been Edmund Crackenthorpe?
It seemed unlikely, considering the word picture of Anna that had been given him by those who knew her. What was much more probable was that Anna had at one time known the girl Martine sufficiently intimately to be acquainted with the necessary details. It might have been Anna who wrote that letter to Emma Crackenthorpe and, if so, Anna would have been quite likely to have taken fright at any question of an investigation. Perhaps she had even thought it prudent to sever her connection with the Ballet Maritski. Again, where was she now?
The Birth of Venus
Before leaving Paris, Craddock discussed with Dessin the question of the woman named Martine. Dessin was inclined to agree with his English colleague that the matter had probably no connection with the woman found in the sarcophagus. All the same, he agreed, the matter ought to be investigated.
He assured Craddock that the Surete would do their best to discover if there actually was any record of a marriage between Lieutenant Edmund Crackenthorpe of the 4th Southshire Regiment and a French girl whose Christian name was Martine. Time - just prior to the fall of Dunkirk.
The Birth of Venus
One other possibility had to be considered – raised by the casual remark that Anna had once referred to having an English husband.
Had that husband been Edmund Crackenthorpe?
It seemed unlikely, considering the word picture of Anna that had been given him by those who knew her. What was much more probable was that Anna had at one time known the girl Martine sufficiently intimately to be acquainted with the necessary details. It might have been Anna who wrote that letter to Emma Crackenthorpe and, if so, Anna would have been quite likely to have taken fright at any question of an investigation. Perhaps she had even thought it prudent to sever her connection with the Ballet Maritski. Again, where was she now?
The Birth of Venus
Before leaving Paris, Craddock discussed with Dessin the question of the woman named Martine. Dessin was inclined to agree with his English colleague that the matter had probably no connection with the woman found in the sarcophagus. All the same, he agreed, the matter ought to be investigated.
He assured Craddock that the Surete would do their best to discover if there actually was any record of a marriage between Lieutenant Edmund Crackenthorpe of the 4th Southshire Regiment and a French girl whose Christian name was Martine. Time - just prior to the fall of Dunkirk.
The Birth of Venus
Bouguereau William
Bouguereau William
None of this was helpful. All that seemed to emerge from it was that Anna Stravinska was a proficient liar. She was certainly not shooting deer with a peer in Scotland, and it seemed equally unlikely that she was on the sun deck of a liner cruising round the world. But neither was there any real reason to believe that her body had been found in a sarcophagus at Rutherford Hall. The identification by the girls and Madame Joliet was very uncertain and hesitating. It looked something like Anna, they all agreed. But really! All swollen up - it might be anybody!
Bouguereau William
The only fact that was established was that on the 19th of December Anna Stravinska had decided not to return to France, and that on the 20th December a woman resembling her in appearance had travelled to Brackhampton by the 4.33 train and had been strangled.
If the woman in the sarcophagus was not Anna Stravinska, where was Anna now?
To that, Madame Joliet's answer was simple and inevitable.
"With a man!"
And it was probably the correct answer, Craddock reflected ruefully.
Bouguereau William
None of this was helpful. All that seemed to emerge from it was that Anna Stravinska was a proficient liar. She was certainly not shooting deer with a peer in Scotland, and it seemed equally unlikely that she was on the sun deck of a liner cruising round the world. But neither was there any real reason to believe that her body had been found in a sarcophagus at Rutherford Hall. The identification by the girls and Madame Joliet was very uncertain and hesitating. It looked something like Anna, they all agreed. But really! All swollen up - it might be anybody!
Bouguereau William
The only fact that was established was that on the 19th of December Anna Stravinska had decided not to return to France, and that on the 20th December a woman resembling her in appearance had travelled to Brackhampton by the 4.33 train and had been strangled.
If the woman in the sarcophagus was not Anna Stravinska, where was Anna now?
To that, Madame Joliet's answer was simple and inevitable.
"With a man!"
And it was probably the correct answer, Craddock reflected ruefully.
Bouguereau William
Modern Art Painting
Modern Art Painting
After Madame Joliet, they interviewed the girls whose names she had given them. One or two of them had known Anna fairly well, but they all said that she had not been one to talk much about herself, and that when she did, it was, so one girl said, mostly lies.
"She likes to pretend things – stories about having been the mistress of a Grand Duke – or of a great English financier - or how she worked for the Resistance in the war. Even a story about being a film star in Hollywood."
Another girl said:
Modern Art Painting
I think that really she had had a very tame bourgeois existence. She liked to in ballet because she thought it was romantic, but she was not a good dancer. You understand that if she were to say, ‘My father was a draper in Amiens.' that would not be romantic! So instead she made up things."
"Even in London," said the first girl, "she threw out hints about a very rich man who was going to take her on a cruise round the world, because she reminded him of his dead daughter who had died in a car accident. Quelle blague!"
"She told me she was going to stay with a rich lord in Scotland," said the second girl. "She said she would shoot the deer there."
Modern Art Painting
After Madame Joliet, they interviewed the girls whose names she had given them. One or two of them had known Anna fairly well, but they all said that she had not been one to talk much about herself, and that when she did, it was, so one girl said, mostly lies.
"She likes to pretend things – stories about having been the mistress of a Grand Duke – or of a great English financier - or how she worked for the Resistance in the war. Even a story about being a film star in Hollywood."
Another girl said:
Modern Art Painting
I think that really she had had a very tame bourgeois existence. She liked to in ballet because she thought it was romantic, but she was not a good dancer. You understand that if she were to say, ‘My father was a draper in Amiens.' that would not be romantic! So instead she made up things."
"Even in London," said the first girl, "she threw out hints about a very rich man who was going to take her on a cruise round the world, because she reminded him of his dead daughter who had died in a car accident. Quelle blague!"
"She told me she was going to stay with a rich lord in Scotland," said the second girl. "She said she would shoot the deer there."
Modern Art Painting
Famous painting
Famous painting
se peut! It happens. Ah, well! She was a good Catholic. She went to Mass on Sundays, and no doubt to confession."
"Did she ever speak to you, Madame, of a son?"
"A son? Do you mean she had a child? That, now, I should consider most unlikely. These girls, all - all of them know a useful address to which to go. M. Dessin knows that as well as I do."
"She may have had a child before she adopted a stage life," said Craddock. "During the war, for instance."
"Ah! Dans la guerre. That is always possible. But if so, I know nothing about it."
"Who amongst the other girls were her closest friends?"
Famous painting
"I can give you two or three names – but she was not very intimate with anyone."
They could get nothing else useful from Madame Joliet.
Shown the compact, she said Anna had one of that kind, but so had most of the other girls. Anna had perhaps bought a fur coat in London – she did not know. "Me, I occupy myself with the rehearsals, with the stage lighting, with all the difficulties of my business. I have not time to notice what my artists wear."
Famous painting
se peut! It happens. Ah, well! She was a good Catholic. She went to Mass on Sundays, and no doubt to confession."
"Did she ever speak to you, Madame, of a son?"
"A son? Do you mean she had a child? That, now, I should consider most unlikely. These girls, all - all of them know a useful address to which to go. M. Dessin knows that as well as I do."
"She may have had a child before she adopted a stage life," said Craddock. "During the war, for instance."
"Ah! Dans la guerre. That is always possible. But if so, I know nothing about it."
"Who amongst the other girls were her closest friends?"
Famous painting
"I can give you two or three names – but she was not very intimate with anyone."
They could get nothing else useful from Madame Joliet.
Shown the compact, she said Anna had one of that kind, but so had most of the other girls. Anna had perhaps bought a fur coat in London – she did not know. "Me, I occupy myself with the rehearsals, with the stage lighting, with all the difficulties of my business. I have not time to notice what my artists wear."
Famous painting
Famous painting
Famous painting
se peut! It happens. Ah, well! She was a good Catholic. She went to Mass on Sundays, and no doubt to confession."
"Did she ever speak to you, Madame, of a son?"
"A son? Do you mean she had a child? That, now, I should consider most unlikely. These girls, all - all of them know a useful address to which to go. M. Dessin knows that as well as I do."
"She may have had a child before she adopted a stage life," said Craddock. "During the war, for instance."
"Ah! Dans la guerre. That is always possible. But if so, I know nothing about it."
"Who amongst the other girls were her closest friends?"
Famous painting
"I can give you two or three names – but she was not very intimate with anyone."
They could get nothing else useful from Madame Joliet.
Shown the compact, she said Anna had one of that kind, but so had most of the other girls. Anna had perhaps bought a fur coat in London – she did not know. "Me, I occupy myself with the rehearsals, with the stage lighting, with all the difficulties of my business. I have not time to notice what my artists wear."
Famous painting
se peut! It happens. Ah, well! She was a good Catholic. She went to Mass on Sundays, and no doubt to confession."
"Did she ever speak to you, Madame, of a son?"
"A son? Do you mean she had a child? That, now, I should consider most unlikely. These girls, all - all of them know a useful address to which to go. M. Dessin knows that as well as I do."
"She may have had a child before she adopted a stage life," said Craddock. "During the war, for instance."
"Ah! Dans la guerre. That is always possible. But if so, I know nothing about it."
"Who amongst the other girls were her closest friends?"
Famous painting
"I can give you two or three names – but she was not very intimate with anyone."
They could get nothing else useful from Madame Joliet.
Shown the compact, she said Anna had one of that kind, but so had most of the other girls. Anna had perhaps bought a fur coat in London – she did not know. "Me, I occupy myself with the rehearsals, with the stage lighting, with all the difficulties of my business. I have not time to notice what my artists wear."
Famous painting
Famous artist painting
Famous artist painting
"And it is no loss to me. I do not care. I can get girls just as good and better to come and dance, so I shrug the shoulders and do not think of it any more. Why should I? They are all the same, these girls, mad about men."
"What dates was this?"
"When we return to France? It was – yes - the Sunday before Christmas. And Anna she leaves two - or is it three - days before that? I cannot remember exactly…. But the end of the week at Hammersmith we have to dance without her - and it means rearranging things…. It was very naughty of her – but these girls - the moment they meet a man they are all the same. Only I say to everybody. ‘Zut, I do not take her back, that one!’"
"Very annoying for you."
Famous artist painting
Ah! Me - I do not care. No doubt she passes the Christmas holiday with some man she has picked up. It is not my affair. I can find other girls - girls who will leap at the chance of dancing in the Ballet Maritski and who can dance as well – or better than Anna."
Madame Joliet paused and then asked with a sudden gleam of interest:
"Why do you want to find her? Has she come into money?"
"On the contrary," said Inspector Craddock politely. "We think she may have been murdered."
Madame Joliet relapsed into indifference.
Famous artist painting
"And it is no loss to me. I do not care. I can get girls just as good and better to come and dance, so I shrug the shoulders and do not think of it any more. Why should I? They are all the same, these girls, mad about men."
"What dates was this?"
"When we return to France? It was – yes - the Sunday before Christmas. And Anna she leaves two - or is it three - days before that? I cannot remember exactly…. But the end of the week at Hammersmith we have to dance without her - and it means rearranging things…. It was very naughty of her – but these girls - the moment they meet a man they are all the same. Only I say to everybody. ‘Zut, I do not take her back, that one!’"
"Very annoying for you."
Famous artist painting
Ah! Me - I do not care. No doubt she passes the Christmas holiday with some man she has picked up. It is not my affair. I can find other girls - girls who will leap at the chance of dancing in the Ballet Maritski and who can dance as well – or better than Anna."
Madame Joliet paused and then asked with a sudden gleam of interest:
"Why do you want to find her? Has she come into money?"
"On the contrary," said Inspector Craddock politely. "We think she may have been murdered."
Madame Joliet relapsed into indifference.
Famous artist painting
Decorative painting
Decorative painting
Was she French?"
"Perhaps. She had a French passport. But she told me once that she had an English husband."
"She told you that she had an English husband? Alive - or dead?"
Madame Joliet shrugged her shoulders.
"Dead, or he had left her. How should I know which? These girls - there is always some trouble with men –"
"When did you last see her?"
Decorative painting
take my company to London for six weeks. We play at Torquay, at Bournemouth, at Eastbourne, at somewhere else I forget and at Hammersmith. Then we come back to France, but Anna - she does not come. She sends message only that she leaves the company, that she goes to live with her husband's family - some nonsense of that kind. I did not think it is true, myself. I think it more likely that she has met a man, you understand."
Inspector Craddock nodded. He perceived that that was what Madame Joliet would invariably think.
Decorative painting
Was she French?"
"Perhaps. She had a French passport. But she told me once that she had an English husband."
"She told you that she had an English husband? Alive - or dead?"
Madame Joliet shrugged her shoulders.
"Dead, or he had left her. How should I know which? These girls - there is always some trouble with men –"
"When did you last see her?"
Decorative painting
take my company to London for six weeks. We play at Torquay, at Bournemouth, at Eastbourne, at somewhere else I forget and at Hammersmith. Then we come back to France, but Anna - she does not come. She sends message only that she leaves the company, that she goes to live with her husband's family - some nonsense of that kind. I did not think it is true, myself. I think it more likely that she has met a man, you understand."
Inspector Craddock nodded. He perceived that that was what Madame Joliet would invariably think.
Decorative painting
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Abstract Painting
Abstract Painting
"Euston." "Are you sure?" "Of course I'm sure.What do you think?" "Funny.I thought you went to Cheltenham from Paddington." "So you do.But old Cust wasn't going to Cheltenham.He was going toDoncaster." "Cheltenham." "Doncaster.I know，my girl!After all，I picked up his ticket，didn't I?" "Well，he told me he was going to Cheltenham. I'm sure he did." "Oh，you've got it wrong.He was going to Doncaster all right.Some peoplehave all the luck.I've got a bit on Firefly for the Leger and I'd love tosee it run." "I shouldn't think Mr Cust went to race-meetings，he doesn't look thekind.Oh，Tom，I hope he won't get murdered
Abstract Painting
It's Doncaster the A B C murder'sgoing to be." "Cust'll be all right.His name doesn't begin with a D." "He might have been murdered last time.He was down near Churston atTorquay when the last murder happened." "Was he?That's a bit of a coincidence，isn't it?" He laughed. "He wasn't at Bexhill the time before，was he?" Lily crinkled her brows. "He was away......Yes，I remember he was away......because he forgot hisbathing-dress.Mother was mending it for him.And she said:"There-Mr Cust wentaway yesterday without his bathing-dress after all，"and I said:"Oh，nevermind the old bathing-dress-there's been the most awful murder，"I said，"agirl strangled at Bexhill."
Abstract Painting
"Euston." "Are you sure?" "Of course I'm sure.What do you think?" "Funny.I thought you went to Cheltenham from Paddington." "So you do.But old Cust wasn't going to Cheltenham.He was going toDoncaster." "Cheltenham." "Doncaster.I know，my girl!After all，I picked up his ticket，didn't I?" "Well，he told me he was going to Cheltenham. I'm sure he did." "Oh，you've got it wrong.He was going to Doncaster all right.Some peoplehave all the luck.I've got a bit on Firefly for the Leger and I'd love tosee it run." "I shouldn't think Mr Cust went to race-meetings，he doesn't look thekind.Oh，Tom，I hope he won't get murdered
Abstract Painting
It's Doncaster the A B C murder'sgoing to be." "Cust'll be all right.His name doesn't begin with a D." "He might have been murdered last time.He was down near Churston atTorquay when the last murder happened." "Was he?That's a bit of a coincidence，isn't it?" He laughed. "He wasn't at Bexhill the time before，was he?" Lily crinkled her brows. "He was away......Yes，I remember he was away......because he forgot hisbathing-dress.Mother was mending it for him.And she said:"There-Mr Cust wentaway yesterday without his bathing-dress after all，"and I said:"Oh，nevermind the old bathing-dress-there's been the most awful murder，"I said，"agirl strangled at Bexhill."
Abstract Painting
Rembrandt Painting
Rembrandt Painting
"This the A B C case，sir?" "Yes.One of Mr Hercule Poirot's ideas." The inspector's tone was disdainful."Probably nothing in it，but itdoesn't do to neglect any chance，however faint." "Right，sir.Mr Poirot's done some good stuff in his time，but I thinkhe's a bit gaga now，sir." "He's a mountebank，"said Inspector Crome. "Always posing.Takes in some people.It doesn't take in me.Now then，about the arrangement for Doncaster......" Tom Hartigan said to Lily Marbury: "Saw your old dugout this morning." "Who?Mr Cust?" "Cust it was.At Euston.Looking like a lost hen，as usual.
Rembrandt Painting
I think thefellow's half loony.He needs someone to look after him.First he dropped hispaper and then he dropped his ticket.I picked that up-he hadn't the faintestidea he'd lost it.Thanked me in an agitated sort of manner，but I don'tthink he recognized me." "Oh，well，"said Lily."He's only seen you passing in the hall，and notvery often at that." They danced once round the floor. "You dance something beautiful，"said Tom. "Go on，"said Lily and wriggled yet a little closer. They danced round again. "Did you say Euston or Paddington?"asked Lily abruptly."Where you sawold Cust，I mean?"
Rembrandt Painting
"This the A B C case，sir?" "Yes.One of Mr Hercule Poirot's ideas." The inspector's tone was disdainful."Probably nothing in it，but itdoesn't do to neglect any chance，however faint." "Right，sir.Mr Poirot's done some good stuff in his time，but I thinkhe's a bit gaga now，sir." "He's a mountebank，"said Inspector Crome. "Always posing.Takes in some people.It doesn't take in me.Now then，about the arrangement for Doncaster......" Tom Hartigan said to Lily Marbury: "Saw your old dugout this morning." "Who?Mr Cust?" "Cust it was.At Euston.Looking like a lost hen，as usual.
Rembrandt Painting
I think thefellow's half loony.He needs someone to look after him.First he dropped hispaper and then he dropped his ticket.I picked that up-he hadn't the faintestidea he'd lost it.Thanked me in an agitated sort of manner，but I don'tthink he recognized me." "Oh，well，"said Lily."He's only seen you passing in the hall，and notvery often at that." They danced once round the floor. "You dance something beautiful，"said Tom. "Go on，"said Lily and wriggled yet a little closer. They danced round again. "Did you say Euston or Paddington?"asked Lily abruptly."Where you sawold Cust，I mean?"
Rembrandt Painting
The Singing Butler
The Singing Butler
He sighed again. "Well，don't say goodbye as though you were going away for ever，"laughed Lily. "No，no，of course not." "See you Friday，"laughed the girl. "Where are you going this time? Seaside again." "No，no-er-Cheltenham." "Well，that's nice，too.But not quite as nice as Torquay.That must havebeen lovely.I want to go there for my holiday next year.By the way，you musthave been quite near where the murder was-the A B C murder.It happened whildyou were down there，didn't it?" "Er-yes.But Churston's sic or seven miles away."
The Singing Butler
"All the same，it must have been exciting!Why，you may have passed themurderer in the street!You may have been quite near to him!" "Yes，I may，of course，"said Mr Cust with such a ghastlly and contortedsmile that Lily Marbury noticed it. "Oh，Mr Cust，you don't look well." "I'm quite all right，quite all right.Goodbye，Miss Marbury." He fumbled to raise his hat，caught up his suitcase and fairly hastenedout of the front door. "Funny old thing，"said Lily Marbury indulgently."Looks half batty to mymind." Inspector Crome said to his subordinate: "Get me out a list of all stocking manufacturing firms and circularizethem.I want a list of all their agents-you know，fellows who sell oncommission and tout for orders."
The Singing Butler
He sighed again. "Well，don't say goodbye as though you were going away for ever，"laughed Lily. "No，no，of course not." "See you Friday，"laughed the girl. "Where are you going this time? Seaside again." "No，no-er-Cheltenham." "Well，that's nice，too.But not quite as nice as Torquay.That must havebeen lovely.I want to go there for my holiday next year.By the way，you musthave been quite near where the murder was-the A B C murder.It happened whildyou were down there，didn't it?" "Er-yes.But Churston's sic or seven miles away."
The Singing Butler
"All the same，it must have been exciting!Why，you may have passed themurderer in the street!You may have been quite near to him!" "Yes，I may，of course，"said Mr Cust with such a ghastlly and contortedsmile that Lily Marbury noticed it. "Oh，Mr Cust，you don't look well." "I'm quite all right，quite all right.Goodbye，Miss Marbury." He fumbled to raise his hat，caught up his suitcase and fairly hastenedout of the front door. "Funny old thing，"said Lily Marbury indulgently."Looks half batty to mymind." Inspector Crome said to his subordinate: "Get me out a list of all stocking manufacturing firms and circularizethem.I want a list of all their agents-you know，fellows who sell oncommission and tout for orders."
The Singing Butler
Jack Vettriano Painting
Jack Vettriano Painting
"It is necessary，Mrs Marbury.I have always been punctual inmy-engagements.People must have-must have confidence in you!When I haveundertaken to do a thing，I carry it through.It is the only way to get onin-in-business." "But if you're ill?" "I am not ill，Mrs Marbury.Just a little worried over-various personalmatters.I slept badly.I am really quite all right." His manner was so firm that Mrs Marbury gathered up the breakfast thingsand reluctantly left the room. Mr Cust dragged out a suitcase from under the bed and began to pack. Pyjamas，sponge-bag，spare collar，leather slippers.
Jack Vettriano Painting
Then unlocking a cupboard，he transferred a dozen or so flattishcardboard boxes about ten inches by seven from a shelf to the suitcase. He just glanced at the railway guide on the table and then left the room，suitcase in hand. Setting it down in the hall，he put on his hat and overcoat.As he did sohe sighed deeply，so deeply that the girl who came out from a room at theside looked at him in concern. "Anything the matter，Mr Cust?" "Nothing，Miss Lily." "You were sighing so!" Mr Cust said abruptly: "Are you at all subject to premonitions，Miss Lily?To presentiments?" "Well，I don't know that I am，really......Of course，there are dayswhen you just feel everything's going wrong，and days when you feeleverything's going right."
Jack Vettriano Painting
"It is necessary，Mrs Marbury.I have always been punctual inmy-engagements.People must have-must have confidence in you!When I haveundertaken to do a thing，I carry it through.It is the only way to get onin-in-business." "But if you're ill?" "I am not ill，Mrs Marbury.Just a little worried over-various personalmatters.I slept badly.I am really quite all right." His manner was so firm that Mrs Marbury gathered up the breakfast thingsand reluctantly left the room. Mr Cust dragged out a suitcase from under the bed and began to pack. Pyjamas，sponge-bag，spare collar，leather slippers.
Jack Vettriano Painting
Then unlocking a cupboard，he transferred a dozen or so flattishcardboard boxes about ten inches by seven from a shelf to the suitcase. He just glanced at the railway guide on the table and then left the room，suitcase in hand. Setting it down in the hall，he put on his hat and overcoat.As he did sohe sighed deeply，so deeply that the girl who came out from a room at theside looked at him in concern. "Anything the matter，Mr Cust?" "Nothing，Miss Lily." "You were sighing so!" Mr Cust said abruptly: "Are you at all subject to premonitions，Miss Lily?To presentiments?" "Well，I don't know that I am，really......Of course，there are dayswhen you just feel everything's going wrong，and days when you feeleverything's going right."
Jack Vettriano Painting
Mary Cassatt painting
Mary Cassatt painting
"Well，if you must-you must.Going far this time?" "No.I'm going to"-he hesitated for a minute or two-"Cheltenham." There was something so peculiar about the tentative way he said the wordthat Mrs Marbury looked at him in surprise. "Cheltenham's a nice place，"she said conversationally."I went therefrom Bristol one year.The shops are ever so nice." "I suppose so-yes." Mrs Marbury stooped rather stiffly-for stooping did not suit herfigure-to pick up the paper that was lying crumpled on the floor. "Nothing but this murdering business in the papers nowadays，"she saidas she glanced at the headlines before putting it back on the table."Givesme the creeps，it does.I don't read it.It's like Jack the Ripper all overagain."
Mary Cassatt painting
Mr Cust's lips moved，but no sound came from them. "Doncaster-that's the place he's going to do his next murder，"said MrsMarbury."And tomorrow!Fairly makes your flesh creep，doesn't it?If I livedin Doncaster and my name began with a D，I'd take the first train away，thatI would.I'd run no risks.What did you say，Mr Cust?" "Nothing，Mrs Marbury-nothing." "It's the races and all.No doubt he thinks he'll get his opportunitythere.Hundreds of police，they say，they're drafting in and-Why，Mr Cust，you do look bad.Hadn't you better have a little drop of something?Really，now，you oughtn't to go travelling today." Mr Cust drew himself up.
Mary Cassatt painting
"Well，if you must-you must.Going far this time?" "No.I'm going to"-he hesitated for a minute or two-"Cheltenham." There was something so peculiar about the tentative way he said the wordthat Mrs Marbury looked at him in surprise. "Cheltenham's a nice place，"she said conversationally."I went therefrom Bristol one year.The shops are ever so nice." "I suppose so-yes." Mrs Marbury stooped rather stiffly-for stooping did not suit herfigure-to pick up the paper that was lying crumpled on the floor. "Nothing but this murdering business in the papers nowadays，"she saidas she glanced at the headlines before putting it back on the table."Givesme the creeps，it does.I don't read it.It's like Jack the Ripper all overagain."
Mary Cassatt painting
Mr Cust's lips moved，but no sound came from them. "Doncaster-that's the place he's going to do his next murder，"said MrsMarbury."And tomorrow!Fairly makes your flesh creep，doesn't it?If I livedin Doncaster and my name began with a D，I'd take the first train away，thatI would.I'd run no risks.What did you say，Mr Cust?" "Nothing，Mrs Marbury-nothing." "It's the races and all.No doubt he thinks he'll get his opportunitythere.Hundreds of police，they say，they're drafting in and-Why，Mr Cust，you do look bad.Hadn't you better have a little drop of something?Really，now，you oughtn't to go travelling today." Mr Cust drew himself up.
Mary Cassatt painting
Edward Hopper Painting
Edward Hopper Painting
Mr Alexander Bonaparte Cust sat very still.His breakfast lay cold anduntasted on his plate.A newspaper was propped up against the teapot and itwas this newspaper that Mr Cust was reading with avid interest. Suddenly he got up，paced to and fro for a minute，then sank back into achair by the window.He buried his head in his hands with a stifled groan. He did not hear the sound of the opening door.His landlady，Mrs Marbury，stood in the doorway. "I was wondering，Mr Cust，if you'd fancy a nice-why，whatever is it? Aren't you feeling well?"
Edward Hopper Painting
Mr Cust raised his head from his hands. "Nothing.It's nothing at all，Mrs Marbury.I'm not-feeling very well thismorning." Mrs Marbury inspected the breakfast tray. "So I see.You haven't touched your breakfast. Is it your head troubling you again?" "No.At least，yes......I-I just feel a bit out of sorts." "Well，I'm sorry，I'm sure.You'll not be going away today，then?" Mr Cust sprang up abruptly. "No，no.I have to go.It's business. Important.Very important." His hands were shaking.Seeing him so agitated，Mrs Marbury tried tosoothe him.
Edward Hopper Painting
Mr Alexander Bonaparte Cust sat very still.His breakfast lay cold anduntasted on his plate.A newspaper was propped up against the teapot and itwas this newspaper that Mr Cust was reading with avid interest. Suddenly he got up，paced to and fro for a minute，then sank back into achair by the window.He buried his head in his hands with a stifled groan. He did not hear the sound of the opening door.His landlady，Mrs Marbury，stood in the doorway. "I was wondering，Mr Cust，if you'd fancy a nice-why，whatever is it? Aren't you feeling well?"
Edward Hopper Painting
Mr Cust raised his head from his hands. "Nothing.It's nothing at all，Mrs Marbury.I'm not-feeling very well thismorning." Mrs Marbury inspected the breakfast tray. "So I see.You haven't touched your breakfast. Is it your head troubling you again?" "No.At least，yes......I-I just feel a bit out of sorts." "Well，I'm sorry，I'm sure.You'll not be going away today，then?" Mr Cust sprang up abruptly. "No，no.I have to go.It's business. Important.Very important." His hands were shaking.Seeing him so agitated，Mrs Marbury tried tosoothe him.
Edward Hopper Painting
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Sunflower
"You see?It is the same motif three times repeated.That cannot becoincidence.When mademoiselle spoke I had the feeling that what she saidlinked up with something.I know now with what.The words spoken by MrsAscher's next-door neighbour，Mrs Fowler.About people who were always tryingto sell you things-and she mentioned stockings.Tell me，mademoiselle，it istrue，is it not，that your mother bought those stockings，not at a shop，butfrom someone who came to the door?" "Yes-yes-she did......I remember now.She said something about beingsorry for these wretched men who go round and try to get orders." "But what's the connection?"cried Franklin."That a man came sellingstockings proves nothing!"
Van Gogh Sunflower
"I tell you，my friends，it cannot be coincidence.Three crimes-and everytime a man selling stockings and spying out the land." He wheeled round on Thora. "A vous la parole!Describe this man." She looked at him blankly. "I can't......I don't know how......He had glasses，I think-and a shabbyovercoat......" "Mieux que ca，mademoiselle." "He stooped......I don't know.I hardly looked at him.He wasn't the sortof man you'd notice......" Poirot said gravely: "You are quite right，mademoiselle.The whole secret of the murders liesthere in your description of the murderer-for without a doubt he was themurderer!"He wasn't the sort of man you'd notice."Yes-there is no doubtabout it......You have described the murderer!"
Van Gogh Sunflower
"You see?It is the same motif three times repeated.That cannot becoincidence.When mademoiselle spoke I had the feeling that what she saidlinked up with something.I know now with what.The words spoken by MrsAscher's next-door neighbour，Mrs Fowler.About people who were always tryingto sell you things-and she mentioned stockings.Tell me，mademoiselle，it istrue，is it not，that your mother bought those stockings，not at a shop，butfrom someone who came to the door?" "Yes-yes-she did......I remember now.She said something about beingsorry for these wretched men who go round and try to get orders." "But what's the connection?"cried Franklin."That a man came sellingstockings proves nothing!"
Van Gogh Sunflower
"I tell you，my friends，it cannot be coincidence.Three crimes-and everytime a man selling stockings and spying out the land." He wheeled round on Thora. "A vous la parole!Describe this man." She looked at him blankly. "I can't......I don't know how......He had glasses，I think-and a shabbyovercoat......" "Mieux que ca，mademoiselle." "He stooped......I don't know.I hardly looked at him.He wasn't the sortof man you'd notice......" Poirot said gravely: "You are quite right，mademoiselle.The whole secret of the murders liesthere in your description of the murderer-for without a doubt he was themurderer!"He wasn't the sort of man you'd notice."Yes-there is no doubtabout it......You have described the murderer!"
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Painting
Van Gogh Painting
"Lady Clarke must have made a mistake.i never-Oh!" The exclamation came suddenly-jerked out of her.A crimson wave floodedher cheeks. "I remember now!How stupid!I'd forgotten all about it.But it wasn'timportant.Just one of those men who come round selling stockings-you know，ex-army people.They're very persistent.I had to get rid of him.I was justcrossing the hall when he came to the door.He spoke to me instead of ringingbut he was quite a harmless sort of person. I suppose that's why I forgot about him." Poirot was swaying to and fro，his hands clasped to his head.He wasmuttering to himself with such vehemence that nobody else said anything，butat him instead.
Van Gogh Painting
Stockings，"he was murmuring. "Stockings......stockings......stocking......cavient......stockings......stockings......it is the motif-yes......threemonths ago......and the other day......and now.Bon Dieu，I have it!" He sat upright and fixed me with an imperious eye. "You remember，Hastings?Andover The shop.We go upstairs.The bedroom. On a chair.A pair of new silk stockings.And now I know what it was thatroused my attention two days ago.It was you，mademoiselle-"He turned onMegan."You spoke of your mother who wept because she had bought your sistersome new stockings on the very day of the murder......" He looked round on us all.
Van Gogh Painting
"Lady Clarke must have made a mistake.i never-Oh!" The exclamation came suddenly-jerked out of her.A crimson wave floodedher cheeks. "I remember now!How stupid!I'd forgotten all about it.But it wasn'timportant.Just one of those men who come round selling stockings-you know，ex-army people.They're very persistent.I had to get rid of him.I was justcrossing the hall when he came to the door.He spoke to me instead of ringingbut he was quite a harmless sort of person. I suppose that's why I forgot about him." Poirot was swaying to and fro，his hands clasped to his head.He wasmuttering to himself with such vehemence that nobody else said anything，butat him instead.
Van Gogh Painting
Stockings，"he was murmuring. "Stockings......stockings......stocking......cavient......stockings......stockings......it is the motif-yes......threemonths ago......and the other day......and now.Bon Dieu，I have it!" He sat upright and fixed me with an imperious eye. "You remember，Hastings?Andover The shop.We go upstairs.The bedroom. On a chair.A pair of new silk stockings.And now I know what it was thatroused my attention two days ago.It was you，mademoiselle-"He turned onMegan."You spoke of your mother who wept because she had bought your sistersome new stockings on the very day of the murder......" He looked round on us all.
Van Gogh Painting
Henri Matisse Painting
Henri Matisse Painting
"Mes enfants，"he said."We must not disperse the strength.We mustapproach this matter with method and order in our thoughts.We must lookwithin and not without for the truth.We must say to ourselves-each one ofus-what do I know about the murderer?And so we must blind up a compositepicture of the man we are going to seek." "We know nothing about him，"sighed Thora Grey helplessly. "No，no，mademoiselle.That is not true.Each one of us knows somethingabout him-if we only knew what it is we know.I am convinced that theknowledge is there if we could only get at it." Clarke shook his head.
Henri Matisse Painting
"We don't know anything-whether he's old or young，fair or dark!None ofus has ever seen him or spoken to him!We've gone over everything we all knowagain and again." "Not everything!For instance，Miss Grey here told us that she did notsee or speak to any stranger on the day that Sir Carmichael Clarke wasmurdered." Thora Grey nodded. "That's quite right." "Is it?Lady Clarke told us，mademoiselle，that from her window she sawyou standing on the front doorstep takling to a man." "She saw me talking to a strange man?"The girl seemed genuinelyastonished.Surely that pure，limpid look could not be anything but genuine. Henri Matisse Painting
"Mes enfants，"he said."We must not disperse the strength.We mustapproach this matter with method and order in our thoughts.We must lookwithin and not without for the truth.We must say to ourselves-each one ofus-what do I know about the murderer?And so we must blind up a compositepicture of the man we are going to seek." "We know nothing about him，"sighed Thora Grey helplessly. "No，no，mademoiselle.That is not true.Each one of us knows somethingabout him-if we only knew what it is we know.I am convinced that theknowledge is there if we could only get at it." Clarke shook his head.
Henri Matisse Painting
"We don't know anything-whether he's old or young，fair or dark!None ofus has ever seen him or spoken to him!We've gone over everything we all knowagain and again." "Not everything!For instance，Miss Grey here told us that she did notsee or speak to any stranger on the day that Sir Carmichael Clarke wasmurdered." Thora Grey nodded. "That's quite right." "Is it?Lady Clarke told us，mademoiselle，that from her window she sawyou standing on the front doorstep takling to a man." "She saw me talking to a strange man?"The girl seemed genuinelyastonished.Surely that pure，limpid look could not be anything but genuine. Henri Matisse Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
For the moment his sporting instincts took a momentary pleasure in thethought...... Inspector Crome rose，taking the letter with him. "The St Leger is a complication，"he allowed."It's unfortunate." He went out.We heard a murmur of voices in the hallway.A minute laterThora Grey entered. She said anxiously: "The inspector told me there is another letter. Where this time?" It was raining outside.Thoran Grey was wearing a black coat and skirtand furs.A little black hat just perched itself on the side of her goldenhead. It was to Franklin Clarke that she spoke and she came right up to himand，with a hand on his arm，waited for his answer.
Marc Chagall Painting
"Doncaster-and on the day of the St Leger." We settled down to a discussion.It went without saying that we allintended to be present，but the race-meeting undoubtedly complicated theplans we had made tentatively beforehand. A feeling of discouragement swept over me.What could this little band ofsix people do，after all，however strong their personal interest in thematter might be?There would be innumerable police，keen-eyed and alert，watching all likely spots.What could six more pairs of eyes do? As though in answer to my thought，Poirot raised his voice.He spokerather like a schoolmaster or a priest.
Marc Chagall Painting
For the moment his sporting instincts took a momentary pleasure in thethought...... Inspector Crome rose，taking the letter with him. "The St Leger is a complication，"he allowed."It's unfortunate." He went out.We heard a murmur of voices in the hallway.A minute laterThora Grey entered. She said anxiously: "The inspector told me there is another letter. Where this time?" It was raining outside.Thoran Grey was wearing a black coat and skirtand furs.A little black hat just perched itself on the side of her goldenhead. It was to Franklin Clarke that she spoke and she came right up to himand，with a hand on his arm，waited for his answer.
Marc Chagall Painting
"Doncaster-and on the day of the St Leger." We settled down to a discussion.It went without saying that we allintended to be present，but the race-meeting undoubtedly complicated theplans we had made tentatively beforehand. A feeling of discouragement swept over me.What could this little band ofsix people do，after all，however strong their personal interest in thematter might be?There would be innumerable police，keen-eyed and alert，watching all likely spots.What could six more pairs of eyes do? As though in answer to my thought，Poirot raised his voice.He spokerather like a schoolmaster or a priest.
Marc Chagall Painting
The Birth of Venus
The Birth of Venus
"I don't fancy the public will have much to criticize in ourarrangements this time，"he said."The fool has given us ample warning.The11th isn't till Wednesday of next week.That gives ample time for a publicitycampaign in the press.Doncaster will be thoroughly warned. Every soul whose name begins with a D will be on his or her guard-that'sso much to the good. Also，we'll draft police into the town on a fairly large scale.That'salready been arranged for by consent of all the Chief Constables inEngland.The whole of Doncaster，police and civilians，will be out to catchone man-and with reasonable luck，we ought to get him!" Clarke said quietly: "It's easy to see you're not a sporting man，inspector." Crome stared at him.
The Birth of Venus
"What do you mean，Mr Clarke?" "Man alive，don't you realize that on next Wednesday the St Leger isbeing run at Doncaster?" The inspector's jaw dropped.For the life of him he could not bring outthe familiar "Oh，yes?"Instead he said: "That's true.Yes，that complicates matters......" "A B C is no fool，even if he is a madman." We were all silent for a minute or two，taking in the situation.Thecrowds on the race-course-the passionate，sport-loving English public-theendless complications. Poirot murmured: "C'est ingenieux.Tout de meme c'est bien imagine，ca." "It's my belief，"said Clarke，"that the murder will take place on therace-course-perhaps actually while the Leger is being run."
The Birth of Venus
"I don't fancy the public will have much to criticize in ourarrangements this time，"he said."The fool has given us ample warning.The11th isn't till Wednesday of next week.That gives ample time for a publicitycampaign in the press.Doncaster will be thoroughly warned. Every soul whose name begins with a D will be on his or her guard-that'sso much to the good. Also，we'll draft police into the town on a fairly large scale.That'salready been arranged for by consent of all the Chief Constables inEngland.The whole of Doncaster，police and civilians，will be out to catchone man-and with reasonable luck，we ought to get him!" Clarke said quietly: "It's easy to see you're not a sporting man，inspector." Crome stared at him.
The Birth of Venus
"What do you mean，Mr Clarke?" "Man alive，don't you realize that on next Wednesday the St Leger isbeing run at Doncaster?" The inspector's jaw dropped.For the life of him he could not bring outthe familiar "Oh，yes?"Instead he said: "That's true.Yes，that complicates matters......" "A B C is no fool，even if he is a madman." We were all silent for a minute or two，taking in the situation.Thecrowds on the race-course-the passionate，sport-loving English public-theendless complications. Poirot murmured: "C'est ingenieux.Tout de meme c'est bien imagine，ca." "It's my belief，"said Clarke，"that the murder will take place on therace-course-perhaps actually while the Leger is being run."
The Birth of Venus
Gustav Klimt Painting
Gustav Klimt Painting
He sprang up，seized it from me，caught up his paper-knife and slit itopen.He spread it out on the table. The three of us read it together. Still no sucess?Fie!Fie!What are you and the police doing?Well，well，isn't this fun?And where shall we go next for honey? Poor Mr Poirot.I'm quite sorry for you. If at first you don't succedd，try，try，try again. We've a long way to go still. Tipperary?No-that comes farther on.Letter T. The next little incident will take place at Doncaster on September 11th. So long.
Gustav Klimt Painting
It was at this moment，I think，that what Poirot called the humanelement began to fade out of the picture again.It was as though，the mindbeing unable to stand unadulterated horror，we had had an interval of normalhuman interests. We had，one and all，felt the impossibility of doing anything until thefourth letter should come revealing the projected scene of the D murder. That atmosphere of waiting had brought a release of tension. But now，with the printed words jeering from the white stiff paper，thehunt was up once more. Inspector Crome had come round from the Yard，and while he was stillthere，Franklin Clarke and Megan Barnard came in.
Gustav Klimt Painting
He sprang up，seized it from me，caught up his paper-knife and slit itopen.He spread it out on the table. The three of us read it together. Still no sucess?Fie!Fie!What are you and the police doing?Well，well，isn't this fun?And where shall we go next for honey? Poor Mr Poirot.I'm quite sorry for you. If at first you don't succedd，try，try，try again. We've a long way to go still. Tipperary?No-that comes farther on.Letter T. The next little incident will take place at Doncaster on September 11th. So long.
Gustav Klimt Painting
It was at this moment，I think，that what Poirot called the humanelement began to fade out of the picture again.It was as though，the mindbeing unable to stand unadulterated horror，we had had an interval of normalhuman interests. We had，one and all，felt the impossibility of doing anything until thefourth letter should come revealing the projected scene of the D murder. That atmosphere of waiting had brought a release of tension. But now，with the printed words jeering from the white stiff paper，thehunt was up once more. Inspector Crome had come round from the Yard，and while he was stillthere，Franklin Clarke and Megan Barnard came in.
Gustav Klimt Painting
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
"The dream changes......I'm not looking any more. She's there in front of me-sitting on the beach.She doesn't see mecoming-it's-oh，I can't-""Go on." Poirot's voice was authoritative-firm. "I come up behind her......she doesn't hear me......I slip the beltround her neck and pull-oh-pull......" The agony in his voice was frightful......I gripped the arms of mychair......The thing was too real. "She's choking......she's dead......I've strangled her-and then her headfalls back and I see her face......and it's Megan-not Betty!" He leant back white and shaking.Poirot poured out another glass of wineand passed it over to him.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
"What's the meaning of it，M.Poirot?Why does it come to me?Everynight......?" "Drink up your wine，"ordered Poirot. The young man did so，then he asked in a calmer voice: "What does it mean?I-I didn't kill her，did I?" What Poirot answered I do not know，for at that minute I heard thepostman's knock and automatically I left the room. What I took out of the letter-box banished all my interest in DonaldFraser's extraordinary revelations. I raced back into the sitting-room. "Poirot，"I cried."It's come.The fourth letter."
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
"The dream changes......I'm not looking any more. She's there in front of me-sitting on the beach.She doesn't see mecoming-it's-oh，I can't-""Go on." Poirot's voice was authoritative-firm. "I come up behind her......she doesn't hear me......I slip the beltround her neck and pull-oh-pull......" The agony in his voice was frightful......I gripped the arms of mychair......The thing was too real. "She's choking......she's dead......I've strangled her-and then her headfalls back and I see her face......and it's Megan-not Betty!" He leant back white and shaking.Poirot poured out another glass of wineand passed it over to him.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
"What's the meaning of it，M.Poirot?Why does it come to me?Everynight......?" "Drink up your wine，"ordered Poirot. The young man did so，then he asked in a calmer voice: "What does it mean?I-I didn't kill her，did I?" What Poirot answered I do not know，for at that minute I heard thepostman's knock and automatically I left the room. What I took out of the letter-box banished all my interest in DonaldFraser's extraordinary revelations. I raced back into the sitting-room. "Poirot，"I cried."It's come.The fourth letter."
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Modern Art Painting
Modern Art Painting
"Milly Higley?Milly Higley?"Fraser repeated the name wonderingly."Oh，that girl!No，I haven't done anything there yet. It's-"He stopped.His hands twisted themselves together nervously. "I don't know why I've come to you，"he burst out. "I know，"said Poirot. "You can't.How can you?" "You have come to me because there is something that you must tell tosomeone.You were quite right.I am the proper person.Speak!" Poirot's air of assurance had its effect.Fraser looked at him with aqueer air of grateful obedience. "You think so?" "Parbleu，I am sure of it." "M.Poirot，do you know anything about dreams?"
Modern Art Painting
It was the last thing I had expected him to say. Poirot，however，seemed in no wise surprised. "I do，"he replied."You have been dreaming-?" "Yes.I suppose you'll say it's only natural that I should-should dreamabout-It.But it isn't an ordinary dream." "No?" "No?" "I've dreamed it now three nights running，sir......I thing I'm goingmad......" "Tell me-"The man's face was livid.His eyes were staring out of hishead.As a matter of fact，he looked mad. "It's always the same.I'm on the beach. Looking for Betty.She's lost-only lost，you understand.I've got to findher.I've got to give her her belt.I'm carrying it in my hand.Andthen-""Yes?"
Modern Art Painting
"Milly Higley?Milly Higley?"Fraser repeated the name wonderingly."Oh，that girl!No，I haven't done anything there yet. It's-"He stopped.His hands twisted themselves together nervously. "I don't know why I've come to you，"he burst out. "I know，"said Poirot. "You can't.How can you?" "You have come to me because there is something that you must tell tosomeone.You were quite right.I am the proper person.Speak!" Poirot's air of assurance had its effect.Fraser looked at him with aqueer air of grateful obedience. "You think so?" "Parbleu，I am sure of it." "M.Poirot，do you know anything about dreams?"
Modern Art Painting
It was the last thing I had expected him to say. Poirot，however，seemed in no wise surprised. "I do，"he replied."You have been dreaming-?" "Yes.I suppose you'll say it's only natural that I should-should dreamabout-It.But it isn't an ordinary dream." "No?" "No?" "I've dreamed it now three nights running，sir......I thing I'm goingmad......" "Tell me-"The man's face was livid.His eyes were staring out of hishead.As a matter of fact，he looked mad. "It's always the same.I'm on the beach. Looking for Betty.She's lost-only lost，you understand.I've got to findher.I've got to give her her belt.I'm carrying it in my hand.Andthen-""Yes?"
Modern Art Painting
Art Painting
Art Painting
"Realize，Hastings，that in the ordinary course of events those threeseparate dramas would never have touched each other. They would have pursued their course uninfluenced by each other.Thepermutations and combinations of life，Hastings-I never cease to befascinated by them." "This is Paddington，"was the only answer I made. It was time，I felt，that someone picked the bubble. On our arrival at Whitehaven Mansions we were told that a gentleman waswaiting to see Poirot. I expected it to be Franklin，or perhaps Japp，but to my astonishment itturned out to be none other than Donald Fraser.
Art Painting
He seemed very embarrassed and his inarticulateness was more noticeablethan ever. Poirot did not press him to come to the point of his visit，but insteadsuggested sandwiches and a glass of wine. Until these made their appearance he monopolized the conversation，explaining where we had been，and speaking with kindliness and feeling ofthe invalid woman. Not until we had finished the sandwiches and sipped the wine did he givethe conversation a personal turn. "You have come from Bexhill，Mr Fraser?" "Yes." "Any success with Milly Higley?"
Art Painting
"Realize，Hastings，that in the ordinary course of events those threeseparate dramas would never have touched each other. They would have pursued their course uninfluenced by each other.Thepermutations and combinations of life，Hastings-I never cease to befascinated by them." "This is Paddington，"was the only answer I made. It was time，I felt，that someone picked the bubble. On our arrival at Whitehaven Mansions we were told that a gentleman waswaiting to see Poirot. I expected it to be Franklin，or perhaps Japp，but to my astonishment itturned out to be none other than Donald Fraser.
Art Painting
He seemed very embarrassed and his inarticulateness was more noticeablethan ever. Poirot did not press him to come to the point of his visit，but insteadsuggested sandwiches and a glass of wine. Until these made their appearance he monopolized the conversation，explaining where we had been，and speaking with kindliness and feeling ofthe invalid woman. Not until we had finished the sandwiches and sipped the wine did he givethe conversation a personal turn. "You have come from Bexhill，Mr Fraser?" "Yes." "Any success with Milly Higley?"
Art Painting
Famous painting
Famous painting
"Mon ami，you are full of charitable feelling towards beautiful younggirls.Me，I feel charitable to sick old ladies.It may be that Lady Clarkewas the clear-sighted one-and that her husband，Mr Franklin Clarke and NurseCapstick were all as blind as bats-and Captain Hastings." "You've got a grudge against that girl，Poirot." To my surprise his eyes twinkled suddenly. "Perhaps it is that I like to mount you on your romantic high horse，Hastings.You are always the true knight-ready to come to the rescue ofdamsels in distress-good-looking damsels，bien entendu." "How ridiculous you are，Poirot，"I said，unable to keep from laughing. "Ah，well，one cannot be tragic all the time.
Famous painting
More and more I interest myself in the human developments that arise outof this tragedy.It is three dramas of family life that we have there. First there is Andover-the whole tragic life of Mrs Ascher，herstruggles，her support of her German husband，the devotion of her niece.Thatalone would make a novel.Then you have Bexhill-the happy，easy-going fatherand mother，the two daughters so widely differing from each other-the prettyfluffy fool，and the intense，strong-willed Megan with her clearintelligence and her ruthless passion for truth.And the other figure-theself-controlled young Scotsman with his passionate jealousy and his worshipof the dead girl.Finally you have the Churston household-the dying wife，andthe husband absorbed in his collections，but with a growing tenderness andsympathy for the beautiful girl who helps him so sympathetically，and thenthe younger brother，vigorous，attractive，interesting，with a romanticglamour about him from his long travels.
Famous painting
"Mon ami，you are full of charitable feelling towards beautiful younggirls.Me，I feel charitable to sick old ladies.It may be that Lady Clarkewas the clear-sighted one-and that her husband，Mr Franklin Clarke and NurseCapstick were all as blind as bats-and Captain Hastings." "You've got a grudge against that girl，Poirot." To my surprise his eyes twinkled suddenly. "Perhaps it is that I like to mount you on your romantic high horse，Hastings.You are always the true knight-ready to come to the rescue ofdamsels in distress-good-looking damsels，bien entendu." "How ridiculous you are，Poirot，"I said，unable to keep from laughing. "Ah，well，one cannot be tragic all the time.
Famous painting
More and more I interest myself in the human developments that arise outof this tragedy.It is three dramas of family life that we have there. First there is Andover-the whole tragic life of Mrs Ascher，herstruggles，her support of her German husband，the devotion of her niece.Thatalone would make a novel.Then you have Bexhill-the happy，easy-going fatherand mother，the two daughters so widely differing from each other-the prettyfluffy fool，and the intense，strong-willed Megan with her clearintelligence and her ruthless passion for truth.And the other figure-theself-controlled young Scotsman with his passionate jealousy and his worshipof the dead girl.Finally you have the Churston household-the dying wife，andthe husband absorbed in his collections，but with a growing tenderness andsympathy for the beautiful girl who helps him so sympathetically，and thenthe younger brother，vigorous，attractive，interesting，with a romanticglamour about him from his long travels.
Famous painting
Famous artist painting
Famous artist painting
"Not a tradesman.A shabby sort of person.I can't remember." A sudden quiver of pain shot across her face. "Please-you must go now-I'm a little tired-Nurse." We obeyed the cue and took our departure. "That's an extraordinary story，"I said to Poirot as we journeyed backto London."About Miss Grey and a strange man." "You see，Hastings?It is，as I tell you:there is always something to befound out." "Why did the girl lie about it and say she had seen no one?" "I can think of seven separate reasons-one of them an extremely simpleone." "Is that a snub?"I asked. "It is，perhaps，an invitation to use your ingenuity.But there is noneed for us to perturb ourselves.The easiest way to answer the question isto ask her."
Famous artist painting
"And suppose she tells us another lie." "That would indeed be interesting-and highly suggestive." "It is monstrous to suppose that a girl like that could be in leaguewith a madman." "Precisely-so I do not suppose it." I thought for some minutes longer. "A good-looking girl has a hard time of it，"I said at last with a sigh. "Du tout.Disabuse your mind of that idea." "It's true，"I insisted，"everyone's hand is against her simply becauseshe is good-looking." "You speak the betises，my friend.Whose hand was against her atCombeside?Sir Carmichael's?Franklin's?Nurse Capstick's?" "Lady Clarke was down on her，all right."
Famous artist painting
"Not a tradesman.A shabby sort of person.I can't remember." A sudden quiver of pain shot across her face. "Please-you must go now-I'm a little tired-Nurse." We obeyed the cue and took our departure. "That's an extraordinary story，"I said to Poirot as we journeyed backto London."About Miss Grey and a strange man." "You see，Hastings?It is，as I tell you:there is always something to befound out." "Why did the girl lie about it and say she had seen no one?" "I can think of seven separate reasons-one of them an extremely simpleone." "Is that a snub?"I asked. "It is，perhaps，an invitation to use your ingenuity.But there is noneed for us to perturb ourselves.The easiest way to answer the question isto ask her."
Famous artist painting
"And suppose she tells us another lie." "That would indeed be interesting-and highly suggestive." "It is monstrous to suppose that a girl like that could be in leaguewith a madman." "Precisely-so I do not suppose it." I thought for some minutes longer. "A good-looking girl has a hard time of it，"I said at last with a sigh. "Du tout.Disabuse your mind of that idea." "It's true，"I insisted，"everyone's hand is against her simply becauseshe is good-looking." "You speak the betises，my friend.Whose hand was against her atCombeside?Sir Carmichael's?Franklin's?Nurse Capstick's?" "Lady Clarke was down on her，all right."
Famous artist painting
Decorative painting
Decorative painting
But out shegoes.I don't want her in the house a day longer."There's one thing aboutbeing ill-men can't argue with you.He did what I said and she went. Went like a martyr，I expect-with more sweetness and bravery!" "Now，dear，don't get so excited.It's bad for you." Lady Clarke waved Nurse Capstick away. "You were as much of a fool about her as anyone else." "Oh!Lady Clarke，you mustn't say that.I did think Miss Grey a very nicegirl-so romantic-looking，like someone out of a novel." "I've no patience with the lot of you，"said Lady Clarke feebly. "Well，she's gone now，my dear.Gone right away."
Decorative painting
Lady Clarke shook her head with feeble impatience but she did not answer. Poirot said: "Why did you say that Miss Grey was a liar?" "Because she is.She told you no strangers came to the house，didn'tshe?" "Yes." "Very well，then.I saw her-with my own eyes-out of this window-talkingto a perfectly strange man on the front doorstep." "When was this?" "In the morning of the day Car died-about eleven o'clock." "What did this man look like?" "An ordinary sort of man.Nothing special." "A gentleman-or a tradesman?"
Decorative painting
But out shegoes.I don't want her in the house a day longer."There's one thing aboutbeing ill-men can't argue with you.He did what I said and she went. Went like a martyr，I expect-with more sweetness and bravery!" "Now，dear，don't get so excited.It's bad for you." Lady Clarke waved Nurse Capstick away. "You were as much of a fool about her as anyone else." "Oh!Lady Clarke，you mustn't say that.I did think Miss Grey a very nicegirl-so romantic-looking，like someone out of a novel." "I've no patience with the lot of you，"said Lady Clarke feebly. "Well，she's gone now，my dear.Gone right away."
Decorative painting
Lady Clarke shook her head with feeble impatience but she did not answer. Poirot said: "Why did you say that Miss Grey was a liar?" "Because she is.She told you no strangers came to the house，didn'tshe?" "Yes." "Very well，then.I saw her-with my own eyes-out of this window-talkingto a perfectly strange man on the front doorstep." "When was this?" "In the morning of the day Car died-about eleven o'clock." "What did this man look like?" "An ordinary sort of man.Nothing special." "A gentleman-or a tradesman?"
Decorative painting
Abstract Painting
Abstract Painting
"You can consider that you're a lucky man，Mr Downes." "I do，sir.Not even a palpitation!" "You don't quite take my meaning，Mr Downes. You were sitting two seats away，you say?" "Actually I was sitting at first in the next seat to the murderedman-then I moved along so as to be behind an empty seat." "You're about the same height and build as the dead man，aren't you，andyou were wearing a wollen scarf round your neck just as he was?" "I fail to see-"began Mr Downes stiffly. "I'm telling you，man，"said Colonel Anderson，"just where your luckcame in.Somehow or other，when the murderer followed you in，he got confused. He picked on the wrong back.I'll eat my hat，Mr Downes，if that knifewasn't meant for you!"
Abstract Painting
However well Mr Downes's heart had stood former tests，it was unable tostand up to this one.He sank on a chair，gasped，and turned purple in theface. "Water，"he gasped."Water......" A glass was brought him.He sipped it whilst his complexion graduallyreturned to the normal. "Me?"he said."Why me?" "It looks like it，"said Crome."In fact，it's the only explanation." "You mean that this man-this-this fiend incarnate-this bloodthirstymadman has been following me about waiting for an opportunity?" "I should say that was the way of it." "But in heaven's name，why me?"demanded the outraged schoolmaster.
Abstract Painting
"You can consider that you're a lucky man，Mr Downes." "I do，sir.Not even a palpitation!" "You don't quite take my meaning，Mr Downes. You were sitting two seats away，you say?" "Actually I was sitting at first in the next seat to the murderedman-then I moved along so as to be behind an empty seat." "You're about the same height and build as the dead man，aren't you，andyou were wearing a wollen scarf round your neck just as he was?" "I fail to see-"began Mr Downes stiffly. "I'm telling you，man，"said Colonel Anderson，"just where your luckcame in.Somehow or other，when the murderer followed you in，he got confused. He picked on the wrong back.I'll eat my hat，Mr Downes，if that knifewasn't meant for you!"
Abstract Painting
However well Mr Downes's heart had stood former tests，it was unable tostand up to this one.He sank on a chair，gasped，and turned purple in theface. "Water，"he gasped."Water......" A glass was brought him.He sipped it whilst his complexion graduallyreturned to the normal. "Me?"he said."Why me?" "It looks like it，"said Crome."In fact，it's the only explanation." "You mean that this man-this-this fiend incarnate-this bloodthirstymadman has been following me about waiting for an opportunity?" "I should say that was the way of it." "But in heaven's name，why me?"demanded the outraged schoolmaster.
Abstract Painting
Rembrandt Painting
Rembrandt Painting
middle-aged gentleman strongly resembling the frog footman in Alice inWonderland was led in.He was highly excited and his voice was shrill withemotion. "Most shocking experience I have ever known，"he squeaked."I have a weakheart，sir-a very weak heart，it might have been the death of me." "Your name，please，"said the inspector. "Downes.Roger Emmanuel Downes." "Profession?" "I am a master at Highfield School for boys." "Now，Mr Downes，will you tell us in your own words what happened." "I can tell you that very shortly，gentlemen.
Rembrandt Painting
At the close of the performance I rose from my seat.The seat on my leftwas empty but in the one beyond a man was sitting，apparently asleep.I wasunable to pass him to get out as his legs were stuck out in front of him.Iasked him to allow me to pass.As he did not move I repeated my requestin-a-er-slightly louder tone.He still made no response.I then took him bythe shoulder to waken him.His body slumped down further and I becameaware-that he was either unconscious or seriously ill.I called out:"Thisgentleman is taken ill.Fetch the commissionaire."The commissionaire came.AsI took my hand from the man's shoulder I found it was wet and red......I canassure you，gentlemen，the shock was terrific!Anything might havehappened!For years I have suffered from cardiac weakness-"Colonel Andersonwas looking at Mr Downes with a very curious expression.
Rembrandt Painting
middle-aged gentleman strongly resembling the frog footman in Alice inWonderland was led in.He was highly excited and his voice was shrill withemotion. "Most shocking experience I have ever known，"he squeaked."I have a weakheart，sir-a very weak heart，it might have been the death of me." "Your name，please，"said the inspector. "Downes.Roger Emmanuel Downes." "Profession?" "I am a master at Highfield School for boys." "Now，Mr Downes，will you tell us in your own words what happened." "I can tell you that very shortly，gentlemen.
Rembrandt Painting
At the close of the performance I rose from my seat.The seat on my leftwas empty but in the one beyond a man was sitting，apparently asleep.I wasunable to pass him to get out as his legs were stuck out in front of him.Iasked him to allow me to pass.As he did not move I repeated my requestin-a-er-slightly louder tone.He still made no response.I then took him bythe shoulder to waken him.His body slumped down further and I becameaware-that he was either unconscious or seriously ill.I called out:"Thisgentleman is taken ill.Fetch the commissionaire."The commissionaire came.AsI took my hand from the man's shoulder I found it was wet and red......I canassure you，gentlemen，the shock was terrific!Anything might havehappened!For years I have suffered from cardiac weakness-"Colonel Andersonwas looking at Mr Downes with a very curious expression.
Rembrandt Painting
The Singing Butler
The Singing Butler
Coming in hard on Poirot's heels，I just caught the fag end of InspectorCrome's remark. Both he and the Chief Constable were looking worried and depressed. Colonel Anderson greeted us with a nod of the head. "Glad you've come，M.Poirot，"he said politely.I think he guessed thatCrome's remark might have reached our ears. "We've got in the neck again，you see." "Another A B C murder?" "Yes.Damned audacious bit of work.Man leaned over and stabbed the fellowin the back." "Stabbed this time?" "Yes，varies his methods a bit，doesn't he?
The Singing Butler
Biff on the head，strangled，now a knife.Versatile devil-what?Here arethe medical details if you care to see'em." He shoved a paper towards Poirot."A B C down on the floor between thedead man's feet，"he added. "Has the dead man been identified?asked Poirot. "Yes.A B C's slipped up for once-if that's any satisfaction to us. Deceased's a man called Earlsfield-George Earlsfield.Barber byprofession." "Curious，"commented Poirot. "May have skipped a letter，"suggested the colonel. My friend shook his head doubtfully. "Shall we have in the next witness?"asked Crome."He's anxious to gethome." "Yes，yes-let's get on."
The Singing Butler
Coming in hard on Poirot's heels，I just caught the fag end of InspectorCrome's remark. Both he and the Chief Constable were looking worried and depressed. Colonel Anderson greeted us with a nod of the head. "Glad you've come，M.Poirot，"he said politely.I think he guessed thatCrome's remark might have reached our ears. "We've got in the neck again，you see." "Another A B C murder?" "Yes.Damned audacious bit of work.Man leaned over and stabbed the fellowin the back." "Stabbed this time?" "Yes，varies his methods a bit，doesn't he?
The Singing Butler
Biff on the head，strangled，now a knife.Versatile devil-what?Here arethe medical details if you care to see'em." He shoved a paper towards Poirot."A B C down on the floor between thedead man's feet，"he added. "Has the dead man been identified?asked Poirot. "Yes.A B C's slipped up for once-if that's any satisfaction to us. Deceased's a man called Earlsfield-George Earlsfield.Barber byprofession." "Curious，"commented Poirot. "May have skipped a letter，"suggested the colonel. My friend shook his head doubtfully. "Shall we have in the next witness?"asked Crome."He's anxious to gethome." "Yes，yes-let's get on."
The Singing Butler
Jack Vettriano Painting
Jack Vettriano Painting
Gentleman looked bad to me，sir.One of the gentlemen standing by put hishand to the ill gentleman's coat and drew my attention.Blood，sir.It wasclear the gentleman was dead-stabbed，sir.My attention was drawn to an A B Crailway guide，sir，under the seat.Wishing to act correctly，I did not touchsame，but reported to the police immediately that a tragedy had occurred." "Very good.Jameson，you acted very properly." "Thank you，sir." "Did you notice a man leaving the two and fourpennies about five minutesearlier?" "There were several，sir." "Could you describe them?" "Afraid not，sir.One was Mr Geoffery Parnell. And there was a young fellow，Sam Baker，with his young lady.I didn'tnotice anybody else particular." "A pity.That'll do，Jameson."
Jack Vettriano Painting
"Yes sir." The commissionaire saluted and departed. "The medical details we've got，"said Colonel Anderson."We'd better havethe fellow that found him next." A police constable came in and saluted. "Mr Hercule Poirot's here，sir，and another gentleman." Inspector Crome frowned. "Oh，well，"he said."Better have'em in，I suppose."Jack Vettriano Painting
Gentleman looked bad to me，sir.One of the gentlemen standing by put hishand to the ill gentleman's coat and drew my attention.Blood，sir.It wasclear the gentleman was dead-stabbed，sir.My attention was drawn to an A B Crailway guide，sir，under the seat.Wishing to act correctly，I did not touchsame，but reported to the police immediately that a tragedy had occurred." "Very good.Jameson，you acted very properly." "Thank you，sir." "Did you notice a man leaving the two and fourpennies about five minutesearlier?" "There were several，sir." "Could you describe them?" "Afraid not，sir.One was Mr Geoffery Parnell. And there was a young fellow，Sam Baker，with his young lady.I didn'tnotice anybody else particular." "A pity.That'll do，Jameson."
Jack Vettriano Painting
"Yes sir." The commissionaire saluted and departed. "The medical details we've got，"said Colonel Anderson."We'd better havethe fellow that found him next." A police constable came in and saluted. "Mr Hercule Poirot's here，sir，and another gentleman." Inspector Crome frowned. "Oh，well，"he said."Better have'em in，I suppose."Jack Vettriano Painting
Mary Cassatt painting
Mary Cassatt painting
Mr Leadbetter had heard nothing but the loud，hoarse accents ofKatherine Royal，but in the vividness of his imagination he invented a groan. Inspector Crome took the groan at its face value and bade him proceed. "And then he went out-""Can you describe him?" "He was a very big man.Six foot at least.A giant." "Fair or dark?" "I-well-I'm not exactly sure.I think he was bald.A sinister-lookingfellow." "He didn't limp，did he?"asked Inspector Crome. "Yes-yes，now you come to speak of it I think he did limp.Very dark，hemight have been some kind of half-caste." "Was he in his seat the last time the lights came up?"
Mary Cassatt painting
"No.He came in after the big picture began." Inspector Crome nodded，handed Mr Leadbetter a statement to sign and gotrid of him. "That's about as bad a witness as you'll find，"he remarkedpessimistically."He'd say anything with a little leading.It's perfectlyclear that he hasn't the faintest idea what our man looks like.Let's havethe commissionaire back." The commissionaire，very stiff and military，came in and stood toattention，his eyes fixed on Colonel Anderson. "Now，then，Jameson，let's hear your story." Jameson saluted. "Yes sir.Close of the performance，sir.I was told there was a gentlemantaken ill，sir.Gentleman was in the two and fourpennies，slumped down in hisseat like.Other gentlemen standing around.
Mary Cassatt painting
Mr Leadbetter had heard nothing but the loud，hoarse accents ofKatherine Royal，but in the vividness of his imagination he invented a groan. Inspector Crome took the groan at its face value and bade him proceed. "And then he went out-""Can you describe him?" "He was a very big man.Six foot at least.A giant." "Fair or dark?" "I-well-I'm not exactly sure.I think he was bald.A sinister-lookingfellow." "He didn't limp，did he?"asked Inspector Crome. "Yes-yes，now you come to speak of it I think he did limp.Very dark，hemight have been some kind of half-caste." "Was he in his seat the last time the lights came up?"
Mary Cassatt painting
"No.He came in after the big picture began." Inspector Crome nodded，handed Mr Leadbetter a statement to sign and gotrid of him. "That's about as bad a witness as you'll find，"he remarkedpessimistically."He'd say anything with a little leading.It's perfectlyclear that he hasn't the faintest idea what our man looks like.Let's havethe commissionaire back." The commissionaire，very stiff and military，came in and stood toattention，his eyes fixed on Colonel Anderson. "Now，then，Jameson，let's hear your story." Jameson saluted. "Yes sir.Close of the performance，sir.I was told there was a gentlemantaken ill，sir.Gentleman was in the two and fourpennies，slumped down in hisseat like.Other gentlemen standing around.
Mary Cassatt painting
Edward Hopper Painting
Edward Hopper Painting
He made up his mind，darted quickly along a passage and out by the doorthat gave into the yard.A couple of chauffeurs were there tinkering withcars and discussing winners and losers. Mr Cust hurried across the yard and out into the street. Round the first corner to the right-then to the left-right again...... Dare he risk the station? Yes-there would be crowds there-special trains-if luck were on his sidehe would do it all right...... If only luck were with him......
Edward Hopper Painting
Inspector Crome was listening to the excited utterances of Mr Leadbetter. "I assure you，inspector，my heart misses a beat when I think of it.Hemust actually have been sitting beside me all through the programme!" Inspector Crome，completely indifferent to the behaviour of MrLeadbetter's heart，said: "Just let me have it quite clear?This man went out towards the close ofthe big picture-""Not a Sparrow-Katherine Royal，"murmured Mr Leadbetterautomatically. "He passed you and in doing so stumbled-""He pretended to stumble，I seeit now.Then he leaned over the seat in front to pick up his hat.He must havestabbed the poor fellow then." "You didn't hear anything?A cry?Or a groan?"
Edward Hopper Painting
He made up his mind，darted quickly along a passage and out by the doorthat gave into the yard.A couple of chauffeurs were there tinkering withcars and discussing winners and losers. Mr Cust hurried across the yard and out into the street. Round the first corner to the right-then to the left-right again...... Dare he risk the station? Yes-there would be crowds there-special trains-if luck were on his sidehe would do it all right...... If only luck were with him......
Edward Hopper Painting
Inspector Crome was listening to the excited utterances of Mr Leadbetter. "I assure you，inspector，my heart misses a beat when I think of it.Hemust actually have been sitting beside me all through the programme!" Inspector Crome，completely indifferent to the behaviour of MrLeadbetter's heart，said: "Just let me have it quite clear?This man went out towards the close ofthe big picture-""Not a Sparrow-Katherine Royal，"murmured Mr Leadbetterautomatically. "He passed you and in doing so stumbled-""He pretended to stumble，I seeit now.Then he leaned over the seat in front to pick up his hat.He must havestabbed the poor fellow then." "You didn't hear anything?A cry?Or a groan?"
Edward Hopper Painting
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Sunflower
A minute later he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug intothe basin.Removing his coat，he rinsed the sleeve，carefully squeezing itout...... Ugh!The water was red now...... A tap on the door. He stood there frozen into immobility-staring. The door opened.A plump young woman-jug in hand. "Oh，excuse me，sir.Your hot water，sir." He managed to speak then. "Thank you......I've washed in cold......" Why had he said that?Immediately her eyes went to the basin. He said frenziedly:"I-I've cut my hand......" There was a pause-yes，surely a very long pause-before she said:"Yes，sir."
Van Gogh Sunflower
She went out，shutting the door. Mr Cust stood as though turned to stone. He listened. It had come-at last...... Were there voices-exclamations-feet mounting the stairs? He could hear nothing but the beating of his own heart...... Then，suddenly，from frozen immobility he leaped into activity. He slipped on his coat，tiptoed to the door and opened it.No noises asyet except the familiar murmur arising from the bar. He crept down the stairs...... Still no one.That was luck.He paused at the foot of the stairs.Which waynow?
Van Gogh Sunflower
A minute later he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug intothe basin.Removing his coat，he rinsed the sleeve，carefully squeezing itout...... Ugh!The water was red now...... A tap on the door. He stood there frozen into immobility-staring. The door opened.A plump young woman-jug in hand. "Oh，excuse me，sir.Your hot water，sir." He managed to speak then. "Thank you......I've washed in cold......" Why had he said that?Immediately her eyes went to the basin. He said frenziedly:"I-I've cut my hand......" There was a pause-yes，surely a very long pause-before she said:"Yes，sir."
Van Gogh Sunflower
She went out，shutting the door. Mr Cust stood as though turned to stone. He listened. It had come-at last...... Were there voices-exclamations-feet mounting the stairs? He could hear nothing but the beating of his own heart...... Then，suddenly，from frozen immobility he leaped into activity. He slipped on his coat，tiptoed to the door and opened it.No noises asyet except the familiar murmur arising from the bar. He crept down the stairs...... Still no one.That was luck.He paused at the foot of the stairs.Which waynow?
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Painting
Van Gogh Painting
Mr Cust came out of the Regal Cinema and looked up at the sky. A beautiful evening......A really beautiful evening...... A quatation from Browning came into his head. "God's in His heaven.All's right with the world." He had always been fond of that quotation. Only there were times，very often，when he had felt it wasn't true...... He trotted along the street smiling to himself until he came to theBlack Swan where he was staying. He climbed the stairs to his bedroom，a stuffy little room on the secondfloor，giving over a paved inner court and garage. As he entered the room his smile faded suddenly.
Van Gogh Painting
There was a stain on his sleeve near the cuff.He touched ittentatively-wet and red-blood...... His hand dipped into his pocket and brought out something-a long slenderknife.The blade of that，too，was sticky and red...... Mr Cust sat there a long time. Once his eyes shot round the room like those of a hunted animal. His tongue passed feverishly over his lips...... "It isn't my fault，"said Mr Cust. He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody-a schoolboy pleadingto his headmaster. He passed his tongue over his lips again...... Again，tentatively，he felt his coat sleeve. His eyes crossed the room to the wash-basin.
Van Gogh Painting
Mr Cust came out of the Regal Cinema and looked up at the sky. A beautiful evening......A really beautiful evening...... A quatation from Browning came into his head. "God's in His heaven.All's right with the world." He had always been fond of that quotation. Only there were times，very often，when he had felt it wasn't true...... He trotted along the street smiling to himself until he came to theBlack Swan where he was staying. He climbed the stairs to his bedroom，a stuffy little room on the secondfloor，giving over a paved inner court and garage. As he entered the room his smile faded suddenly.
Van Gogh Painting
There was a stain on his sleeve near the cuff.He touched ittentatively-wet and red-blood...... His hand dipped into his pocket and brought out something-a long slenderknife.The blade of that，too，was sticky and red...... Mr Cust sat there a long time. Once his eyes shot round the room like those of a hunted animal. His tongue passed feverishly over his lips...... "It isn't my fault，"said Mr Cust. He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody-a schoolboy pleadingto his headmaster. He passed his tongue over his lips again...... Again，tentatively，he felt his coat sleeve. His eyes crossed the room to the wash-basin.
Van Gogh Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
Below his breath Mr Leadbetter uttered a grunt of impatience as hisnext-door neighbour got up and stumbled clumsily past him，dropping his hatover the seat in front，and leaning over to retrieve it. All this at the culminating moment of Not a Sparrow，that all-star，thrilling drama of pathos and beauty that Mr Leadbetter had been lookingforward to seeing for a whole week. The golden-haired heroine，played by Katherine Royal (in Mr Leadbetter'sopinion the leading film actress in the world)，was just giving vent to ahoarse cry of indignation: "Never.I would sooner starve.But I shan't starve.Remember those words
Marc Chagall Painting
not a sparrow falls-"Mr Leadbetter moved his head irritably from rightto left.People!Why on earth people couldn't wait till the end of afilm......And to leave at this soul-stirring moment. Ah，that was better.The annoying gentleman had passed on and out.MrLeadbetter had a full view of the screen and of Katherine Royal standing bythe window in the Van Schreiner Mansion in New York. And now she was boarding the train-the child in her arms......Whatcurious trains they had in America-not at all like English trains. Ah，there was Steve again in his shack in the mountains...... The film pursued its course to its emotional and semi-religious end. Mr Leadbetter breathed a sigh of satisfaction as the lights went up. He rose slowly to his feet，blinking a little.
Marc Chagall Painting
Below his breath Mr Leadbetter uttered a grunt of impatience as hisnext-door neighbour got up and stumbled clumsily past him，dropping his hatover the seat in front，and leaning over to retrieve it. All this at the culminating moment of Not a Sparrow，that all-star，thrilling drama of pathos and beauty that Mr Leadbetter had been lookingforward to seeing for a whole week. The golden-haired heroine，played by Katherine Royal (in Mr Leadbetter'sopinion the leading film actress in the world)，was just giving vent to ahoarse cry of indignation: "Never.I would sooner starve.But I shan't starve.Remember those words
Marc Chagall Painting
not a sparrow falls-"Mr Leadbetter moved his head irritably from rightto left.People!Why on earth people couldn't wait till the end of afilm......And to leave at this soul-stirring moment. Ah，that was better.The annoying gentleman had passed on and out.MrLeadbetter had a full view of the screen and of Katherine Royal standing bythe window in the Van Schreiner Mansion in New York. And now she was boarding the train-the child in her arms......Whatcurious trains they had in America-not at all like English trains. Ah，there was Steve again in his shack in the mountains...... The film pursued its course to its emotional and semi-religious end. Mr Leadbetter breathed a sigh of satisfaction as the lights went up. He rose slowly to his feet，blinking a little.
Marc Chagall Painting
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