A little reptile if ever there was one!
Faversham had come across the creature a good deal since his appointment
as agent; and was well aware that he had excited Nash's jealousy and
dislike. A man to be guarded against no doubt; but what could he do?
Faversham contemptuously dismissed the thought of him.
A charming old room!--though the height and the dark tone of the oak
panelling sucked all the light from his pair of candles. That would be
altered as soon as the electric installation, for which Melrose had just
signed the contract, was complete. In the centre of the wall opposite
the window, through which a chill dawn was just beginning to penetrate,
stood a fine _armoire_ of carved Norman work. Faversham went to look at
it, and vaguely opened one of its drawers.
There was something at the back of the drawer, a picture, apparently an
old photograph, lying face downward. He drew it out, and looked at it.
He beheld a young and rather pretty woman, with a curiously flat head,
staring black eyes, and sharp chin. She had a child on her knee of about
a year old, an elf with delicately proud features, and a frowning,
passionate look.
Who were they? The photograph was stained with age and damp; deep, too,
in dust. From the woman's dress it must be a good many years old.
The answer suggested itself at once. He was now inhabiting Mrs. Melrose's
room, which, according to Mrs. Dixon, had been closed for years, from the
date of her flight.
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