A landmark for the new millennium 2 страница

A strange girl

Stephen pulled up the collar of his coat as he walked along the platform. Overhead a dim fog clouded the station. He was A22 ______ trains move slowly, throwing off clouds of steam into the cold air. Everything was dirty and smoke-grimed.

Stephen thought with revulsion: “What a foul country – what a foul city!” He had to A23 ______ that his first excited reaction to London – its shops, its restaurants, its well-dressed attractive women – had faded. Supposing he were back in South Africa now… To A24 ______ the truth, he felt a quick pang of homesickness. Sunshine – blue skies – gardens of flowers. And here – dirt, grime and endless crowds – moving, hurrying, jostling.

He got on a train and passed along the corridor, looking for a place. The train was full. It was only three days before Christmas. He A25 ______ to go to his parents for Christmas… And then, suddenly, he caught his breath, looking into a carriage. This girl was different. Black hair, rich creamy pallor, the sad proud eyes of the South… It was all wrong that this girl should be sitting in this train A26 ______ these dull drab looking people. She should be somewhere splendid, not squeezed into the corner of a third class carriage.

He was an observant man. He did not fail to A27 ______ the shabbiness of her black coat and skirt, the cheap quality of her gloves. A28 ______ splendor was the quality he associated with her. He thought: “I’ve got to know who she is and what she’s doing here.”

Singing in the car

Ray Bradbury

Dinner

Amos Finnister was a private detective. In all his years as a policeman and a private investigator, he had learned about people. He gained a psychological insight into most as he A22 ______ them do foolish things. He was at ease with people from all walks of life, and in consequence they were at ease with him.

And this was most apparent on Friday evening, when Major Cedric Crawford dined with him at the Ritz restaurant. Amos A23 ______ to dine there when he lived in New York.

By the time they were halfway through dinner, Amos had the major laughing and sharing stories, some of which were funny. By the time they had eaten the main course, Amos felt comfortable enough to A24 ______ the answer to an important question. “I wonder if you have ever come across Tabitha James.”

Cedric A25 ______ knowing Tabitha with no sign of embarrassment or reluctance. “To A26 ______ the truth, I knew her quite well, actually. She was a close friend of a fellow guards officer, Sebastian Lawford. She fell in love with him at first sight. They were going to marry but unfortunately that did not come to pass.”

“And why was that, Major, do you know?”

“Oh, yes, I’m afraid I do. Tabitha had contracted pneumonia but A27 ______ no attention to her illness. Before I knew it, she was dead and gone. As for Sebastian, he rejoined the army when the war broke out and was killed. A sad story, isn’t it?” Amos nodded. So much depended A28 ______ this information.

Honesty is the best policy

Amos

It wasn’t unusual for Amos to go to Deravenels on Saturday, even though the offices were closed over the weekend. He A22 ______ to go to tidy up his paperwork and do other small jobs he couldn’t attend to during the week.

But on this Saturday morning he had a specific purpose when he arrived at the grand old building on the Strand. The uniformed doorman A23 ______ Amos close his umbrella and take off his raincoat. Then he touched his cap and said, “Good morning, Mr. Finnister”.

Amos had come to the office to A24 ______ a few telephone calls. His first call was to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, where he quickly discovered the records office was not open on weekends. He then dialed Ravenscar and was put through to Edward Deravenel.

“Good morning, Amos,” Edward said. “I’m assuming you have some news for me.” Amos then relayed all the information he had gathered the night before.

“Well done, Amos!” Edward exclaimed. “Thank you for going into all this A25 ______ . I knew I could depend A26 ______ you. My wife will be happy as I am to know everything; it’s been such a mystery all these years. To A27 ______ the truth, I think that Grace Rose should also know what happened to her mother. It will finally put her mind at rest.”

“I agree, sir. I will telephone you on Monday”. Amos walked home, A28 ______ no attention to the heavy rain. He felt happy.

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