Tales of Terror and Mystery

           "MayIhaveanothercigar?"saidhe."Thankyouverymuch!IneversmokewhenIwork,butIenjoyachatmuchmorewhenIamundertheinfluenceoftobacco.Now,asregardsthisyounglady,withwhomyouhadthislittleadventure.Whatintheworldhasbecomeofher?"

           "Sheisathomewithherownpeople."

           "Oh,really—inEngland?"

           "Yes."

           "WhatpartofEngland—London?"

           "No,Twickenham."

           "Youmustexcusemycuriosity,mydearKennedy,andyoumustputitdowntomyignoranceoftheworld.Nodoubtitisquiteasimplethingtopersuadeayoungladytogooffwithyouforthreeweeksorso,andthentohandherovertoherownfamilyat—whatdidyoucalltheplace?"

           "Twickenham."

           "Quiteso—atTwickenham.ButitissomethingsoentirelyoutsidemyownexperiencethatIcannotevenimaginehowyousetaboutit.Forexample,ifyouhadlovedthisgirlyourlovecouldhardlydisappearinthreeweeks,soIpresumethatyoucouldnothavelovedheratall.Butifyoudidnotloveherwhyshouldyoumakethisgreatscandalwhichhasdamagedyouandruinedher?"

           Kennedylookedmoodilyintotheredeyeofthestove.

           "That’salogicalwayoflookingatit,certainly,"saidhe."Loveisabigword,anditrepresentsagoodmanydifferentshadesoffeeling.Ilikedher,and—well,yousayyou’veseenher—youknowhowcharmingshecouldlook.ButstillIamwillingtoadmit,lookingback,thatIcouldneverhavereallylovedher."

           "Then,mydearKennedy,whydidyoudoit?"

           "Theadventureofthethinghadagreatdealtodowithit.