2
reasure--gold, jewels and bank-notes--were supposed to be hidden, nothing could be found.
There are an unusual number of deaths, by murder and in self-defence, as the story unfolds, and we are left in total suspense until the very end of the very last chapter. The person who works out where the treasure must be, and how it got there, does not come on the scene until almost the last chapter, and even then he has to go on business to America before he can come in and explain his theory, which proves to be right.
This book makes an excellent audiobook, and you will certainly like it.
______________________________________________________________________THE DARK HOUSE, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN.
CHAPTER ONE.
NUMBER 9A, ALBEMARLE SQUARE.
"Don't drink our sherry, Charles?"
Mr Preenham, the butler, stood by the table in the gloomy servants' hall, as if he had received a shock.
"No, sir; I took 'em up the beer at first, and they shook their heads and asked for wine, and when I took 'em the sherry they shook their heads again, and the one who speaks English said they want key-aunty."
"Well, all I have got to say," exclaimed the portly cook, "is, that if I had known what was going to take place, I wouldn't have stopped an hour after the old man died. It's wicked! And something awful will happen, as sure as my name's Thompson."
"Don't say that, Mrs Thompson," said the mild-looking butler. "It is very dreadful, though."
"Dreadful isn't the word. Are we ancient Egyptians? I declare, ever since them Hightalians have been in the house, going about like three dark conspirators in a play, I've had the creeps. I say, it didn't ought to be allowed."
"What am I to say to them, sir?" said the footman, a strongly built man, with shifty eyes and quickly twitching lips.
"Well, look here, Charles," said the butler, slowly wiping his mouth with hi