The Black Tortoise

America on

off to

'm not

ry important business which takes you there! Can't you send some one else? You know Clara won't consider her

tant business-that only I can undertake. I am awfu

bit, on leaving my office at seven o'clock, to go up to Monk's rooms an

ompetency as an engineer. When I again saw Monk, the friend of my boyhood, I found he had, strange to say, adopted the profession of private detective. As far as I could understand, he car

ath away; he had never for a moment sa

se you have on

s not a n

d to see standing quietly before me with the handsome, open count

p and down the floor. All at o

y with me th

re with a friend. I am therefore free, and it was my intentio

, for I have something to tell you, and u

cely anything; indeed, he hardly attended to his duties as host,

the matter, so I got through my supper as quick

s comfortable chairs, and set before me some whiskey and water and ciga

d to speak to me ab

ave patience t

urse I

it up Monk's da

ductions, and the like; but what I have in mind this evening is nothing of that sort. Do you feel inclined to h

ther something has happened to you which has thrown a shadow over your existence; but, as you can understa

raid I have been foolish, and doubly stupid, not to have called to my aid a clever friend's assistance. I have stared myself blind with trying to find a way out of the dark. It is, however, wrong of me to call the affair my affa

ntelligent woman can help you in any way, you

ount of his story, I only wish that I could have given it in his own clear language and striking words. To detail it in full is of course im