"Machen, Arthur - The Shining Pyramid" - читать интересную книгу автора (Machen Arthur)

ships and go on the tramp up and down the country. Not many years ago a Spanish
sailor named Garcia murdered a whole family for the sake of plunder that was not
worth sixpence. They are hardly human, some of these fellows, and I am
dreadfully afraid the poor girl must have come to an awful end."

"But no foreign sailor was seen by anyone about the country?"

"No; there is certainly that; and of course country people are quick to notice
anyone whose appearance and dress are a little out of the common. Still it seems
as if my theory were the only possible explanation."

"There are no data to go upon," said Dyson, thoughtfully.

"There was no question of a love affair, or anything of the kind, I suppose?"

"Oh, no, not a hint of such a thing. I am sure if Annie were alive she would
have contrived to let her mother know of her safety."

"No doubt, no doubt. Still it is barely possible that she is alive and yet
unable to communicate with her friends. But all this must have disturbed you a
good deal."

"Yes, it did; I hate a mystery, and especially a mystery which is probably the
veil of horror. But frankly, Dyson, I want to make a clean breast of it; I did
not come here to tell you all this."

"Of course not," said Dyson, a little surprised at Vaughan's uneasy manner. "You
came to have a chat on more cheerful topics."

"No, I did not. What I have been telling you about happened a month ago, but
something which seems likely to affect me more personally has taken place within
the last few days, and to be quite plain, I came up to town with the idea that
you might be able to help me. You recollect that curious case you spoke to me
about at our last meeting; something about a spectacle- maker."

"Oh, yes, I remember that. I know I was quite proud of my acumen at the time;
even to this day the police have no idea why those peculiar yellow spectacles
were wanted. But, Vaughan, you really look quite put out; I hope there is
nothing serious?"

"No, I think I have been exaggerating, and I want you to reassure me. But what
has happened is very odd."

"And what has happened?"

"I am sure that you will laugh at me, but this is the story. You must know there
is a path, a right of way, that goes through my land, and to be precise, close
to the wall of the kitchen garden. It is not used by many people; a woodman now
and again finds it useful, and five or six children who go to school in the
village pass twice a day. Well, a few days ago I was taking a walk about the