"The Gerrard Street mystery (1888) by John Charles Dent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dent John Charles)

Scarcely crediting the evidence of my senses I tore open the envelope, and
read as follows:--
"Toronto, 9th December, 1861.
"MY DEAR WILLIAM:--I am so glad to know that you are coming home so much
sooner than you expected when you wrote last, and that you will eat your
Christmas dinner with us. For reasons which you will learn when you arrive, it
will not be a very merry Christmas at our house, but your presence will make
it much more bearable than it would be without you. I have not told Alice that
you are coming. Let it be a joyful surprise for her, as some compensation for
the sorrows she has had to endure lately. You needn't telegraph. I will meet
you at the GWR station.
"Your affectionate uncle,
"RICHARD YARDINGTON."
"Why, what's the matter?" asked my friend, seeing the blank look of surprise
on my face. "Of course the letter is not for you; why on earth did you open
it?"
"It is for me," I answered. "See here, Gridley, old man; have you been
playing me a trick? If you haven't, this is the strangest thing I ever knew in
my life."
Of course he hadn't been playing me a trick. A moment's reflection showed me
that such a thing was impossible. Here was the envelope with the Toronto
post-mark of the 9th of December, at which time he had been with me on board
the Persia, on the Banks of Newfoundland. Besides, he was a gentleman, and
would not have played so poor and stupid a joke upon a guest. And, to put the
matter beyond all possibility of doubt, I remembered that I had never
mentioned my cousin's name in his hearing.
I handed him the letter. He read it carefully through twice over, and was as
much mystified at its contents as myself; for during our passage across the
Atlantic I had explained to him the circumstance under which I was returning
home.
By what conceivable means had my uncle been made aware of my departure from
Melbourne? Had Mr. Redpath written to him, as soon as I acquainted that
gentleman with my intentions? But even if such were the case, the letter could
not have left before I did, and could not possibly have reached Toronto by the
9th of December. Had I been seen in England by some one who knew me, and had
not one written from there? Most unlikely; and even if such a thing had
happened, it was impossible that the letter could have reached Toronto by the
9th. I need hardly inform the reader that there was no telegraphic
communication at that time. And how could my uncle know that I would take the
Boston route? And if he had known, how could he foresee that I would do
anything so absurd as to call at the Boston post office and inquire for
letters? "I will meet you at the GWR station." How was he to know by what
train I would reach Toronto unless I notified him by telegraph? And that he
expressly stated to be unnecessary.
We did no more sight-seeing. I obeyed the hint contained in the letter, and
sent no telegram. My friend accompanied me down to the Boston and Albany
station, where I waited in feverish impatience for the departure of the train.
We talked over the matter until 11:30, in the vain hope of finding some clue
to the mystery. Then I started on my journey. Mr. Gridley's curiosity was
aroused, and I promised to send him an explanation immediately upon my arrival