Читать книгу Cardboard Castle онлайн

42 страница из 67

Where I was an eye-witness of events and knew of things at first hand, I shall speak in the first person, this seeming to be the more natural and satisfactory method.

Where I only know the facts from hear-say, albeit the indisputable evidence of people concerned, who were actual eye-witnesses, I shall adopt the more usual rôle, omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent, of the practised story-teller or novelist speaking in the third person. I shall begin thus; and at a date some ten years previous to my arrival at Calderton House.

ssss1

"I didn't know there was such a word as 'unimpeccable,'" murmured Lady Calderton, as she put down the letter and took up her cup.

"Didn't you, my dear?" answered the General, lowering the newspaper which at the moment obscured his handsome clear-cut face.

"No. Did you, Arthur?"

"No," replied the General. "I didn't."

"Well, I don't think we shall do better," observed Lady Calderton, consulting Lady Jane's letter again before looking across the breakfast-table and thoughtfully regarding the newspaper, which once more concealed her husband and hid the loving mocking smile that, as she well knew, played about the corners of his firm mouth.