Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Head of Christ
The natural picturesqueness and singularity of the town still remain; but strange to say these qualities, which were noted by many writers in ages when scenic beauty is said to have been unappreciated, are passed over in this, and one of the queerest and quaintest spots in England stands virtually unvisited to-day. ¡¡¡¡ It has a unique position on the summit of a steep and imposing scarp, rising on the north, south, and west sides of the borough out of the deep alluvial Vale of Blackmoor, the view from the Castle Green over three counties of verdant pasture--South, Mid, and Nether Wessex-- being as sudden a surprise to the unexpectant traveller's eyes as the medicinal air is to his lungs. Impossible to a railway, it can best be reached on foot, next best by light vehicles; and it is hardly accessible to these but by a sort of isthmus on the north-east, that connects it with the high chalk table-land on that side. ¡¡¡¡ Such is, and such was, the now world-forgotten Shaston or Palladour. Its situation rendered water the great want of the town; and within living memory, horses, donkeys and men may have been seen toiling up the winding ways to the top of the height, laden with tubs and barrels filled from the wells beneath the mountain, and hawkers retailing their contents at the price of a halfpenny a bucketful.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Evening Mood painting
Evening Mood painting
female nude reclining
flaming june painting
¡¡¡¡ From whose foundation first such strange reports arise, ¡¡¡¡ (as Drayton sang it), was, and is, in itself the city of a dream. Vague imaginings of its castle, its three mints, its magnificent apsidal abbey, the chief glory of South Wessex, its twelve churches, its shrines, chantries, hospitals, its gabled freestone mansions-- all now ruthlessly swept away--throw the visitor, even against his will, into a pensive melancholy, which the stimulating atmosphere and limitless landscape around him can scarcely dispel. The spot was the burial-place of a king and a queen, of abbots and abbesses, saints and bishops, knights and squires. The bones of King Edward "the Martyr," carefully removed hither for holy preservation, brought Shaston a renown which made it the resort of pilgrims from every part of Europe, and enabled it to maintain a reputation extending far beyond English shores. To this fair creation of the great Middle-Age the Dissolution was, as historians tell us, the death-knell. With the destruction of the enormous abbey the whole place collapsed in a general ruin: the Martyr's bones met with the fate of the sacred pile that held them, and not a stone is now left to tell where they lie.
female nude reclining
flaming june painting
¡¡¡¡ From whose foundation first such strange reports arise, ¡¡¡¡ (as Drayton sang it), was, and is, in itself the city of a dream. Vague imaginings of its castle, its three mints, its magnificent apsidal abbey, the chief glory of South Wessex, its twelve churches, its shrines, chantries, hospitals, its gabled freestone mansions-- all now ruthlessly swept away--throw the visitor, even against his will, into a pensive melancholy, which the stimulating atmosphere and limitless landscape around him can scarcely dispel. The spot was the burial-place of a king and a queen, of abbots and abbesses, saints and bishops, knights and squires. The bones of King Edward "the Martyr," carefully removed hither for holy preservation, brought Shaston a renown which made it the resort of pilgrims from every part of Europe, and enabled it to maintain a reputation extending far beyond English shores. To this fair creation of the great Middle-Age the Dissolution was, as historians tell us, the death-knell. With the destruction of the enormous abbey the whole place collapsed in a general ruin: the Martyr's bones met with the fate of the sacred pile that held them, and not a stone is now left to tell where they lie.
William Bouguereau Biblis painting
William Bouguereau Biblis
Biblis painting
Charity painting
Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee
¡¡¡¡ Jude almost tore his hair at having missed this letter till it was too late to act upon its contents; but he had chastened himself considerably of late, and at last his chimerical expedition to Kennetbridge really did seem to have been another special intervention of Providence to keep him away from temptation. But a growing impatience of faith, which he had noticed in himself more than once of late, made him pass over in ridicule the idea that God sent people on fools' errands. He longed to see her; he was angry at having missed her: and he wrote instantly, telling her what had happened, and saying he had not enough patience to wait till the following Sunday, but would come any day in the week that she liked to name. ¡¡¡¡ Since he wrote a little over-ardently, Sue, as her manner was, delayed her reply till Thursday before Good Friday, when she said he might come that afternoon if he wished, this being the earliest day on which she could welcome him, for she was now assistant-teacher in her husband's school. Jude therefore got leave from the cathedral works at the trifling expense of a stoppage of pay, and went.
Biblis painting
Charity painting
Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee
¡¡¡¡ Jude almost tore his hair at having missed this letter till it was too late to act upon its contents; but he had chastened himself considerably of late, and at last his chimerical expedition to Kennetbridge really did seem to have been another special intervention of Providence to keep him away from temptation. But a growing impatience of faith, which he had noticed in himself more than once of late, made him pass over in ridicule the idea that God sent people on fools' errands. He longed to see her; he was angry at having missed her: and he wrote instantly, telling her what had happened, and saying he had not enough patience to wait till the following Sunday, but would come any day in the week that she liked to name. ¡¡¡¡ Since he wrote a little over-ardently, Sue, as her manner was, delayed her reply till Thursday before Good Friday, when she said he might come that afternoon if he wished, this being the earliest day on which she could welcome him, for she was now assistant-teacher in her husband's school. Jude therefore got leave from the cathedral works at the trifling expense of a stoppage of pay, and went.
Venus and Cupid
Venus and Cupid
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
virgin of the rocks
Woman with a Parasol
¡¡¡¡ They talked a little longer, but constrainedly, for when the musician found that Jude was a poor man his manner changed from what it had been while Jude's appearance and address deceived him as to his position and pursuits. Jude stammered out something about his feelings in wishing to congratulate the author on such an exalted composition, and took an embarrassed leave. ¡¡¡¡ All the way home by the slow Sunday train, sitting in the fireless waiting-rooms on this cold spring day, he was depressed enough at his simplicity in taking such a journey. But no sooner did he reach his Melchester lodging than he found awaiting him a letter which had arrived that morning a few minutes after he had left the house. It was a contrite little note from Sue, in which she said, with sweet humility, that she felt she had been horrid in telling him he was not to come to see her, that she despised herself for having been so conventional; and that he was to be sure to come by the eleven-forty-five train that very Sunday, and have dinner with them at half-past one.
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
virgin of the rocks
Woman with a Parasol
¡¡¡¡ They talked a little longer, but constrainedly, for when the musician found that Jude was a poor man his manner changed from what it had been while Jude's appearance and address deceived him as to his position and pursuits. Jude stammered out something about his feelings in wishing to congratulate the author on such an exalted composition, and took an embarrassed leave. ¡¡¡¡ All the way home by the slow Sunday train, sitting in the fireless waiting-rooms on this cold spring day, he was depressed enough at his simplicity in taking such a journey. But no sooner did he reach his Melchester lodging than he found awaiting him a letter which had arrived that morning a few minutes after he had left the house. It was a contrite little note from Sue, in which she said, with sweet humility, that she felt she had been horrid in telling him he was not to come to see her, that she despised herself for having been so conventional; and that he was to be sure to come by the eleven-forty-five train that very Sunday, and have dinner with them at half-past one.
Hylas and the Nymphs
Hylas and the Nymphs
jesus christ on the cross
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
This difficulty in the water supply, together with two other odd facts, namely, that the chief graveyard slopes up as steeply as a roof behind the church, and that in former times the town passed through a curious period of corruption, conventual and domestic, gave rise to the saying that Shaston was remarkable for three consolations to man, such as the world afforded not elsewhere. It was a place where the churchyard lay nearer heaven than the church steeple, where beer was more plentiful than water, and where there were more wanton women than honest wives and maids. It is also said that after the Middle Ages the inhabitants were too poor to pay their priests, and hence were compelled to pull down their churches, and refrain altogether from the public worship of God; a necessity which they bemoaned over their cups in the settles of their inns on Sunday afternoons. In those days the Shastonians were apparently not without a sense of humour. ¡¡¡¡ There was another peculiarity--this a modern one--which Shaston appeared to owe to its site. It was the resting-place and headquarters of the proprietors of wandering vans, shows, shooting-galleries, and other itinerant concerns, whose business lay largely at fairs and markets. As strange wild birds are seen assembled on some lofty promontory, meditatively pausing for longer flights, or to return by the course they followed thither, so here, in this cliff-town, stood in stultified silence the yellow and green caravans bearing names not local, as if surprised by a change in the landscape so violent as to hinder their further progress; and here they usually remained all the winter till they turned to seek again their old tracks in the following spring.
jesus christ on the cross
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
This difficulty in the water supply, together with two other odd facts, namely, that the chief graveyard slopes up as steeply as a roof behind the church, and that in former times the town passed through a curious period of corruption, conventual and domestic, gave rise to the saying that Shaston was remarkable for three consolations to man, such as the world afforded not elsewhere. It was a place where the churchyard lay nearer heaven than the church steeple, where beer was more plentiful than water, and where there were more wanton women than honest wives and maids. It is also said that after the Middle Ages the inhabitants were too poor to pay their priests, and hence were compelled to pull down their churches, and refrain altogether from the public worship of God; a necessity which they bemoaned over their cups in the settles of their inns on Sunday afternoons. In those days the Shastonians were apparently not without a sense of humour. ¡¡¡¡ There was another peculiarity--this a modern one--which Shaston appeared to owe to its site. It was the resting-place and headquarters of the proprietors of wandering vans, shows, shooting-galleries, and other itinerant concerns, whose business lay largely at fairs and markets. As strange wild birds are seen assembled on some lofty promontory, meditatively pausing for longer flights, or to return by the course they followed thither, so here, in this cliff-town, stood in stultified silence the yellow and green caravans bearing names not local, as if surprised by a change in the landscape so violent as to hinder their further progress; and here they usually remained all the winter till they turned to seek again their old tracks in the following spring.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Nighthawks Hopper
Nighthawks Hopper
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
Naiade oil painting
don't know! I can't help shivering. I wish I could get warm." Jude put on her his great-coat in addition, and then ran out to the nearest public-house, whence he returned with a little bottle in his hand. "Here's six of best brandy," he said. "Now you drink it, dear; all of it." ¡¡¡¡ "I can't out of the bottle, can I?" Jude fetched the glass from the dressing-table, and administered the spirit in some water. She gasped a little, but gulped it down, and lay back in the armchair. ¡¡¡¡ She then began to relate circumstantially her experiences since they had parted; but in the middle of her story her voice faltered, her head nodded, and she ceased. She was in a sound sleep. Jude, dying of anxiety lest she should have caught a chill which might permanently injure her, was glad to hear the regular breathing. He softly went nearer to her, and observed that a warm flush now rosed her hitherto blue cheeks, and felt that her hanging hand was no longer cold. Then he stood with his back to the fire regarding her, and saw in her almost a divinity. ¡¡¡¡
Mother and Child
My Sweet Rose painting
Naiade oil painting
don't know! I can't help shivering. I wish I could get warm." Jude put on her his great-coat in addition, and then ran out to the nearest public-house, whence he returned with a little bottle in his hand. "Here's six of best brandy," he said. "Now you drink it, dear; all of it." ¡¡¡¡ "I can't out of the bottle, can I?" Jude fetched the glass from the dressing-table, and administered the spirit in some water. She gasped a little, but gulped it down, and lay back in the armchair. ¡¡¡¡ She then began to relate circumstantially her experiences since they had parted; but in the middle of her story her voice faltered, her head nodded, and she ceased. She was in a sound sleep. Jude, dying of anxiety lest she should have caught a chill which might permanently injure her, was glad to hear the regular breathing. He softly went nearer to her, and observed that a warm flush now rosed her hitherto blue cheeks, and felt that her hanging hand was no longer cold. Then he stood with his back to the fire regarding her, and saw in her almost a divinity. ¡¡¡¡
Red Hat Girl
Red Hat Girl
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
Dear Sue!" he said. "You must take off all your things! And let me see--you must borrow some from the landlady. I'll ask her." ¡¡¡¡ "No, no! Don't let her know, for God's sake! We are so near the school that they'll come after me!" ¡¡¡¡ "Then you must put on mine. You don't mind?" ¡¡¡¡ "Oh no." ¡¡¡¡ "My Sunday suit, you know. It is close here." In fact, everything was close and handy in Jude's single chamber, because there was not room for it to be otherwise. He opened a drawer, took out his best dark suit, and giving the garments a shake, said, "Now, how long shall I give you?" ¡¡¡¡ "Ten minutes." ¡¡¡¡ Jude left the room and went into the street, where he walked up and down. A clock struck half-past seven, and he returned. Sitting in his only arm-chair he saw a slim and fragile being masquerading as himself on a Sunday, so pathetic in her defencelessness that his heart felt big with the sense of it. On two other chairs before the fire were her wet garments. She blushed as he sat down beside her, but only for a moment. ¡¡¡¡ "I suppose, Jude, it is odd that you should see me like this and all my things hanging there? Yet what nonsense! They are only a woman's clothes-- sexless cloth and linen.... I wish I didn't feel so ill and sick! Will you dry my clothes now? Please do, Jude, and I'll get a lodging by and by. It is not late yet." ¡¡¡¡ "No, you shan't, if you are ill. You must stay here. Dear, dear Sue, what can I get for you?"
Nude on the Beach
One Moment in Time
Dear Sue!" he said. "You must take off all your things! And let me see--you must borrow some from the landlady. I'll ask her." ¡¡¡¡ "No, no! Don't let her know, for God's sake! We are so near the school that they'll come after me!" ¡¡¡¡ "Then you must put on mine. You don't mind?" ¡¡¡¡ "Oh no." ¡¡¡¡ "My Sunday suit, you know. It is close here." In fact, everything was close and handy in Jude's single chamber, because there was not room for it to be otherwise. He opened a drawer, took out his best dark suit, and giving the garments a shake, said, "Now, how long shall I give you?" ¡¡¡¡ "Ten minutes." ¡¡¡¡ Jude left the room and went into the street, where he walked up and down. A clock struck half-past seven, and he returned. Sitting in his only arm-chair he saw a slim and fragile being masquerading as himself on a Sunday, so pathetic in her defencelessness that his heart felt big with the sense of it. On two other chairs before the fire were her wet garments. She blushed as he sat down beside her, but only for a moment. ¡¡¡¡ "I suppose, Jude, it is odd that you should see me like this and all my things hanging there? Yet what nonsense! They are only a woman's clothes-- sexless cloth and linen.... I wish I didn't feel so ill and sick! Will you dry my clothes now? Please do, Jude, and I'll get a lodging by and by. It is not late yet." ¡¡¡¡ "No, you shan't, if you are ill. You must stay here. Dear, dear Sue, what can I get for you?"
flaming june painting
flaming june painting
Dance Me to the End of Love
Evening Mood painting
female nude reclining
"Is it? Do I strike you as being learned?" she asked, with a touch of raillery. ¡¡¡¡ "No--not learned. Only you don't talk quite like a girl--well, a girl who has had no advantages." ¡¡¡¡ "I have had advantages. I don't know Latin and Greek, though I know the grammars of those tongues. But I know most of the Greek and Latin classics through translations, and other books too. I read Lempriere, Catullus, Martial, Juvenal, Lucian, Beaumont and Fletcher, Boccaccio, Scarron, De Brantame, Sterne, De Foe, Smollett, Fielding, Shakespeare, the Bible, and other such; and found that all interest in the unwholesome part of those books ended with its mystery." ¡¡¡¡ "You have read more than I," he said with a sigh. "How came you to read some of those queerer ones?" ¡¡¡¡ "Well," she said thoughtfully, "it was by accident. My life has been entirely shaped by what people call a peculiarity in me. I have no fear of men, as such, nor of their books. I have mixed with them-- one or two of them particularly--almost as one of their own sex. I mean I have not felt about them as most women are taught to feel--to be on their guard against attacks on their virtue; for no average man--no man short of a sensual savage--will molest a woman by day or night, at home or abroad, unless she invites him. Until she says by a look 'Come on' he is always afraid to, and if you never say it, or look it, he never comes. However, what I was going to say is that when I was eighteen I formed a friendly intimacy with an undergraduate at Christminster, and he taught me a great deal, and lent me books which I should never have got hold of otherwise."
Dance Me to the End of Love
Evening Mood painting
female nude reclining
"Is it? Do I strike you as being learned?" she asked, with a touch of raillery. ¡¡¡¡ "No--not learned. Only you don't talk quite like a girl--well, a girl who has had no advantages." ¡¡¡¡ "I have had advantages. I don't know Latin and Greek, though I know the grammars of those tongues. But I know most of the Greek and Latin classics through translations, and other books too. I read Lempriere, Catullus, Martial, Juvenal, Lucian, Beaumont and Fletcher, Boccaccio, Scarron, De Brantame, Sterne, De Foe, Smollett, Fielding, Shakespeare, the Bible, and other such; and found that all interest in the unwholesome part of those books ended with its mystery." ¡¡¡¡ "You have read more than I," he said with a sigh. "How came you to read some of those queerer ones?" ¡¡¡¡ "Well," she said thoughtfully, "it was by accident. My life has been entirely shaped by what people call a peculiarity in me. I have no fear of men, as such, nor of their books. I have mixed with them-- one or two of them particularly--almost as one of their own sex. I mean I have not felt about them as most women are taught to feel--to be on their guard against attacks on their virtue; for no average man--no man short of a sensual savage--will molest a woman by day or night, at home or abroad, unless she invites him. Until she says by a look 'Come on' he is always afraid to, and if you never say it, or look it, he never comes. However, what I was going to say is that when I was eighteen I formed a friendly intimacy with an undergraduate at Christminster, and he taught me a great deal, and lent me books which I should never have got hold of otherwise."
Hylas and the Nymphs
Hylas and the Nymphs
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
¡¡¡¡ "It is past ten." ¡¡¡¡ "Is it really? What SHALL I do!" she said, starting up. ¡¡¡¡ "Stay where you are." ¡¡¡¡ "Yes; that's what I want to do. But I don't know what they would say! And what will you do?" ¡¡¡¡ "I am going to sit here by the fire all night, and read. To-morrow is Sunday, and I haven't to go out anywhere. Perhaps you will be saved a severe illness by resting there. Don't be frightened. I'm all right. Look here, what I have got for you. Some supper." ¡¡¡¡ When she had sat upright she breathed plaintively and said, "I do feel rather weak still. l thought I was well; and I ought not to be here, ought I?" But the supper fortified her somewhat, and when she had had some tea and had lain back again she was bright and cheerful. ¡¡¡¡ The tea must have been green, or too long drawn, for she seemed preternaturally wakeful afterwards, though Jude, who had not taken any, began to feel heavy; till her conversation fixed his attention. ¡¡¡¡ "You called me a creature of civilization, or something, didn't you?" she said, breaking a silence. "It was very odd you should have done that." ¡¡¡¡ "Why?" ¡¡¡¡ "Well, because it is provokingly wrong. I am a sort of negation of it." ¡¡¡¡ "You are very philosophical. 'A negation' is profound talking."
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
¡¡¡¡ "It is past ten." ¡¡¡¡ "Is it really? What SHALL I do!" she said, starting up. ¡¡¡¡ "Stay where you are." ¡¡¡¡ "Yes; that's what I want to do. But I don't know what they would say! And what will you do?" ¡¡¡¡ "I am going to sit here by the fire all night, and read. To-morrow is Sunday, and I haven't to go out anywhere. Perhaps you will be saved a severe illness by resting there. Don't be frightened. I'm all right. Look here, what I have got for you. Some supper." ¡¡¡¡ When she had sat upright she breathed plaintively and said, "I do feel rather weak still. l thought I was well; and I ought not to be here, ought I?" But the supper fortified her somewhat, and when she had had some tea and had lain back again she was bright and cheerful. ¡¡¡¡ The tea must have been green, or too long drawn, for she seemed preternaturally wakeful afterwards, though Jude, who had not taken any, began to feel heavy; till her conversation fixed his attention. ¡¡¡¡ "You called me a creature of civilization, or something, didn't you?" she said, breaking a silence. "It was very odd you should have done that." ¡¡¡¡ "Why?" ¡¡¡¡ "Well, because it is provokingly wrong. I am a sort of negation of it." ¡¡¡¡ "You are very philosophical. 'A negation' is profound talking."
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
¡¡¡¡ JUDE'S reverie was interrupted by the creak of footsteps ascending the stairs. ¡¡¡¡ He whisked Sue's clothing from the chair where it was drying, thrust it under the bed, and sat down to his book. Somebody knocked and opened the door immediately. It was the landlady. ¡¡¡¡ "Oh, I didn't know whether you was in or not, Mr. Fawley. I wanted to know if you would require supper. I see you've a young gentleman----" ¡¡¡¡ "Yes, ma'am. But I think I won't come down to-night. Will you bring supper up on a tray, and I'll have a cup of tea as well." ¡¡¡¡ It was Jude's custom to go downstairs to the kitchen, and eat his meals with the family, to save trouble. His landlady brought up the supper, however, on this occasion, and he took it from her at the door. ¡¡¡¡ When she had descended he set the teapot on the hob, and drew out Sue's clothes anew; but they were far from dry. A thick woollen gown, he found, held a deal of water. So he hung them up again, and enlarged his fire and mused as the steam from the garments went up the chimney. ¡¡¡¡ Suddenly she said, "Jude!" ¡¡¡¡ "Yes. All right. How do you feel now?" ¡¡¡¡ "Better. Quite well. Why, I fell asleep, didn't I? What time is it? Not late surely?"
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
¡¡¡¡ JUDE'S reverie was interrupted by the creak of footsteps ascending the stairs. ¡¡¡¡ He whisked Sue's clothing from the chair where it was drying, thrust it under the bed, and sat down to his book. Somebody knocked and opened the door immediately. It was the landlady. ¡¡¡¡ "Oh, I didn't know whether you was in or not, Mr. Fawley. I wanted to know if you would require supper. I see you've a young gentleman----" ¡¡¡¡ "Yes, ma'am. But I think I won't come down to-night. Will you bring supper up on a tray, and I'll have a cup of tea as well." ¡¡¡¡ It was Jude's custom to go downstairs to the kitchen, and eat his meals with the family, to save trouble. His landlady brought up the supper, however, on this occasion, and he took it from her at the door. ¡¡¡¡ When she had descended he set the teapot on the hob, and drew out Sue's clothes anew; but they were far from dry. A thick woollen gown, he found, held a deal of water. So he hung them up again, and enlarged his fire and mused as the steam from the garments went up the chimney. ¡¡¡¡ Suddenly she said, "Jude!" ¡¡¡¡ "Yes. All right. How do you feel now?" ¡¡¡¡ "Better. Quite well. Why, I fell asleep, didn't I? What time is it? Not late surely?"
Monday, October 29, 2007
klimt painting the kiss
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
He began to see that the town life was a book of humanity infinitely more palpitating, varied, and compendious than the gown life. These struggling men and women before him were the reality of Christminster, though they knew little of Christ or Minster. That was one of the humours of things. The floating population of students and teachers, who did know both in a way, were not Christminster in a local sense at all. ¡¡¡¡ He looked at his watch, and, in pursuit of this idea, he went on till he came to a public hall, where a promenade concert was in progress. Jude entered, and found the room full of shop youths and girls, soldiers, apprentices, boys of eleven smoking cigarettes, and light women of the more respectable and amateur class. He had tapped the real Christminster life. A band was playing, and the crowd walked about and jostled each other, and every now and then a man got upon a platform and sang a comic song. ¡¡¡¡ The spirit of Sue seemed to hover round him and prevent his flirting and drinking with the frolicsome girls who made advances-- wistful to gain a little joy. At ten o'clock he came away, choosing a circuitous route homeward to pass the gates of the college whose head had just sent him the note.
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
He began to see that the town life was a book of humanity infinitely more palpitating, varied, and compendious than the gown life. These struggling men and women before him were the reality of Christminster, though they knew little of Christ or Minster. That was one of the humours of things. The floating population of students and teachers, who did know both in a way, were not Christminster in a local sense at all. ¡¡¡¡ He looked at his watch, and, in pursuit of this idea, he went on till he came to a public hall, where a promenade concert was in progress. Jude entered, and found the room full of shop youths and girls, soldiers, apprentices, boys of eleven smoking cigarettes, and light women of the more respectable and amateur class. He had tapped the real Christminster life. A band was playing, and the crowd walked about and jostled each other, and every now and then a man got upon a platform and sang a comic song. ¡¡¡¡ The spirit of Sue seemed to hover round him and prevent his flirting and drinking with the frolicsome girls who made advances-- wistful to gain a little joy. At ten o'clock he came away, choosing a circuitous route homeward to pass the gates of the college whose head had just sent him the note.
klimt painting the kiss
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
He began to see that the town life was a book of humanity infinitely more palpitating, varied, and compendious than the gown life. These struggling men and women before him were the reality of Christminster, though they knew little of Christ or Minster. That was one of the humours of things. The floating population of students and teachers, who did know both in a way, were not Christminster in a local sense at all. ¡¡¡¡ He looked at his watch, and, in pursuit of this idea, he went on till he came to a public hall, where a promenade concert was in progress. Jude entered, and found the room full of shop youths and girls, soldiers, apprentices, boys of eleven smoking cigarettes, and light women of the more respectable and amateur class. He had tapped the real Christminster life. A band was playing, and the crowd walked about and jostled each other, and every now and then a man got upon a platform and sang a comic song. ¡¡¡¡ The spirit of Sue seemed to hover round him and prevent his flirting and drinking with the frolicsome girls who made advances-- wistful to gain a little joy. At ten o'clock he came away, choosing a circuitous route homeward to pass the gates of the college whose head had just sent him the note.
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
madonna with the yarnwinder painting
He began to see that the town life was a book of humanity infinitely more palpitating, varied, and compendious than the gown life. These struggling men and women before him were the reality of Christminster, though they knew little of Christ or Minster. That was one of the humours of things. The floating population of students and teachers, who did know both in a way, were not Christminster in a local sense at all. ¡¡¡¡ He looked at his watch, and, in pursuit of this idea, he went on till he came to a public hall, where a promenade concert was in progress. Jude entered, and found the room full of shop youths and girls, soldiers, apprentices, boys of eleven smoking cigarettes, and light women of the more respectable and amateur class. He had tapped the real Christminster life. A band was playing, and the crowd walked about and jostled each other, and every now and then a man got upon a platform and sang a comic song. ¡¡¡¡ The spirit of Sue seemed to hover round him and prevent his flirting and drinking with the frolicsome girls who made advances-- wistful to gain a little joy. At ten o'clock he came away, choosing a circuitous route homeward to pass the gates of the college whose head had just sent him the note.
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Head of Christ
Hylas and the Nymphs
jesus christ on the cross
¡¡¡¡ That officer yawned, stretched out his elbows, elevated himself an inch and a half on the balls of his toes, smiled, and looking humorously at Jude, said, "You've had a wet, young man." ¡¡¡¡ "No; I've only begun," he replied cynically. ¡¡¡¡ Whatever his wetness, his brains were dry enough. He only heard in part the policeman's further remarks, having fallen into thought on what struggling people like himself had stood at that crossway, whom nobody ever thought of now. It had more history than the oldest college in the city. It was literally teeming, stratified, with the shades of human groups, who had met there for tragedy, comedy, farce; real enactments of the intensest kind. At Fourways men had stood and talked of Napoleon, the loss of America, the execution of King Charles, the burning of the Martyrs, the Crusades, the Norman Conquest, possibly of the arrival of Caesar. Here the two sexes had met for loving, hating, coupling, parting; had waited, had suffered, for each other; had triumphed over each other; cursed each other in jealousy, blessed each other in forgiveness.
Head of Christ
Hylas and the Nymphs
jesus christ on the cross
¡¡¡¡ That officer yawned, stretched out his elbows, elevated himself an inch and a half on the balls of his toes, smiled, and looking humorously at Jude, said, "You've had a wet, young man." ¡¡¡¡ "No; I've only begun," he replied cynically. ¡¡¡¡ Whatever his wetness, his brains were dry enough. He only heard in part the policeman's further remarks, having fallen into thought on what struggling people like himself had stood at that crossway, whom nobody ever thought of now. It had more history than the oldest college in the city. It was literally teeming, stratified, with the shades of human groups, who had met there for tragedy, comedy, farce; real enactments of the intensest kind. At Fourways men had stood and talked of Napoleon, the loss of America, the execution of King Charles, the burning of the Martyrs, the Crusades, the Norman Conquest, possibly of the arrival of Caesar. Here the two sexes had met for loving, hating, coupling, parting; had waited, had suffered, for each other; had triumphed over each other; cursed each other in jealousy, blessed each other in forgiveness.
female nude reclining
female nude reclining
flaming june painting
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
The communication was brief, and not exactly what he had expected; though it really was from the master in person. It ran thus: ¡¡¡¡ "BIBLIOLL COLLEGE. ¡¡¡¡ "SIR,--I have read your letter with interest; and, judging from your description of yourself as a working-man, I venture to think that you will have a much better chance of success in life by remaining in your own sphere and sticking to your trade than by adopting any other course. That, therefore, is what I advise you to do. Yours faithfully, "T. TETUPHENAY. "To Mr. J. FAWLEY, Stone-mason." ¡¡¡¡ This terribly sensible advice exasperated Jude. He had known all that before. He knew it was true. Yet it seemed a hard slap after ten years of labour, and its effect upon him just now was to make him rise recklessly from the table, and, instead of reading as usual, to go downstairs and into the street. He stood at a bar and tossed off two or three glasses, then unconsciously sauntered along till he came to a spot called The Fourways in the middle of the city, gazing abstractedly at the groups of people like one in a trance, till, coming to himself, he began talking to the policeman fixed there.
flaming june painting
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
The communication was brief, and not exactly what he had expected; though it really was from the master in person. It ran thus: ¡¡¡¡ "BIBLIOLL COLLEGE. ¡¡¡¡ "SIR,--I have read your letter with interest; and, judging from your description of yourself as a working-man, I venture to think that you will have a much better chance of success in life by remaining in your own sphere and sticking to your trade than by adopting any other course. That, therefore, is what I advise you to do. Yours faithfully, "T. TETUPHENAY. "To Mr. J. FAWLEY, Stone-mason." ¡¡¡¡ This terribly sensible advice exasperated Jude. He had known all that before. He knew it was true. Yet it seemed a hard slap after ten years of labour, and its effect upon him just now was to make him rise recklessly from the table, and, instead of reading as usual, to go downstairs and into the street. He stood at a bar and tossed off two or three glasses, then unconsciously sauntered along till he came to a spot called The Fourways in the middle of the city, gazing abstractedly at the groups of people like one in a trance, till, coming to himself, he began talking to the policeman fixed there.
Charity painting
Charity painting
Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee
Dance Me to the End of Love
Evening Mood painting
¡¡¡¡ He looked over the town into the country beyond, to the trees which screened her whose presence had at first been the support of his heart, and whose loss was now a maddening torture. But for this blow he might have borne with his fate. With Sue as companion he could have renounced his ambitions with a smile. Without her it was inevitable that the reaction from the long strain to which he had subjected himself should affect him disastrously. Phillotson had no doubt passed through a similar intellectual disappointment to that which now enveloped him. But the schoolmaster had been since blest with the consolation of sweet Sue, while for him there was no consoler. ¡¡¡¡ Descending to the streets, he went listlessly along till he arrived at an inn, and entered it. Here he drank several glasses of beer in rapid succession, and when he came out it was night. By the light of the flickering lamps he rambled home to supper, and had not long been sitting at table when his landlady brought up a letter that had just arrived for him. She laid it down as if impressed with a sense of its possible importance, and on looking at it Jude perceived that it bore the embossed stamp of one of the colleges whose heads he had addressed. "ONE--at last!" cried Jude.
Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee
Dance Me to the End of Love
Evening Mood painting
¡¡¡¡ He looked over the town into the country beyond, to the trees which screened her whose presence had at first been the support of his heart, and whose loss was now a maddening torture. But for this blow he might have borne with his fate. With Sue as companion he could have renounced his ambitions with a smile. Without her it was inevitable that the reaction from the long strain to which he had subjected himself should affect him disastrously. Phillotson had no doubt passed through a similar intellectual disappointment to that which now enveloped him. But the schoolmaster had been since blest with the consolation of sweet Sue, while for him there was no consoler. ¡¡¡¡ Descending to the streets, he went listlessly along till he arrived at an inn, and entered it. Here he drank several glasses of beer in rapid succession, and when he came out it was night. By the light of the flickering lamps he rambled home to supper, and had not long been sitting at table when his landlady brought up a letter that had just arrived for him. She laid it down as if impressed with a sense of its possible importance, and on looking at it Jude perceived that it bore the embossed stamp of one of the colleges whose heads he had addressed. "ONE--at last!" cried Jude.
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
American Day Dream
Biblis painting
Boulevard des Capucines
¡¡¡¡ He always remembered the appearance of the afternoon on which he awoke from his dream. Not quite knowing what to do with himself, he went up to an octagonal chamber in the lantern of a singularly built theatre that was set amidst this quaint and singular city. It had windows all round, from which an outlook over the whole town and its edifices could be gained. Jude's eyes swept all the views in succession, meditatively, mournfully, yet sturdily. Those buildings and their associations and privileges were not for him. From the looming roof of the great library, into which he hardly ever had time to enter, his gaze travelled on to the varied spires, halls, gables, streets, chapels, gardens, quadrangles, which composed the ensemble of this unrivalled panorama. He saw that his destiny lay not with these, but among the manual toilers in the shabby purlieu which he himself occupied, unrecognized as part of the city at all by its visitors and panegyrists, yet without whose denizens the hard readers could not read nor the high thinkers live.
American Day Dream
Biblis painting
Boulevard des Capucines
¡¡¡¡ He always remembered the appearance of the afternoon on which he awoke from his dream. Not quite knowing what to do with himself, he went up to an octagonal chamber in the lantern of a singularly built theatre that was set amidst this quaint and singular city. It had windows all round, from which an outlook over the whole town and its edifices could be gained. Jude's eyes swept all the views in succession, meditatively, mournfully, yet sturdily. Those buildings and their associations and privileges were not for him. From the looming roof of the great library, into which he hardly ever had time to enter, his gaze travelled on to the varied spires, halls, gables, streets, chapels, gardens, quadrangles, which composed the ensemble of this unrivalled panorama. He saw that his destiny lay not with these, but among the manual toilers in the shabby purlieu which he himself occupied, unrecognized as part of the city at all by its visitors and panegyrists, yet without whose denizens the hard readers could not read nor the high thinkers live.
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
American Day Dream
Biblis painting
Boulevard des Capucines
¡¡¡¡ He always remembered the appearance of the afternoon on which he awoke from his dream. Not quite knowing what to do with himself, he went up to an octagonal chamber in the lantern of a singularly built theatre that was set amidst this quaint and singular city. It had windows all round, from which an outlook over the whole town and its edifices could be gained. Jude's eyes swept all the views in succession, meditatively, mournfully, yet sturdily. Those buildings and their associations and privileges were not for him. From the looming roof of the great library, into which he hardly ever had time to enter, his gaze travelled on to the varied spires, halls, gables, streets, chapels, gardens, quadrangles, which composed the ensemble of this unrivalled panorama. He saw that his destiny lay not with these, but among the manual toilers in the shabby purlieu which he himself occupied, unrecognized as part of the city at all by its visitors and panegyrists, yet without whose denizens the hard readers could not read nor the high thinkers live.
American Day Dream
Biblis painting
Boulevard des Capucines
¡¡¡¡ He always remembered the appearance of the afternoon on which he awoke from his dream. Not quite knowing what to do with himself, he went up to an octagonal chamber in the lantern of a singularly built theatre that was set amidst this quaint and singular city. It had windows all round, from which an outlook over the whole town and its edifices could be gained. Jude's eyes swept all the views in succession, meditatively, mournfully, yet sturdily. Those buildings and their associations and privileges were not for him. From the looming roof of the great library, into which he hardly ever had time to enter, his gaze travelled on to the varied spires, halls, gables, streets, chapels, gardens, quadrangles, which composed the ensemble of this unrivalled panorama. He saw that his destiny lay not with these, but among the manual toilers in the shabby purlieu which he himself occupied, unrecognized as part of the city at all by its visitors and panegyrists, yet without whose denizens the hard readers could not read nor the high thinkers live.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
the night watch by rembrandt
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
The Nut Gatherers
The Painter's Honeymoon
The project was duly executed. It was not late when he arrived at the place of outlook, only just after dusk, but a black north-east sky, accompanied by a wind from the same quarter, made the occasion dark enough. He was rewarded; but what he saw was not the lamps in rows, as he had half expected. No individual light was visible, only a halo or glow-fog over-arching the place against the black heavens behind it, making the light and the city seem distant but a mile or so. ¡¡¡¡ He set himself to wonder on the exact point in the glow where the schoolmaster might be--he who never communicated with anybody at Marygreen now; who was as if dead to them here. In the glow he seemed to see Phillotson promenading at ease, like one of the forms in Nebuchadnezzar's furnace. ¡¡¡¡ He had heard that breezes travelled at the rate of ten miles an hour, and the fact now came into his mind. He parted his lips as he faced the north-east, and drew in the wind as if it were a sweet liquor. ¡¡¡¡ "You," he said, addressing the breeze caressingly "were in Christminster city between one and two hours ago, floating along the streets, pulling round the weather-cocks, touching Mr. Phillotson's face, being breathed by him; and now you are here, breathed by me-- you, the very same."
the Night Watch
The Nut Gatherers
The Painter's Honeymoon
The project was duly executed. It was not late when he arrived at the place of outlook, only just after dusk, but a black north-east sky, accompanied by a wind from the same quarter, made the occasion dark enough. He was rewarded; but what he saw was not the lamps in rows, as he had half expected. No individual light was visible, only a halo or glow-fog over-arching the place against the black heavens behind it, making the light and the city seem distant but a mile or so. ¡¡¡¡ He set himself to wonder on the exact point in the glow where the schoolmaster might be--he who never communicated with anybody at Marygreen now; who was as if dead to them here. In the glow he seemed to see Phillotson promenading at ease, like one of the forms in Nebuchadnezzar's furnace. ¡¡¡¡ He had heard that breezes travelled at the rate of ten miles an hour, and the fact now came into his mind. He parted his lips as he faced the north-east, and drew in the wind as if it were a sweet liquor. ¡¡¡¡ "You," he said, addressing the breeze caressingly "were in Christminster city between one and two hours ago, floating along the streets, pulling round the weather-cocks, touching Mr. Phillotson's face, being breathed by him; and now you are here, breathed by me-- you, the very same."
The Broken Pitcher
The Broken Pitcher
The Jewel Casket
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
Through the solid barrier of cold cretaceous upland to the northward he was always beholding a gorgeous city--the fancied place he had likened to the new Jerusalem, though there was perhaps more of the painter's imagination and less of the diamond merchant's in his dreams thereof than in those of the Apocalyptic writer. And the city acquired a tangibility, a permanence, a hold on his life, mainly from the one nucleus of fact that the man for whose knowledge and purposes he had so much reverence was actually living there; not only so, but living among the more thoughtful and mentally shining ones therein. ¡¡¡¡ In sad wet seasons, though he knew it must rain at Christminster too, he could hardly believe that it rained so drearily there. Whenever he could get away from the confines of the hamlet for an hour or two, which was not often, he would steal off to the Brown House on the hill and strain his eyes persistently; sometimes to be rewarded by the sight of a dome or spire, at other times by a little smoke, which in his estimate had some of the mysticism of incense. ¡¡¡¡ Then the day came when it suddenly occurred to him that if he ascended to the point of view after dark, or possibly went a mile or two further, he would see the night lights of the city. It would be necessary to come back alone, but even that consideration did not deter him, for he could throw a little manliness into his mood, no doubt.
The Jewel Casket
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
Through the solid barrier of cold cretaceous upland to the northward he was always beholding a gorgeous city--the fancied place he had likened to the new Jerusalem, though there was perhaps more of the painter's imagination and less of the diamond merchant's in his dreams thereof than in those of the Apocalyptic writer. And the city acquired a tangibility, a permanence, a hold on his life, mainly from the one nucleus of fact that the man for whose knowledge and purposes he had so much reverence was actually living there; not only so, but living among the more thoughtful and mentally shining ones therein. ¡¡¡¡ In sad wet seasons, though he knew it must rain at Christminster too, he could hardly believe that it rained so drearily there. Whenever he could get away from the confines of the hamlet for an hour or two, which was not often, he would steal off to the Brown House on the hill and strain his eyes persistently; sometimes to be rewarded by the sight of a dome or spire, at other times by a little smoke, which in his estimate had some of the mysticism of incense. ¡¡¡¡ Then the day came when it suddenly occurred to him that if he ascended to the point of view after dark, or possibly went a mile or two further, he would see the night lights of the city. It would be necessary to come back alone, but even that consideration did not deter him, for he could throw a little manliness into his mood, no doubt.
seated nude
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
The British Are Coming
¡¡¡¡ He anxiously descended the ladder, and started homewards at a run, trying not to think of giants, Herne the Hunter, Apollyon lying in wait for Christian, or of the captain with the bleeding hole in his forehead and the corpses round him that remutinied every night on board the bewitched ship. He knew that he had grown out of belief in these horrors, yet he was glad when he saw the church tower and the lights in the cottage windows, even though this was not the home of his birth, and his great-aunt did not care much about him. ¡¡¡¡ Inside and round about that old woman's "shop" window, with its twenty-four little panes set in lead-work, the glass of some of them oxidized with age, so that you could hardly see the poor penny articles exhibited within, and forming part of a stock which a strong man could have carried, Jude had his outer being for some long tideless time. But his dreams were as gigantic as his surroundings were small.
Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
The British Are Coming
¡¡¡¡ He anxiously descended the ladder, and started homewards at a run, trying not to think of giants, Herne the Hunter, Apollyon lying in wait for Christian, or of the captain with the bleeding hole in his forehead and the corpses round him that remutinied every night on board the bewitched ship. He knew that he had grown out of belief in these horrors, yet he was glad when he saw the church tower and the lights in the cottage windows, even though this was not the home of his birth, and his great-aunt did not care much about him. ¡¡¡¡ Inside and round about that old woman's "shop" window, with its twenty-four little panes set in lead-work, the glass of some of them oxidized with age, so that you could hardly see the poor penny articles exhibited within, and forming part of a stock which a strong man could have carried, Jude had his outer being for some long tideless time. But his dreams were as gigantic as his surroundings were small.
The Water lily Pond
The Water lily Pond
Venus and Cupid
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
virgin of the rocks ¡¡¡¡ "The place I mean is that one yonder." He was getting so romantically attached to Christminster that, like a young lover alluding to his mistress, he felt bashful at mentioning its name again. He pointed to the light in the sky--hardly perceptible to their older eyes. ¡¡¡¡ "Yes. There do seem a spot a bit brighter in the nor'- east than elsewhere, though I shouldn't ha' noticed it myself, and no doubt it med be Christminster." ¡¡¡¡ Here a little book of tales which Jude had tucked up under his arm, having brought them to read on his way hither before it grew dark, slipped and fell into the road. The carter eyed him while he picked it up and straightened the leaves. ¡¡¡¡ "Ah, young man," he observed, "you'd have to get your head screwed on t'other way before you could read what they read there." ¡¡¡¡ "Why?" asked the boy.
Venus and Cupid
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
virgin of the rocks ¡¡¡¡ "The place I mean is that one yonder." He was getting so romantically attached to Christminster that, like a young lover alluding to his mistress, he felt bashful at mentioning its name again. He pointed to the light in the sky--hardly perceptible to their older eyes. ¡¡¡¡ "Yes. There do seem a spot a bit brighter in the nor'- east than elsewhere, though I shouldn't ha' noticed it myself, and no doubt it med be Christminster." ¡¡¡¡ Here a little book of tales which Jude had tucked up under his arm, having brought them to read on his way hither before it grew dark, slipped and fell into the road. The carter eyed him while he picked it up and straightened the leaves. ¡¡¡¡ "Ah, young man," he observed, "you'd have to get your head screwed on t'other way before you could read what they read there." ¡¡¡¡ "Why?" asked the boy.
the polish rider
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman
The Virgin and Child with St Anne
¡¡¡¡ Suddenly there came along this wind something towards him-- a message from the place--from some soul residing there, it seemed. Surely it was the sound of bells, the voice of the city, faint and musical, calling to him, "We are happy here!" ¡¡¡¡ He had become entirely lost to his bodily situation during this mental leap, and only got back to it by a rough recalling. A few yards below the brow of the hill on which he paused a team of horses made its appearance, having reached the place by dint of half an hour's serpentine progress from the bottom of the immense declivity. They had a load of coals behind them-- a fuel that could only be got into the upland by this particular route. They were accompanied by a carter, a second man, and a boy, who now kicked a large stone behind one of the wheels, and allowed the panting animals to have a long rest, while those in charge took a flagon off the load and indulged in a drink round. ¡¡¡¡ They were elderly men, and had genial voices. Jude addressed them, inquiring if they had come from Christminster. ¡¡¡¡ "Heaven forbid, with this load!" said they.
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
The Three Ages of Woman
The Virgin and Child with St Anne
¡¡¡¡ Suddenly there came along this wind something towards him-- a message from the place--from some soul residing there, it seemed. Surely it was the sound of bells, the voice of the city, faint and musical, calling to him, "We are happy here!" ¡¡¡¡ He had become entirely lost to his bodily situation during this mental leap, and only got back to it by a rough recalling. A few yards below the brow of the hill on which he paused a team of horses made its appearance, having reached the place by dint of half an hour's serpentine progress from the bottom of the immense declivity. They had a load of coals behind them-- a fuel that could only be got into the upland by this particular route. They were accompanied by a carter, a second man, and a boy, who now kicked a large stone behind one of the wheels, and allowed the panting animals to have a long rest, while those in charge took a flagon off the load and indulged in a drink round. ¡¡¡¡ They were elderly men, and had genial voices. Jude addressed them, inquiring if they had come from Christminster. ¡¡¡¡ "Heaven forbid, with this load!" said they.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Head of Christ
Would you like to hear, Miss Eyelesbarrow, what my godfather said about her - the first time we met? He described her as just the finest detective God ever made - natural genius cultivated in a suitable soil. He told me never to despise the" – Dermot Craddock paused for a moment to seek for a synonym for “old pussies" – “– er – elderly ladies. He said they could usually tell you what might have happened, what ought to have happened, and even what actually did happen! And," he said, "they can tell you why it happened, he added, that this particular - er - elderly lady - was at the top of the class."
"Well!" said Lucy. "That seems to be a testimonial all right."
Miss Marple was pink and confused and looked unusually dithery.
"Dear Sir Henry," she murmured. "Always so kind. Really I'm not at all clever - just, perhaps, a slight knowledge of human nature - living, you know, in a village –"
She added, with more composure:
"Of course, I am somewhat handicapped, by not actually being on the spot. It is so helpful, I always feel, when people remind you of other people - because types are alike everywhere and that is such a valuable guide."
Lucy looked a little puzzled, but Craddock nodded comprehendingly.
girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Head of Christ
Would you like to hear, Miss Eyelesbarrow, what my godfather said about her - the first time we met? He described her as just the finest detective God ever made - natural genius cultivated in a suitable soil. He told me never to despise the" – Dermot Craddock paused for a moment to seek for a synonym for “old pussies" – “– er – elderly ladies. He said they could usually tell you what might have happened, what ought to have happened, and even what actually did happen! And," he said, "they can tell you why it happened, he added, that this particular - er - elderly lady - was at the top of the class."
"Well!" said Lucy. "That seems to be a testimonial all right."
Miss Marple was pink and confused and looked unusually dithery.
"Dear Sir Henry," she murmured. "Always so kind. Really I'm not at all clever - just, perhaps, a slight knowledge of human nature - living, you know, in a village –"
She added, with more composure:
"Of course, I am somewhat handicapped, by not actually being on the spot. It is so helpful, I always feel, when people remind you of other people - because types are alike everywhere and that is such a valuable guide."
Lucy looked a little puzzled, but Craddock nodded comprehendingly.
Dance Me to the End of Love
Dance Me to the End of Love
Evening Mood painting
female nude reclining
flaming june painting
When Craddock got to 4 Madison Road he found Lucy Eyelesbarrow with Miss Marple.
He hesitated for a moment on his plan of campaign and then decided that Lucy Eyelesbarrow might prove a valuable ally.
After greetings, he solemnly drew out his notecase, extracted three pound notes, added three shillings and pushed them across the table to Miss Marple.
"What's this Inspector?"
"Consultation fee. You're a consultant - on murder! Pulse, temperature, local reactions, possible deep-seated cause of said murder. I'm just the poor harassed local G.P."
Miss Marple looked at him and twinkled. He grinned at her. Lucy Eyelesbarrow gave a faint gasp and then laughed.
"Why, Inspector Craddock – you're human after all."
"Oh, well, I'm not strictly on duty this afternoon."
"I told you we had met before," said Miss Marple to Lucy. "Sir Henry Clithering is his godfather - a very old friend of mine."
Evening Mood painting
female nude reclining
flaming june painting
When Craddock got to 4 Madison Road he found Lucy Eyelesbarrow with Miss Marple.
He hesitated for a moment on his plan of campaign and then decided that Lucy Eyelesbarrow might prove a valuable ally.
After greetings, he solemnly drew out his notecase, extracted three pound notes, added three shillings and pushed them across the table to Miss Marple.
"What's this Inspector?"
"Consultation fee. You're a consultant - on murder! Pulse, temperature, local reactions, possible deep-seated cause of said murder. I'm just the poor harassed local G.P."
Miss Marple looked at him and twinkled. He grinned at her. Lucy Eyelesbarrow gave a faint gasp and then laughed.
"Why, Inspector Craddock – you're human after all."
"Oh, well, I'm not strictly on duty this afternoon."
"I told you we had met before," said Miss Marple to Lucy. "Sir Henry Clithering is his godfather - a very old friend of mine."
William Bouguereau Biblis painting
Biblis painting
William Bouguereau Biblis
Charity painting
Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee
"Yes," said Alexander. "I'm going to Stodders' place tomorrow for the last few days of the holidays. Stodders' people have got a smashing house - Queen Anne, isn't it?"
"William and Mary," said Stoddart-West.
"I thought your mother said –"
"Mum's French. She doesn't really know about English architecture."
"But your father said it was built –"
Craddock was examining the envelope.
Clever of Lucy Eyelesbarrow. How had she managed to fake the post mark? He peered closely, but the light was too feeble. Great fun for the boys, of course, but rather awkward for him. Lucy, drat her, hadn't considered that angle. If this were genuine, it would enforce a course of action. There…
Beside him a learned architectural argument was being hotly pursued. He was deaf to it.
"Come on, boys," he said, "we'll go into the house. You've been very helpful."
William Bouguereau Biblis
Charity painting
Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee
"Yes," said Alexander. "I'm going to Stodders' place tomorrow for the last few days of the holidays. Stodders' people have got a smashing house - Queen Anne, isn't it?"
"William and Mary," said Stoddart-West.
"I thought your mother said –"
"Mum's French. She doesn't really know about English architecture."
"But your father said it was built –"
Craddock was examining the envelope.
Clever of Lucy Eyelesbarrow. How had she managed to fake the post mark? He peered closely, but the light was too feeble. Great fun for the boys, of course, but rather awkward for him. Lucy, drat her, hadn't considered that angle. If this were genuine, it would enforce a course of action. There…
Beside him a learned architectural argument was being hotly pursued. He was deaf to it.
"Come on, boys," he said, "we'll go into the house. You've been very helpful."
A Greek Beauty
A Greek Beauty
A Lily Pond
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
American Day Dream
The letter had been through the post, there was no enclosure inside, it was just a torn envelope - addressed to Mrs. Martine Crackenthorpe, 126 Elvers Crescent, N.10.
"You see?" said Alexander breathlessly. "It shows she was here – Uncle Edmund's French wife, I mean – the one there's all the fuss about. She must have actually been here and dropped it somewhere. So it looks, doesn't it –"
Stoddart-West broke in:
"It looks as though she was the one who got murdered - I mean, don't you think, sir, that it simply must have been her in the sarcophagus?"
They waited anxiously.
Craddock played up.
"Possible, very possible," he said.
"This is important, isn't it?"
"You'll test it for fingerprints, won't you, sir?"
"Of course," said Craddock.
Stoddart-West gave a deep sigh.
"Smashing luck for us, wasn't it?" he said. "On our last day, too."
A Lily Pond
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
American Day Dream
The letter had been through the post, there was no enclosure inside, it was just a torn envelope - addressed to Mrs. Martine Crackenthorpe, 126 Elvers Crescent, N.10.
"You see?" said Alexander breathlessly. "It shows she was here – Uncle Edmund's French wife, I mean – the one there's all the fuss about. She must have actually been here and dropped it somewhere. So it looks, doesn't it –"
Stoddart-West broke in:
"It looks as though she was the one who got murdered - I mean, don't you think, sir, that it simply must have been her in the sarcophagus?"
They waited anxiously.
Craddock played up.
"Possible, very possible," he said.
"This is important, isn't it?"
"You'll test it for fingerprints, won't you, sir?"
"Of course," said Craddock.
Stoddart-West gave a deep sigh.
"Smashing luck for us, wasn't it?" he said. "On our last day, too."
Venus and Cupid
Venus and Cupid
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
virgin of the rocks
Woman with a Parasol
There were some jolly interesting things there, as a matter of fact –"
"And then we went into the boiler house –"
"Old Hillman keeps a great galvanised tub there full of waste paper –"
"For when the boiler goes out and he wants to start it again –"
"Any odd paper that's blowing about. He picks it up and shoves it in there –"
"And that's where we found it –"
"Found what?" Craddock interrupted the duet.
"The clue. Careful, Stodders, get your gloves on."
Important, Stoddart-West, in the best detective story tradition, drew on a pair of rather dirty gloves and took from his pocket a Kodak photographic folder. From this he extracted in his gloved fingers with the utmost care a soiled and crumpled envelope which he handed importantly to the inspector.
Both boys held their breath in excitement.
Craddock took it with due solemnity. He liked the boys and he was ready to enter into the spirit of the thing.
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
virgin of the rocks
Woman with a Parasol
There were some jolly interesting things there, as a matter of fact –"
"And then we went into the boiler house –"
"Old Hillman keeps a great galvanised tub there full of waste paper –"
"For when the boiler goes out and he wants to start it again –"
"Any odd paper that's blowing about. He picks it up and shoves it in there –"
"And that's where we found it –"
"Found what?" Craddock interrupted the duet.
"The clue. Careful, Stodders, get your gloves on."
Important, Stoddart-West, in the best detective story tradition, drew on a pair of rather dirty gloves and took from his pocket a Kodak photographic folder. From this he extracted in his gloved fingers with the utmost care a soiled and crumpled envelope which he handed importantly to the inspector.
Both boys held their breath in excitement.
Craddock took it with due solemnity. He liked the boys and he was ready to enter into the spirit of the thing.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Abstract Painting
Abstract Painting
Me, I do not like the police!" She scowled at them, without camouflaging her dislike of the visit. "Always, if they can, they make me embarrassments."
"No, no, Madame, you must not say that," said Dessin, who was a tall thin melancholy-looking man. "When have I ever caused you embarrassments?"
"Over that little fool who drank the carbolic acid," said Madame Joliet promptly. "And all because she has fallen in love with the chef d’orchestre - who does not care for women and has other tastes. Over that you made the big brouhaha! Which is not good for my beautiful Ballet."
Abstract Painting
On the contrary, big box-office business," said Dessin. "And that was three years ago. You should not bear malice. Now about this girl, Anna Stravinska."
"Well, what about her?" said Madame cautiously.
"Is she Russian?" asked Inspector Craddock.
"No, indeed. You mean, because of her name? But they all call themselves names like that, these girls. She was not important, she did not dance well, she was not particularly good-looking. Elle etait assez bien, c’est tout. She danced well enough for the corps de ballet – but no solos."
Abstract Painting
Me, I do not like the police!" She scowled at them, without camouflaging her dislike of the visit. "Always, if they can, they make me embarrassments."
"No, no, Madame, you must not say that," said Dessin, who was a tall thin melancholy-looking man. "When have I ever caused you embarrassments?"
"Over that little fool who drank the carbolic acid," said Madame Joliet promptly. "And all because she has fallen in love with the chef d’orchestre - who does not care for women and has other tastes. Over that you made the big brouhaha! Which is not good for my beautiful Ballet."
Abstract Painting
On the contrary, big box-office business," said Dessin. "And that was three years ago. You should not bear malice. Now about this girl, Anna Stravinska."
"Well, what about her?" said Madame cautiously.
"Is she Russian?" asked Inspector Craddock.
"No, indeed. You mean, because of her name? But they all call themselves names like that, these girls. She was not important, she did not dance well, she was not particularly good-looking. Elle etait assez bien, c’est tout. She danced well enough for the corps de ballet – but no solos."
Abstract Painting
Rembrandt Painting
Rembrandt Painting
Dermot Craddock was fraternising with Armand Dessin of the Paris Prefecture. The two men had met on one or two occasions and got on well together. Since Craddock spoke French fluently, most of their conversation was conducted in that language.
"It is an idea only," Dessin warned him, "I have a picture here of the corps de ballet – that is she, the fourth from the left - it says anything to you, yes?"
Inspector Craddock said that actually it didn't. A strangled young woman is not easy to recognise, and in this picture all the young women concerned were heavily made up and were wearing extravagant bird headdresses.
Rembrandt Painting
It could be," he said. "I can't go further than that. Who was she? What do you know about her?"
"Almost less than nothing," said the other cheerfully. "She was not important, you see. And the Ballet Maritski - it is not important, either. It plays in suburban theatres and goes on tour – it has no real names, no stars, no famous ballerinas. But I will take you to see Madame Joliet who runs it."
Madame Joliet was a brisk business-like Frenchwoman with a shrewd eye, a small moustache, and a good deal of adipose tissue.
Rembrandt Painting
Dermot Craddock was fraternising with Armand Dessin of the Paris Prefecture. The two men had met on one or two occasions and got on well together. Since Craddock spoke French fluently, most of their conversation was conducted in that language.
"It is an idea only," Dessin warned him, "I have a picture here of the corps de ballet – that is she, the fourth from the left - it says anything to you, yes?"
Inspector Craddock said that actually it didn't. A strangled young woman is not easy to recognise, and in this picture all the young women concerned were heavily made up and were wearing extravagant bird headdresses.
Rembrandt Painting
It could be," he said. "I can't go further than that. Who was she? What do you know about her?"
"Almost less than nothing," said the other cheerfully. "She was not important, you see. And the Ballet Maritski - it is not important, either. It plays in suburban theatres and goes on tour – it has no real names, no stars, no famous ballerinas. But I will take you to see Madame Joliet who runs it."
Madame Joliet was a brisk business-like Frenchwoman with a shrewd eye, a small moustache, and a good deal of adipose tissue.
Rembrandt Painting
The Singing Butler
The Singing Butler
Look here, Lucy, there's something I want to say to you."
"Do you want me to marry you and come to Iviza and look after you?"
Cedric looked very much taken aback, and slightly alarmed.
"I never thought of such a thing."
"Sorry. My mistake."
"I just wanted to know if you've a timetable in the house?"
"Is that all? There's one on the hall table."
The Singing Butler
You know," said Cedric, reprovingly, "you shouldn't go about thinking everyone wants to marry you. You're quite a good-looking girl but not as good-looking as all that. There's a name for that sort of thing - it grows on you and you get worse. Actually, you're the last girl in the world I should care to marry. The last girl."
"Indeed?" said Lucy. "You needn't rub it in. perhaps you’d prefer me as a stepmother."
"What's that?" Cedric stared at her stupefied.
"You heard me," said Lucy, and went into her room and shut the door.
The Singing Butler
Look here, Lucy, there's something I want to say to you."
"Do you want me to marry you and come to Iviza and look after you?"
Cedric looked very much taken aback, and slightly alarmed.
"I never thought of such a thing."
"Sorry. My mistake."
"I just wanted to know if you've a timetable in the house?"
"Is that all? There's one on the hall table."
The Singing Butler
You know," said Cedric, reprovingly, "you shouldn't go about thinking everyone wants to marry you. You're quite a good-looking girl but not as good-looking as all that. There's a name for that sort of thing - it grows on you and you get worse. Actually, you're the last girl in the world I should care to marry. The last girl."
"Indeed?" said Lucy. "You needn't rub it in. perhaps you’d prefer me as a stepmother."
"What's that?" Cedric stared at her stupefied.
"You heard me," said Lucy, and went into her room and shut the door.
The Singing Butler
Jack Vettriano Painting
Jack Vettriano Painting
"Thank you," said Lucy, feeling a little surprised.
"I feel that your talents are wasted here – definitely wasted."
"Do you? I don't."
At any rate, he can't ask me to marry him, thought Lucy. He's got a wife already.
"I suggest that having very kindly seen us through this lamentable crisis, you call upon me in London. If you will ring up and make an appointment, I will leave instructions with my secretary. The truth is that we could use someone of your outstanding ability in the firm. We could discuss fully in what field your talents would be most ably employed. I can offer you, Miss Eyelesbarrow, a very good salary indeed, with brilliant prospects. I think you will be agreeably surprised."
Jack Vettriano Painting
His smile was magnanimous.
Lucy said demurely:
"Thank you, Mr. Crackenthorpe, I'll think about it."
"Don't wait too long. These opportunities should not be missed by a young woman anxious to make her way in the world."
Again his teeth flashed.
"Good night, Miss Eyelesbarrow, sleep well."
"Well," said Lucy to herself, "well… this is all very interesting…."
On her way up to bed, Lucy encountered Cedric on the stairs.
Jack Vettriano Painting
"Thank you," said Lucy, feeling a little surprised.
"I feel that your talents are wasted here – definitely wasted."
"Do you? I don't."
At any rate, he can't ask me to marry him, thought Lucy. He's got a wife already.
"I suggest that having very kindly seen us through this lamentable crisis, you call upon me in London. If you will ring up and make an appointment, I will leave instructions with my secretary. The truth is that we could use someone of your outstanding ability in the firm. We could discuss fully in what field your talents would be most ably employed. I can offer you, Miss Eyelesbarrow, a very good salary indeed, with brilliant prospects. I think you will be agreeably surprised."
Jack Vettriano Painting
His smile was magnanimous.
Lucy said demurely:
"Thank you, Mr. Crackenthorpe, I'll think about it."
"Don't wait too long. These opportunities should not be missed by a young woman anxious to make her way in the world."
Again his teeth flashed.
"Good night, Miss Eyelesbarrow, sleep well."
"Well," said Lucy to herself, "well… this is all very interesting…."
On her way up to bed, Lucy encountered Cedric on the stairs.
Jack Vettriano Painting
Mary Cassatt painting
Mary Cassatt painting
Rather to her surprise Lucy was aware of a queer fascination. There was a quality of charm about Alfred, perhaps due to sheer animal magnetism. She laughed and slipped from his encircling arm.
"This is not time for dalliance. there's dinner to think about."
"So there is, Lucy, and you're a lovely cook. What's for dinner."
"Wait and see! You're as bad as the boys!"
They entered the house and Lucy hurried to the kitchen. She was rather surprised to be interrupted in her preparations by Harold Crackenthorpe.
"Miss Eyelesbarrow, can I speak to you about something?"
Mary Cassatt painting
Would later do, Mr. Crackenthorpe? I'm rather behind hand."
"Certainly. Certainly. After dinner?"
"Yes, that will do."
Dinner was duly served and appreciated. Lucy finished washing up and came out into the hall to find Harold Crackenthorpe waiting for her.
"Yes, Mr. Crackenthorpe?"
"Shall we come in here?" He opened the door of the drawing-room and led the way. He shut the door behind her.
"I shall be leaving early in the morning," he explained, "but I want to tell you how struck I have been by your ability."
Mary Cassatt painting
Rather to her surprise Lucy was aware of a queer fascination. There was a quality of charm about Alfred, perhaps due to sheer animal magnetism. She laughed and slipped from his encircling arm.
"This is not time for dalliance. there's dinner to think about."
"So there is, Lucy, and you're a lovely cook. What's for dinner."
"Wait and see! You're as bad as the boys!"
They entered the house and Lucy hurried to the kitchen. She was rather surprised to be interrupted in her preparations by Harold Crackenthorpe.
"Miss Eyelesbarrow, can I speak to you about something?"
Mary Cassatt painting
Would later do, Mr. Crackenthorpe? I'm rather behind hand."
"Certainly. Certainly. After dinner?"
"Yes, that will do."
Dinner was duly served and appreciated. Lucy finished washing up and came out into the hall to find Harold Crackenthorpe waiting for her.
"Yes, Mr. Crackenthorpe?"
"Shall we come in here?" He opened the door of the drawing-room and led the way. He shut the door behind her.
"I shall be leaving early in the morning," he explained, "but I want to tell you how struck I have been by your ability."
Mary Cassatt painting
Edward Hopper Painting
Edward Hopper Painting
"Frankly, my dear girl, I could use you. You've got the sort of manner that's invaluable – creates confidence."
"Do you want me to help you sell gold bricks?"
"Nothing so risky. Just a little by-passing of the law - no more." His hand slipped up her arm. "You're damned attractive girl, Lucy. I'd like you as a partner."
"I'm flattered."
"Meaning nothing doing? Think about it. Think of the fun, the pleasure you'd get out of outwitting all the sobersides. The trouble is, one needs capital."
"I'm afraid I haven't got any."
Edward Hopper Painting
Oh, it wasn't a touch! I'll be laying my hands on some before long. My revered Papa can't live forever, mean old brute. When he pops off, I lay my hands on some real money. What about it, Lucy?"
"What are the terms?"
"Marriage if you fancy it. Women seem to, no matter how advanced and self-supporting they are. Besides, married women can't be made to give evidence against their husbands."
"Not so flattering!"
"Come off it, Lucy. Don't you realise I've fallen for you?"
Edward Hopper Painting
"Frankly, my dear girl, I could use you. You've got the sort of manner that's invaluable – creates confidence."
"Do you want me to help you sell gold bricks?"
"Nothing so risky. Just a little by-passing of the law - no more." His hand slipped up her arm. "You're damned attractive girl, Lucy. I'd like you as a partner."
"I'm flattered."
"Meaning nothing doing? Think about it. Think of the fun, the pleasure you'd get out of outwitting all the sobersides. The trouble is, one needs capital."
"I'm afraid I haven't got any."
Edward Hopper Painting
Oh, it wasn't a touch! I'll be laying my hands on some before long. My revered Papa can't live forever, mean old brute. When he pops off, I lay my hands on some real money. What about it, Lucy?"
"What are the terms?"
"Marriage if you fancy it. Women seem to, no matter how advanced and self-supporting they are. Besides, married women can't be made to give evidence against their husbands."
"Not so flattering!"
"Come off it, Lucy. Don't you realise I've fallen for you?"
Edward Hopper Painting
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Sunflower
One could see that. Funny what a taste old ladies have for any kind of society, however dull. And, really, nothing could be duller than Rutherford Hall. Two days here is about as much as I can stand. How do you manage to stick it out, Lucy? Don't mind if I call you Lucy, do you?"
"Not at all. I don't find it dull. Of course with me it's not a permanency."
"I've been watching you - you're a smart girl, Lucy. Too smart to waste yourself cooking and cleaning."
"Thank you, but I prefer cooking and cleaning to the office desk."
"So would I. But there are other ways of living. You could be a freelance."
Van Gogh Sunflower
"I am."
"Not this way. I mean, working for yourself, pitting your wits against –"
"Against what?"
"The powers that be! All the silly pettifogging rules and regulations that hamper us all nowadays. The interesting thing is there's always a way round them if you're smart enough to find it. And you're smart. Come now, does the idea appeal to you?"
"Possibly."
Lucy manoeuvred the car into the stableyard.
"Not going to commit yourself?"
"I'd have to hear more."
Van Gogh Sunflower
One could see that. Funny what a taste old ladies have for any kind of society, however dull. And, really, nothing could be duller than Rutherford Hall. Two days here is about as much as I can stand. How do you manage to stick it out, Lucy? Don't mind if I call you Lucy, do you?"
"Not at all. I don't find it dull. Of course with me it's not a permanency."
"I've been watching you - you're a smart girl, Lucy. Too smart to waste yourself cooking and cleaning."
"Thank you, but I prefer cooking and cleaning to the office desk."
"So would I. But there are other ways of living. You could be a freelance."
Van Gogh Sunflower
"I am."
"Not this way. I mean, working for yourself, pitting your wits against –"
"Against what?"
"The powers that be! All the silly pettifogging rules and regulations that hamper us all nowadays. The interesting thing is there's always a way round them if you're smart enough to find it. And you're smart. Come now, does the idea appeal to you?"
"Possibly."
Lucy manoeuvred the car into the stableyard.
"Not going to commit yourself?"
"I'd have to hear more."
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Painting
Van Gogh Painting
Perfect home conditions – with murder thrown in," said Cedric.
"Cedric!" Harold's voice was angry.
Miss Marple smiled up at Cedric.
"Do you know who you remind me of? Young Thomas Eade, our bank manager's son. Always out to shock people. It didn't do in banking circles, of course, so he went to the West Indies…. He came home when his father died and inherited quite a lot of money. So nice for him. He was always better at spending money than making it."
Van Gogh Painting
Lucy took Miss Marple home. On her way back a figure stepped out of darkness and stood in the glare of the headlights just as she was about to turn into the back lane. He held up his hand and Lucy recognised Alfred Crackenthorpe.
"That's better," he observed, as he got in. "Brrr, it's cold! I fancied I'd like a nice bracing walk. I didn't. Taken the old lady home all right?"
"Yes. She enjoyed herself very much."
Van Gogh Painting
Perfect home conditions – with murder thrown in," said Cedric.
"Cedric!" Harold's voice was angry.
Miss Marple smiled up at Cedric.
"Do you know who you remind me of? Young Thomas Eade, our bank manager's son. Always out to shock people. It didn't do in banking circles, of course, so he went to the West Indies…. He came home when his father died and inherited quite a lot of money. So nice for him. He was always better at spending money than making it."
Van Gogh Painting
Lucy took Miss Marple home. On her way back a figure stepped out of darkness and stood in the glare of the headlights just as she was about to turn into the back lane. He held up his hand and Lucy recognised Alfred Crackenthorpe.
"That's better," he observed, as he got in. "Brrr, it's cold! I fancied I'd like a nice bracing walk. I didn't. Taken the old lady home all right?"
"Yes. She enjoyed herself very much."
Van Gogh Painting
Henri Matisse Painting
Henri Matisse Painting
Oh, do you think so?"
Harold said quickly:
"My brother didn't use the term old maid in any derogatory sense, Miss Marple."
"Oh, I wasn't offended," said Miss Marple. "I just wondered if he was right. I shouldn't say myself that Miss Crackenthorpe would be an old maid. She's the type, I think, that's quite likely to marry late in life – and make a success of it."
"Not very likely living here," said Cedric. "Never sees anybody she could marry."
Miss Marple's twinkle became more pronounced than ever.
Henri Matisse Painting
There are always clergymen – and doctors."
Her eyes, gentle and mischievous, went from one to another.
It was clear that she suggested to them something that they had never thought of and which they did not find overpleasing.
Miss Marple rose to her feet, dropping as she did so, several little woolly scarves and her bag.
The three brothers were most attentive picking things up.
"So kind of you," fluted Miss Marple. "Oh, yes, and my little blue muffler. Yes – as I say - so kind to ask me here. I've been picturing, you know, just what your home was like – so that I can visualise dear Lucy working here."
Henri Matisse Painting
Oh, do you think so?"
Harold said quickly:
"My brother didn't use the term old maid in any derogatory sense, Miss Marple."
"Oh, I wasn't offended," said Miss Marple. "I just wondered if he was right. I shouldn't say myself that Miss Crackenthorpe would be an old maid. She's the type, I think, that's quite likely to marry late in life – and make a success of it."
"Not very likely living here," said Cedric. "Never sees anybody she could marry."
Miss Marple's twinkle became more pronounced than ever.
Henri Matisse Painting
There are always clergymen – and doctors."
Her eyes, gentle and mischievous, went from one to another.
It was clear that she suggested to them something that they had never thought of and which they did not find overpleasing.
Miss Marple rose to her feet, dropping as she did so, several little woolly scarves and her bag.
The three brothers were most attentive picking things up.
"So kind of you," fluted Miss Marple. "Oh, yes, and my little blue muffler. Yes – as I say - so kind to ask me here. I've been picturing, you know, just what your home was like – so that I can visualise dear Lucy working here."
Henri Matisse Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
You can't know many doctors," said Dr. Quimper. "Leeches they used to be called, and leeches they often are! At any rate, we do get paid nowadays, the State sees to that. No sending in of bills that you know won't ever be met. Trouble is that all one's patients are determined to get everything they can ‘out of the Government,' and as a result, if little Jenny coughs twice in the night, or little Tommy eats a couple of green apples, out the poor doctor has to come in the middle of the night. Oh, well! Glorious cake, Emma. What a cook you are!"
"Not mine. Miss Eyelesbarrow’s."
"You make 'em just as good," said Quimper loyally.
Marc Chagall Painting
Will you come and see father?"
She rose and the doctor followed her. Miss Marple watched them leave the room.
Miss Crackenthorpe is a very devoted daughter, I see, she said.
"Can't imagine how she sticks the old man, myself," said the outspoken Cedric.
"She has a very comfortable home here, and father is very much attached to her," said Harold quickly.
"Em's all right," said Cedric. "Born to be an old maid."
There was a faint twinkle in Miss Marple's eye as she said:
Marc Chagall Painting
You can't know many doctors," said Dr. Quimper. "Leeches they used to be called, and leeches they often are! At any rate, we do get paid nowadays, the State sees to that. No sending in of bills that you know won't ever be met. Trouble is that all one's patients are determined to get everything they can ‘out of the Government,' and as a result, if little Jenny coughs twice in the night, or little Tommy eats a couple of green apples, out the poor doctor has to come in the middle of the night. Oh, well! Glorious cake, Emma. What a cook you are!"
"Not mine. Miss Eyelesbarrow’s."
"You make 'em just as good," said Quimper loyally.
Marc Chagall Painting
Will you come and see father?"
She rose and the doctor followed her. Miss Marple watched them leave the room.
Miss Crackenthorpe is a very devoted daughter, I see, she said.
"Can't imagine how she sticks the old man, myself," said the outspoken Cedric.
"She has a very comfortable home here, and father is very much attached to her," said Harold quickly.
"Em's all right," said Cedric. "Born to be an old maid."
There was a faint twinkle in Miss Marple's eye as she said:
Marc Chagall Painting
William Bouguereau Birth of Venus Painting
The Birth of Venus
Hope your father's not under the weather, Emma?"
"Oh, no - that is, he was just a little tired this afternoon –"
"Avoiding visitors, I expected," said Miss Marple with a roguish smile. "How well I remember my own dear father. ‘Got a lot of old pussies coming?' he would say to my mother. ‘Send my tea into the study.' Very naughty about it, he was."
"Please don't think –” began Emma, but Cedric cut in.
"It's always tea in the study when his dear sons come down. Psychologically to be expected, eh, Doctor?"
William Bouguereau Birth of Venus Painting
Dr. Quimper, who was devouring sandwiches and coffeecake with the frank appreciation of a man who has usually too little time to spend on his meals, said:
"Psychology's all right if it's left to the psychologists. Trouble is, everyone is an amateur psychologist nowadays. My patients tell me exactly what complexes and neuroses they're suffering from, without giving me a chance to tell them. Thanks, Emma. I will have another cup. No time for lunch today."
"A doctor's life, I always think, is so noble and self-sacrificing," said Miss Marple.
The Birth of Venus
Hope your father's not under the weather, Emma?"
"Oh, no - that is, he was just a little tired this afternoon –"
"Avoiding visitors, I expected," said Miss Marple with a roguish smile. "How well I remember my own dear father. ‘Got a lot of old pussies coming?' he would say to my mother. ‘Send my tea into the study.' Very naughty about it, he was."
"Please don't think –” began Emma, but Cedric cut in.
"It's always tea in the study when his dear sons come down. Psychologically to be expected, eh, Doctor?"
William Bouguereau Birth of Venus Painting
Dr. Quimper, who was devouring sandwiches and coffeecake with the frank appreciation of a man who has usually too little time to spend on his meals, said:
"Psychology's all right if it's left to the psychologists. Trouble is, everyone is an amateur psychologist nowadays. My patients tell me exactly what complexes and neuroses they're suffering from, without giving me a chance to tell them. Thanks, Emma. I will have another cup. No time for lunch today."
"A doctor's life, I always think, is so noble and self-sacrificing," said Miss Marple.
The Birth of Venus
Bouguereau William
Bouguereau William
Painters are so fond of islands, are they not?" said Miss Marple. "Chopin – that was Majorca, was it not? But he was a musician. It is Gauguin I am thinking of. A sad life - misspent, one feels. I myself never really care for paintings of native women - and although I know he is very much admired - I have never cared for that lurid mustard colour. One really feels quite bilious looking at his pictures."
She eyed Cedric with a slightly disapproving air.
"Tell us about Lucy as a child, Miss Marple," said Cedric.
She smiled up at him delightedly.
Bouguereau William
Lucy was always so clever," she said. "Yes, you were, dear – now don't interrupt. Quite remarkable at arithmetic. Why, I remember when the butcher overcharged me for topside of beef…"
Miss Marple launched full steam ahead into reminiscences of Lucy's childhood and from there to experiences of her own in village life.
The stream of reminiscence was interrupted by the entry of Bryan and the boys rather wet and dirty as a result of an enthusiastic search for clues. Tea was brought in and with it came Dr. Quimper who raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked round after acknowledging his introduction to the old lady.
Bouguereau William
Painters are so fond of islands, are they not?" said Miss Marple. "Chopin – that was Majorca, was it not? But he was a musician. It is Gauguin I am thinking of. A sad life - misspent, one feels. I myself never really care for paintings of native women - and although I know he is very much admired - I have never cared for that lurid mustard colour. One really feels quite bilious looking at his pictures."
She eyed Cedric with a slightly disapproving air.
"Tell us about Lucy as a child, Miss Marple," said Cedric.
She smiled up at him delightedly.
Bouguereau William
Lucy was always so clever," she said. "Yes, you were, dear – now don't interrupt. Quite remarkable at arithmetic. Why, I remember when the butcher overcharged me for topside of beef…"
Miss Marple launched full steam ahead into reminiscences of Lucy's childhood and from there to experiences of her own in village life.
The stream of reminiscence was interrupted by the entry of Bryan and the boys rather wet and dirty as a result of an enthusiastic search for clues. Tea was brought in and with it came Dr. Quimper who raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked round after acknowledging his introduction to the old lady.
Bouguereau William
Gustav Klimt Painting
Gustav Klimt Painting
We'll talk things over this evening," said Alfred. "In the meantime, we'll pump the old aunt about Lucy."
So Miss Marple had duly been fetched by Lucy and installed by the fire and she was now smiling up at Alfred as he handed her sandwiches with the approval she always showed towards a good-looking man.
"Thank you so much…. May I ask…? Oh, egg and sardine, yes, that will be very nice. I'm afraid I'm always rather greedy over my tea. As one gets on, you know… And
Gustav Klimt Painting
of course, at night only a very light meal…. I have to be careful. She turned to her hostess once more. What a beautiful house you have. And so many beautiful things in it. Those bronzes, now, they remind me of some my father bought – at the Paris Exhibition. Really, your grandfather did? In the classical style, aren't they? Very handsome. How delightful for you having your brothers with you? So often families are scattered – India, though I suppose that is all done with now – and Africa - the west coast, such a bad climate."
"Two of my brothers live in London."
"That is very nice for you."
"But my brother Cedric is a painter and lives in Iviza, one
Gustav Klimt Painting
We'll talk things over this evening," said Alfred. "In the meantime, we'll pump the old aunt about Lucy."
So Miss Marple had duly been fetched by Lucy and installed by the fire and she was now smiling up at Alfred as he handed her sandwiches with the approval she always showed towards a good-looking man.
"Thank you so much…. May I ask…? Oh, egg and sardine, yes, that will be very nice. I'm afraid I'm always rather greedy over my tea. As one gets on, you know… And
Gustav Klimt Painting
of course, at night only a very light meal…. I have to be careful. She turned to her hostess once more. What a beautiful house you have. And so many beautiful things in it. Those bronzes, now, they remind me of some my father bought – at the Paris Exhibition. Really, your grandfather did? In the classical style, aren't they? Very handsome. How delightful for you having your brothers with you? So often families are scattered – India, though I suppose that is all done with now – and Africa - the west coast, such a bad climate."
"Two of my brothers live in London."
"That is very nice for you."
"But my brother Cedric is a painter and lives in Iviza, one
Gustav Klimt Painting
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
It's no business of his," said Harold angrily. "Let him stich to pills and powders and National Health."
"Oh, do stop quarrelling," said Emma wearily. "I'm really glad this old Miss Whatshername is coming to tea. It will do us all good to have a stranger here and be prevented from going over and over the same things again and again. I must go and tidy myself up a little."
She left the room.
"This Lucy Eyelesbarrow," said Harold, and stopped. "As Cedric says, it is odd that she should nose about in the barn and go opening up a sarcophagus – really a Herculean task. Perhaps we ought to take steps. Her attitude, I thought, was rather antagonistic at lunch –"
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Leave her to me," said Alfred. "I'll soon find out if she's up to anything."
"I mean, why open up that sarcophagus?"
"Perhaps, she isn't really Lucy Eyelesbarrow at all," suggested Cedric.
"But what would be the point –?" Harold looked thoroughly upset. "Oh, damn!"
They looked at each other with worried faces.
"And here's this pestilential old woman coming to tea. Just when we want to think.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
It's no business of his," said Harold angrily. "Let him stich to pills and powders and National Health."
"Oh, do stop quarrelling," said Emma wearily. "I'm really glad this old Miss Whatshername is coming to tea. It will do us all good to have a stranger here and be prevented from going over and over the same things again and again. I must go and tidy myself up a little."
She left the room.
"This Lucy Eyelesbarrow," said Harold, and stopped. "As Cedric says, it is odd that she should nose about in the barn and go opening up a sarcophagus – really a Herculean task. Perhaps we ought to take steps. Her attitude, I thought, was rather antagonistic at lunch –"
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Leave her to me," said Alfred. "I'll soon find out if she's up to anything."
"I mean, why open up that sarcophagus?"
"Perhaps, she isn't really Lucy Eyelesbarrow at all," suggested Cedric.
"But what would be the point –?" Harold looked thoroughly upset. "Oh, damn!"
They looked at each other with worried faces.
"And here's this pestilential old woman coming to tea. Just when we want to think.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Modern Art Painting
Modern Art Painting
Oh, let her come," said Cedric. "We can draw her out a little about the wonderful Lucy. I should like to know more about that girl, I must say. I'm not sure that I trust her. Too smart by half."
"She's very well connected and quite genuine," said Harold. "I've made it my business to find out. One wanted to be sure. Poking about and finding the body the way she did."
"If we only knew who this damned woman was," said Alfred.
Harold added angrily
Modern Art Painting
"I must say, Emma, that I think you were out of your senses, going and suggesting to the police that the dead woman might be Edmund's French girl friend. It will make them convinced that she came here, and that probably one or other of us killed her."
"Oh, no, Harold. Don't exaggerate."
"Harold's quite right," said Alfred. "Whatever possessed you, I don't know. I've a feeling I'm being followed everywhere I go by plain-clothed men."
"I told her not to do it," said Cedric. "Then Quimper backed her up."Modern Art Painting
Oh, let her come," said Cedric. "We can draw her out a little about the wonderful Lucy. I should like to know more about that girl, I must say. I'm not sure that I trust her. Too smart by half."
"She's very well connected and quite genuine," said Harold. "I've made it my business to find out. One wanted to be sure. Poking about and finding the body the way she did."
"If we only knew who this damned woman was," said Alfred.
Harold added angrily
Modern Art Painting
"I must say, Emma, that I think you were out of your senses, going and suggesting to the police that the dead woman might be Edmund's French girl friend. It will make them convinced that she came here, and that probably one or other of us killed her."
"Oh, no, Harold. Don't exaggerate."
"Harold's quite right," said Alfred. "Whatever possessed you, I don't know. I've a feeling I'm being followed everywhere I go by plain-clothed men."
"I told her not to do it," said Cedric. "Then Quimper backed her up."Modern Art Painting
Art Painting
Art Painting
"It's so very kind of you to have asked me to take tea with you," said Miss Marple to Emma Crackenthorpe.
Miss Marple was looking particularly woolly and fluffy - a picture of a sweet old lady. She beamed as she looked round her - at Harold Crackenthorpe in his well-cut dark suit, at Alfred handing her sandwiches with a charming smile, at Cedric standing by the mantelpiece in a ragged tweed jacket scowling at the rest of his family.
"We are very pleased that you could come," said Emma politely.
Art Painting
There was no hint of scene which had taken place after lunch that day when Emma had exclaimed: "Dear me, I quite forgot. I told Miss Eyelesbarrow that she could bring her old aunt to tea today."
"Put her off," said Harold brusquely. "We've still got a lot to talk about. We don't want strangers here."
"Let her have tea in the kitchen or somewhere with the girl," said Alfred.
"Oh, no, I couldn't do that," said Emma firmly. "That would be very rude."
Art Painting
"It's so very kind of you to have asked me to take tea with you," said Miss Marple to Emma Crackenthorpe.
Miss Marple was looking particularly woolly and fluffy - a picture of a sweet old lady. She beamed as she looked round her - at Harold Crackenthorpe in his well-cut dark suit, at Alfred handing her sandwiches with a charming smile, at Cedric standing by the mantelpiece in a ragged tweed jacket scowling at the rest of his family.
"We are very pleased that you could come," said Emma politely.
Art Painting
There was no hint of scene which had taken place after lunch that day when Emma had exclaimed: "Dear me, I quite forgot. I told Miss Eyelesbarrow that she could bring her old aunt to tea today."
"Put her off," said Harold brusquely. "We've still got a lot to talk about. We don't want strangers here."
"Let her have tea in the kitchen or somewhere with the girl," said Alfred.
"Oh, no, I couldn't do that," said Emma firmly. "That would be very rude."
Art Painting
Famous painting
Famous painting
He sustained Mr. Wimborne's sharp glance with perfect impassively.
"Oh! So the police have been making inquiries? Yes, Alfred is almost incessantly in low water. Occasionally he is very flush of money for a short time - but it soon goes. Harold, as you seem to have discovered, is at present somewhat precariously situated."
"In spite of his appearance of financial prosperity?"
Famous painting
"Fa?ade. All fa?ade! Half these city concerns don't even know if they're solvent or not. Balance sheets can be made to look all right to the inexpert eye. But when the assets that are listed aren't really assets - when those assets are trembling on the brink of a crash - where are you?"
"Where, presumably, Harold Crackenthorpe is, in bad need of money."
"Well, he wouldn't have got it by strangling his late brother's widow," said Mr. Wimborne. "And nobody's murdered Luther Crackenthorpe which is the only murder that would do the family any good. So, really, Inspector, I don't quite see where your ideas are leading you?"
Famous painting
He sustained Mr. Wimborne's sharp glance with perfect impassively.
"Oh! So the police have been making inquiries? Yes, Alfred is almost incessantly in low water. Occasionally he is very flush of money for a short time - but it soon goes. Harold, as you seem to have discovered, is at present somewhat precariously situated."
"In spite of his appearance of financial prosperity?"
Famous painting
"Fa?ade. All fa?ade! Half these city concerns don't even know if they're solvent or not. Balance sheets can be made to look all right to the inexpert eye. But when the assets that are listed aren't really assets - when those assets are trembling on the brink of a crash - where are you?"
"Where, presumably, Harold Crackenthorpe is, in bad need of money."
"Well, he wouldn't have got it by strangling his late brother's widow," said Mr. Wimborne. "And nobody's murdered Luther Crackenthorpe which is the only murder that would do the family any good. So, really, Inspector, I don't quite see where your ideas are leading you?"
Famous painting
Famous artist painting
Famous artist painting
Indeed? I am inclined, myself, to take statements of such a nature with what I might term a grain of salt. There are doubtless certain unworldly people who are indifferent to money. I myself have never met one."
Mr. Wimborne obviously derived a certain satisfaction from this remark.
Inspector Craddock hastened to take advantage of this ray of sunshine.
"Harold and Alfred Crackenthorpe, he ventured, seem to have been a good deal upset by the arrival of this letter?"
"Well they might be," said Mr. Wimborne. "Well they might be."
Famous artist painting
It would reduce their eventual inheritance?"
"Certainly. Edmund Crackenthorpe's son - always presuming there is a son – would be entitled to a fifth share of the trust money."
"That doesn't really seem a very serious loss?"
Mr. Wimborne gave him a shrewd glance.
"It is a totally inadequate motive for murder, if that is what you mean."
"But I suppose they're both pretty hard up," Craddock murmured.
Famous artist painting
Indeed? I am inclined, myself, to take statements of such a nature with what I might term a grain of salt. There are doubtless certain unworldly people who are indifferent to money. I myself have never met one."
Mr. Wimborne obviously derived a certain satisfaction from this remark.
Inspector Craddock hastened to take advantage of this ray of sunshine.
"Harold and Alfred Crackenthorpe, he ventured, seem to have been a good deal upset by the arrival of this letter?"
"Well they might be," said Mr. Wimborne. "Well they might be."
Famous artist painting
It would reduce their eventual inheritance?"
"Certainly. Edmund Crackenthorpe's son - always presuming there is a son – would be entitled to a fifth share of the trust money."
"That doesn't really seem a very serious loss?"
Mr. Wimborne gave him a shrewd glance.
"It is a totally inadequate motive for murder, if that is what you mean."
"But I suppose they're both pretty hard up," Craddock murmured.
Famous artist painting
Decorative painting
Decorative painting
"Oh, I see." Mr. Wimborne picked up his spectacles which he had laid aside in his irritation, and put them on, staring through them at Inspector Craddock with shrewd attention. "Well, at the moment, nothing. But if she could prove that the boy was the son of Edmund Crackenthorpe, born in lawful wedlock, then the boy would be entitled to his share of Josiah Crackenthorpe's trust on the death of Luther Crackenthorpe. More than that, he'd inherit Rutherford Hall, since he's the son of the eldest son."
"Would anyone want to inherit the house?"
Decorative painting
"To live in? I should say, certainly not. But that estate, my dear Inspector, is worth a considerable amount of money. Very considerable. Land for industrial and building purposes. Land which is now in the heart of Brackhampton. Oh, yes, a very considerable inheritance."
"If Luther Crackenthorpe dies, I believe you told me that Cedric gets it?"
"He inherits the real estate – yes, as the eldest surviving son."
"Cedric Crackenthorpe, I have been given to understand, is not interested in money?"
Mr. Wimborne gave Craddock a cold stare.
Decorative painting
"Oh, I see." Mr. Wimborne picked up his spectacles which he had laid aside in his irritation, and put them on, staring through them at Inspector Craddock with shrewd attention. "Well, at the moment, nothing. But if she could prove that the boy was the son of Edmund Crackenthorpe, born in lawful wedlock, then the boy would be entitled to his share of Josiah Crackenthorpe's trust on the death of Luther Crackenthorpe. More than that, he'd inherit Rutherford Hall, since he's the son of the eldest son."
"Would anyone want to inherit the house?"
Decorative painting
"To live in? I should say, certainly not. But that estate, my dear Inspector, is worth a considerable amount of money. Very considerable. Land for industrial and building purposes. Land which is now in the heart of Brackhampton. Oh, yes, a very considerable inheritance."
"If Luther Crackenthorpe dies, I believe you told me that Cedric gets it?"
"He inherits the real estate – yes, as the eldest surviving son."
"Cedric Crackenthorpe, I have been given to understand, is not interested in money?"
Mr. Wimborne gave Craddock a cold stare.
Decorative painting
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Abstract Painting
Abstract Painting
Biff on the head，strangled，now a knife.Versatile devil-what?Here arethe medical details if you care to see'em." He shoved a paper towards Poirot."A B C down on the floor between thedead man's feet，"he added. "Has the dead man been identified?asked Poirot. "Yes.A B C's slipped up for once-if that's any satisfaction to us. Deceased's a man called Earlsfield-George Earlsfield.Barber byprofession." "Curious，"commented Poirot. "May have skipped a letter，"suggested the colonel. My friend shook his head doubtfully. "Shall we have in the next witness?"asked Crome."He's anxious to gethome."
Abstract Painting
"Yes，yes-let's get on." A middle-aged gentleman strongly resembling the frog footman in Alice inWonderland was led in.He was highly excited and his voice was shrill withemotion. "Most shocking experience I have ever known，"he squeaked."I have a weakheart，sir-a very weak heart，it might have been the death of me." "Your name，please，"said the inspector. "Downes.Roger Emmanuel Downes." "Profession?" "I am a master at Highfield School for boys." "Now，Mr Downes，will you tell us in your own words what happened." "I can tell you that very shortly，gentlemen.
Abstract Painting
Biff on the head，strangled，now a knife.Versatile devil-what?Here arethe medical details if you care to see'em." He shoved a paper towards Poirot."A B C down on the floor between thedead man's feet，"he added. "Has the dead man been identified?asked Poirot. "Yes.A B C's slipped up for once-if that's any satisfaction to us. Deceased's a man called Earlsfield-George Earlsfield.Barber byprofession." "Curious，"commented Poirot. "May have skipped a letter，"suggested the colonel. My friend shook his head doubtfully. "Shall we have in the next witness?"asked Crome."He's anxious to gethome."
Abstract Painting
"Yes，yes-let's get on." A middle-aged gentleman strongly resembling the frog footman in Alice inWonderland was led in.He was highly excited and his voice was shrill withemotion. "Most shocking experience I have ever known，"he squeaked."I have a weakheart，sir-a very weak heart，it might have been the death of me." "Your name，please，"said the inspector. "Downes.Roger Emmanuel Downes." "Profession?" "I am a master at Highfield School for boys." "Now，Mr Downes，will you tell us in your own words what happened." "I can tell you that very shortly，gentlemen.
Abstract Painting
Rembrandt Painting
Rembrandt Painting
The commissionaire saluted and departed. "The medical details we've got，"said Colonel Anderson."We'd better havethe fellow that found him next." A police constable came in and saluted. "Mr Hercule Poirot's here，sir，and another gentleman." Inspector Crome frowned. "Oh，well，"he said."Better have'em in，I suppose."
Rembrandt Painting
Coming in hard on Poirot's heels，I just caught the fag end of InspectorCrome's remark. Both he and the Chief Constable were looking worried and depressed. Colonel Anderson greeted us with a nod of the head. "Glad you've come，M.Poirot，"he said politely.I think he guessed thatCrome's remark might have reached our ears. "We've got in the neck again，you see." "Another A B C murder?" "Yes.Damned audacious bit of work.Man leaned over and stabbed the fellowin the back." "Stabbed this time?" "Yes，varies his methods a bit，doesn't he?
Rembrandt Painting
The commissionaire saluted and departed. "The medical details we've got，"said Colonel Anderson."We'd better havethe fellow that found him next." A police constable came in and saluted. "Mr Hercule Poirot's here，sir，and another gentleman." Inspector Crome frowned. "Oh，well，"he said."Better have'em in，I suppose."
Rembrandt Painting
Coming in hard on Poirot's heels，I just caught the fag end of InspectorCrome's remark. Both he and the Chief Constable were looking worried and depressed. Colonel Anderson greeted us with a nod of the head. "Glad you've come，M.Poirot，"he said politely.I think he guessed thatCrome's remark might have reached our ears. "We've got in the neck again，you see." "Another A B C murder?" "Yes.Damned audacious bit of work.Man leaned over and stabbed the fellowin the back." "Stabbed this time?" "Yes，varies his methods a bit，doesn't he?
Rembrandt Painting
The Singing Butler
The Singing Butler
The commissionaire，very stiff and military，came in and stood toattention，his eyes fixed on Colonel Anderson. "Now，then，Jameson，let's hear your story." Jameson saluted. "Yes sir.Close of the performance，sir.I was told there was a gentlemantaken ill，sir.Gentleman was in the two and fourpennies，slumped down in hisseat like.Other gentlemen standing around. Gentleman looked bad to me，sir.One of the gentlemen standing by put hishand to the ill gentleman's coat and drew my attention.Blood，sir.It wasclear the gentleman was dead-stabbed，sir.My attention was drawn to an A B Crailway guide，sir，under the seat.Wishing to act correctly，I did not touchsame，but reported to the police immediately that a tragedy had occurred." "Very good.Jameson，you acted very properly."
The Singing Butler
"Thank you，sir." "Did you notice a man leaving the two and fourpennies about five minutesearlier?" "There were several，sir." "Could you describe them?" "Afraid not，sir.One was Mr Geoffery Parnell. And there was a young fellow，Sam Baker，with his young lady.I didn'tnotice anybody else particular." "A pity.That'll do，Jameson." "Yes sir."
The Singing Butler
The commissionaire，very stiff and military，came in and stood toattention，his eyes fixed on Colonel Anderson. "Now，then，Jameson，let's hear your story." Jameson saluted. "Yes sir.Close of the performance，sir.I was told there was a gentlemantaken ill，sir.Gentleman was in the two and fourpennies，slumped down in hisseat like.Other gentlemen standing around. Gentleman looked bad to me，sir.One of the gentlemen standing by put hishand to the ill gentleman's coat and drew my attention.Blood，sir.It wasclear the gentleman was dead-stabbed，sir.My attention was drawn to an A B Crailway guide，sir，under the seat.Wishing to act correctly，I did not touchsame，but reported to the police immediately that a tragedy had occurred." "Very good.Jameson，you acted very properly."
The Singing Butler
"Thank you，sir." "Did you notice a man leaving the two and fourpennies about five minutesearlier?" "There were several，sir." "Could you describe them?" "Afraid not，sir.One was Mr Geoffery Parnell. And there was a young fellow，Sam Baker，with his young lady.I didn'tnotice anybody else particular." "A pity.That'll do，Jameson." "Yes sir."
The Singing Butler
Jack Vettriano Painting
Jack Vettriano Painting
He passed you and in doing so stumbled-""He pretended to stumble，I seeit now.Then he leaned over the seat in front to pick up his hat.He must havestabbed the poor fellow then." "You didn't hear anything?A cry?Or a groan?" Mr Leadbetter had heard nothing but the loud，hoarse accents ofKatherine Royal，but in the vividness of his imagination he invented a groan. Inspector Crome took the groan at its face value and bade him proceed. "And then he went out-""Can you describe him?" "He was a very big man.Six foot at least.A giant."
Jack Vettriano Painting
"Fair or dark?" "I-well-I'm not exactly sure.I think he was bald.A sinister-lookingfellow." "He didn't limp，did he?"asked Inspector Crome. "Yes-yes，now you come to speak of it I think he did limp.Very dark，hemight have been some kind of half-caste." "Was he in his seat the last time the lights came up?" "No.He came in after the big picture began." Inspector Crome nodded，handed Mr Leadbetter a statement to sign and gotrid of him. "That's about as bad a witness as you'll find，"he remarkedpessimistically."He'd say anything with a little leading.It's perfectlyclear that he hasn't the faintest idea what our man looks like.Let's havethe commissionaire back."
Jack Vettriano Painting
He passed you and in doing so stumbled-""He pretended to stumble，I seeit now.Then he leaned over the seat in front to pick up his hat.He must havestabbed the poor fellow then." "You didn't hear anything?A cry?Or a groan?" Mr Leadbetter had heard nothing but the loud，hoarse accents ofKatherine Royal，but in the vividness of his imagination he invented a groan. Inspector Crome took the groan at its face value and bade him proceed. "And then he went out-""Can you describe him?" "He was a very big man.Six foot at least.A giant."
Jack Vettriano Painting
"Fair or dark?" "I-well-I'm not exactly sure.I think he was bald.A sinister-lookingfellow." "He didn't limp，did he?"asked Inspector Crome. "Yes-yes，now you come to speak of it I think he did limp.Very dark，hemight have been some kind of half-caste." "Was he in his seat the last time the lights came up?" "No.He came in after the big picture began." Inspector Crome nodded，handed Mr Leadbetter a statement to sign and gotrid of him. "That's about as bad a witness as you'll find，"he remarkedpessimistically."He'd say anything with a little leading.It's perfectlyclear that he hasn't the faintest idea what our man looks like.Let's havethe commissionaire back."
Jack Vettriano Painting
Mary Cassatt painting
Mary Cassatt painting
He crept down the stairs...... Still no one.That was luck.He paused at the foot of the stairs.Which waynow? He made up his mind，darted quickly along a passage and out by the doorthat gave into the yard.A couple of chauffeurs were there tinkering withcars and discussing winners and losers. Mr Cust hurried across the yard and out into the street. Round the first corner to the right-then to the left-right again...... Dare he risk the station? Yes-there would be crowds there-special trains-if luck were on his sidehe would do it all right...... If only luck were with him......
Mary Cassatt painting
Inspector Crome was listening to the excited utterances of Mr Leadbetter. "I assure you，inspector，my heart misses a beat when I think of it.Hemust actually have been sitting beside me all through the programme!" Inspector Crome，completely indifferent to the behaviour of MrLeadbetter's heart，said: "Just let me have it quite clear?This man went out towards the close ofthe big picture-""Not a Sparrow-Katherine Royal，"murmured Mr Leadbetterautomatically.
Mary Cassatt painting
He crept down the stairs...... Still no one.That was luck.He paused at the foot of the stairs.Which waynow? He made up his mind，darted quickly along a passage and out by the doorthat gave into the yard.A couple of chauffeurs were there tinkering withcars and discussing winners and losers. Mr Cust hurried across the yard and out into the street. Round the first corner to the right-then to the left-right again...... Dare he risk the station? Yes-there would be crowds there-special trains-if luck were on his sidehe would do it all right...... If only luck were with him......
Mary Cassatt painting
Inspector Crome was listening to the excited utterances of Mr Leadbetter. "I assure you，inspector，my heart misses a beat when I think of it.Hemust actually have been sitting beside me all through the programme!" Inspector Crome，completely indifferent to the behaviour of MrLeadbetter's heart，said: "Just let me have it quite clear?This man went out towards the close ofthe big picture-""Not a Sparrow-Katherine Royal，"murmured Mr Leadbetterautomatically.
Mary Cassatt painting
Edward Hopper Painting
Edward Hopper Painting
He passed his tongue over his lips again...... Again，tentatively，he felt his coat sleeve. His eyes crossed the room to the wash-basin. A minute later he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug intothe basin.Removing his coat，he rinsed the sleeve，carefully squeezing itout...... Ugh!The water was red now...... A tap on the door. He stood there frozen into immobility-staring. The door opened.A plump young woman-jug in hand. "Oh，excuse me，sir.Your hot water，sir." He managed to speak then. "Thank you......I've washed in cold......"
Edward Hopper Painting
Why had he said that?Immediately her eyes went to the basin. He said frenziedly:"I-I've cut my hand......" There was a pause-yes，surely a very long pause-before she said:"Yes，sir." She went out，shutting the door. Mr Cust stood as though turned to stone. He listened. It had come-at last...... Were there voices-exclamations-feet mounting the stairs? He could hear nothing but the beating of his own heart...... Then，suddenly，from frozen immobility he leaped into activity. He slipped on his coat，tiptoed to the door and opened it.No noises asyet except the familiar murmur arising from the bar.
Edward Hopper Painting
He passed his tongue over his lips again...... Again，tentatively，he felt his coat sleeve. His eyes crossed the room to the wash-basin. A minute later he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug intothe basin.Removing his coat，he rinsed the sleeve，carefully squeezing itout...... Ugh!The water was red now...... A tap on the door. He stood there frozen into immobility-staring. The door opened.A plump young woman-jug in hand. "Oh，excuse me，sir.Your hot water，sir." He managed to speak then. "Thank you......I've washed in cold......"
Edward Hopper Painting
Why had he said that?Immediately her eyes went to the basin. He said frenziedly:"I-I've cut my hand......" There was a pause-yes，surely a very long pause-before she said:"Yes，sir." She went out，shutting the door. Mr Cust stood as though turned to stone. He listened. It had come-at last...... Were there voices-exclamations-feet mounting the stairs? He could hear nothing but the beating of his own heart...... Then，suddenly，from frozen immobility he leaped into activity. He slipped on his coat，tiptoed to the door and opened it.No noises asyet except the familiar murmur arising from the bar.
Edward Hopper Painting
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Sunflower
Mr Cust came out of the Regal Cinema and looked up at the sky. A beautiful evening......A really beautiful evening...... A quatation from Browning came into his head. "God's in His heaven.All's right with the world." He had always been fond of that quotation. Only there were times，very often，when he had felt it wasn't true...... He trotted along the street smiling to himself until he came to theBlack Swan where he was staying. He climbed the stairs to his bedroom，a stuffy little room on the secondfloor，giving over a paved inner court and garage.
Van Gogh Sunflower
As he entered the room his smile faded suddenly. There was a stain on his sleeve near the cuff.He touched ittentatively-wet and red-blood...... His hand dipped into his pocket and brought out something-a long slenderknife.The blade of that，too，was sticky and red...... Mr Cust sat there a long time. Once his eyes shot round the room like those of a hunted animal. His tongue passed feverishly over his lips...... "It isn't my fault，"said Mr Cust. He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody-a schoolboy pleadingto his headmaster.
Van Gogh Sunflower
Mr Cust came out of the Regal Cinema and looked up at the sky. A beautiful evening......A really beautiful evening...... A quatation from Browning came into his head. "God's in His heaven.All's right with the world." He had always been fond of that quotation. Only there were times，very often，when he had felt it wasn't true...... He trotted along the street smiling to himself until he came to theBlack Swan where he was staying. He climbed the stairs to his bedroom，a stuffy little room on the secondfloor，giving over a paved inner court and garage.
Van Gogh Sunflower
As he entered the room his smile faded suddenly. There was a stain on his sleeve near the cuff.He touched ittentatively-wet and red-blood...... His hand dipped into his pocket and brought out something-a long slenderknife.The blade of that，too，was sticky and red...... Mr Cust sat there a long time. Once his eyes shot round the room like those of a hunted animal. His tongue passed feverishly over his lips...... "It isn't my fault，"said Mr Cust. He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody-a schoolboy pleadingto his headmaster.
Van Gogh Sunflower
Van Gogh Painting
Van Gogh Painting
Everyone was hurrying towards the exit.Mr Leadbetter prepared to followsuit.The man in the seat in front of him was asleep-slumped down in hischair.Mr Leadbetter felt indignant to think that anyone could sleep withsuch a drama as Not a Sparrow going on. An irate gentleman was saying to the sleeping man whose legs werestretched out blocking the way: "Excuse me，sir." Mr Leadbetter reached the exit.He looked back. There seemed to be some sort of commotion.A comissionaire......a littleknot of people......Perhaps that man in front of him was dead drunk and notasleep......
Van Gogh Painting
He hesitated and then passed out-and in so doing missed the sensation ofthe day-a greater sensation even than Not Half winning the St Legar at 85to!" The commissionaire was saying: "Believe you're right，sir......He's ill......Why-what's the matter，sir?" The other had drawn away his hand with an exclamation and was examininga red sticky smear. "Blood......" The commissionaire gave a stifled exclamation. He had caught sight of the corner of something yellow projecting fromunder the seat. "Got blimey!"he said."It's a b-A B C." ------------------Van Gogh Painting
Everyone was hurrying towards the exit.Mr Leadbetter prepared to followsuit.The man in the seat in front of him was asleep-slumped down in hischair.Mr Leadbetter felt indignant to think that anyone could sleep withsuch a drama as Not a Sparrow going on. An irate gentleman was saying to the sleeping man whose legs werestretched out blocking the way: "Excuse me，sir." Mr Leadbetter reached the exit.He looked back. There seemed to be some sort of commotion.A comissionaire......a littleknot of people......Perhaps that man in front of him was dead drunk and notasleep......
Van Gogh Painting
He hesitated and then passed out-and in so doing missed the sensation ofthe day-a greater sensation even than Not Half winning the St Legar at 85to!" The commissionaire was saying: "Believe you're right，sir......He's ill......Why-what's the matter，sir?" The other had drawn away his hand with an exclamation and was examininga red sticky smear. "Blood......" The commissionaire gave a stifled exclamation. He had caught sight of the corner of something yellow projecting fromunder the seat. "Got blimey!"he said."It's a b-A B C." ------------------Van Gogh Painting
Henri Matisse Painting
Henri Matisse Painting
Never.I would sooner starve.But I shan't starve.Remember those words: not a sparrow falls-"Mr Leadbetter moved his head irritably from rightto left.People!Why on earth people couldn't wait till the end of afilm......And to leave at this soul-stirring moment. Ah，that was better.The annoying gentleman had passed on and out.MrLeadbetter had a full view of the screen and of Katherine Royal standing bythe window in the Van Schreiner Mansion in New York. And now she was boarding the train-the child in her arms......Whatcurious trains they had in America-not at all like English trains. Ah，there was Steve again in his shack in the mountains......
Henri Matisse Painting
The film pursued its course to its emotional and semi-religious end. Mr Leadbetter breathed a sigh of satisfaction as the lights went up. He rose slowly to his feet，blinking a little. He never left the cinema very quickly.It always took him a moment or twoto return to the prosaic reality of everyday life. He glanced round.Not many people this afternoon-naturally.They were allat the races.Mr Leadbetter did not approve of racing nor of playing cardsnor of drinking nor of smoking.This left him more energy to enjoy going tothe pictures.Henri Matisse Painting
Never.I would sooner starve.But I shan't starve.Remember those words: not a sparrow falls-"Mr Leadbetter moved his head irritably from rightto left.People!Why on earth people couldn't wait till the end of afilm......And to leave at this soul-stirring moment. Ah，that was better.The annoying gentleman had passed on and out.MrLeadbetter had a full view of the screen and of Katherine Royal standing bythe window in the Van Schreiner Mansion in New York. And now she was boarding the train-the child in her arms......Whatcurious trains they had in America-not at all like English trains. Ah，there was Steve again in his shack in the mountains......
Henri Matisse Painting
The film pursued its course to its emotional and semi-religious end. Mr Leadbetter breathed a sigh of satisfaction as the lights went up. He rose slowly to his feet，blinking a little. He never left the cinema very quickly.It always took him a moment or twoto return to the prosaic reality of everyday life. He glanced round.Not many people this afternoon-naturally.They were allat the races.Mr Leadbetter did not approve of racing nor of playing cardsnor of drinking nor of smoking.This left him more energy to enjoy going tothe pictures.Henri Matisse Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
Marc Chagall Painting
"The person you are to escort is Mary Drower-and I must request you notto leave her." "But，Poirot，why?" "Because，my dear friend，her name begins with a D.We must take nochances." I saw the justice of his remark.At first it seemed far-fetched.But thenI realized that if A B C had a fanatical hatred of Poirot，he might verywell be keeping himself informed of Poirot's movements.And in that case theelimination of Mary Drower might strike him as a very pat fourth stroke. I promised to be faithful to my trust. I went out leaving Poirot sitting in a chair near the window.
Marc Chagall Painting
Below his breath Mr Leadbetter uttered a grunt of impatience as hisnext-door neighbour got up and stumbled clumsily past him，dropping his hatover the seat in front，and leaning over to retrieve it. All this at the culminating moment of Not a Sparrow，that all-star，thrilling drama of pathos and beauty that Mr Leadbetter had been lookingforward to seeing for a whole week. The golden-haired heroine，played by Katherine Royal (in Mr Leadbetter'sopinion the leading film actress in the world)，was just giving vent to ahoarse cry of indignation
Marc Chagall Painting
"The person you are to escort is Mary Drower-and I must request you notto leave her." "But，Poirot，why?" "Because，my dear friend，her name begins with a D.We must take nochances." I saw the justice of his remark.At first it seemed far-fetched.But thenI realized that if A B C had a fanatical hatred of Poirot，he might verywell be keeping himself informed of Poirot's movements.And in that case theelimination of Mary Drower might strike him as a very pat fourth stroke. I promised to be faithful to my trust. I went out leaving Poirot sitting in a chair near the window.
Marc Chagall Painting
Below his breath Mr Leadbetter uttered a grunt of impatience as hisnext-door neighbour got up and stumbled clumsily past him，dropping his hatover the seat in front，and leaning over to retrieve it. All this at the culminating moment of Not a Sparrow，that all-star，thrilling drama of pathos and beauty that Mr Leadbetter had been lookingforward to seeing for a whole week. The golden-haired heroine，played by Katherine Royal (in Mr Leadbetter'sopinion the leading film actress in the world)，was just giving vent to ahoarse cry of indignation
Marc Chagall Painting
William Bouguereau Birth of Venus Painting
William Bouguereau Birth of Venus Painting
"I can assure you，"he said，smiling，"that I never permit myself to getfalse impressions from anything anyone tells me.I form my own judgements." "Well，"said Clarke，stowing away the letter."I'm glad I showed it toyou anyway.Here come the girls.We'd better be off." As we left the room，Poirot called me back. "You are determined to accompany the expedition，Hastings?" "Oh，yes.I shouldn't be happy staying here inactive." "There is activity of mind as well as body，Hastings." "Well，you're better at it than I am，"I said. "You are incontestably right，Hastings.Am I correct in suppsoing thatyou intend to be a cavalier to one of the ladies?" "That was the idea."
The Birth of Venus
And which lady did you propose to honour with your company?" "Well-I-er-hadn't considered yet." "What about Miss Barnard?" "She's rather the independent type，"I demurred. "Miss Grey?" "Yes.She's better." "I find you，Hastings，singularly though transparently dishonest!Allalong you had made up your mind to spend the day with your blonde angel!" "Oh，really，Poirot!" "I am sorry to upset your plans，but I must request you to give yourescort elsewhere." "Oh，all right.I think you've got a weakness for that Dutch doll of agirl."
The Birth of Venus
"I can assure you，"he said，smiling，"that I never permit myself to getfalse impressions from anything anyone tells me.I form my own judgements." "Well，"said Clarke，stowing away the letter."I'm glad I showed it toyou anyway.Here come the girls.We'd better be off." As we left the room，Poirot called me back. "You are determined to accompany the expedition，Hastings?" "Oh，yes.I shouldn't be happy staying here inactive." "There is activity of mind as well as body，Hastings." "Well，you're better at it than I am，"I said. "You are incontestably right，Hastings.Am I correct in suppsoing thatyou intend to be a cavalier to one of the ladies?" "That was the idea."
The Birth of Venus
And which lady did you propose to honour with your company?" "Well-I-er-hadn't considered yet." "What about Miss Barnard?" "She's rather the independent type，"I demurred. "Miss Grey?" "Yes.She's better." "I find you，Hastings，singularly though transparently dishonest!Allalong you had made up your mind to spend the day with your blonde angel!" "Oh，really，Poirot!" "I am sorry to upset your plans，but I must request you to give yourescort elsewhere." "Oh，all right.I think you've got a weakness for that Dutch doll of agirl."
The Birth of Venus
Bouguereau William
Bouguereau William
Poirot took it.Franklin came over beside him and with a pointing fingerread some of the extracts out loud. "-things go on here much as usual.Charlotte is moderately free frompain.I wish one could say more.You may remember Thora Grey?She is a deargirl and a greater comfort to me than I can tell you.I should not have knownwhat to do through this bad time but for her. Her sympathy and interest are unfailing.She has an exquisite taste andflair for beautiful things and shares my passion for Chinese art.I wasindeed lucky to find her.No daughter could be a closer or more sympatheticcompanion.Her life had been a difficult and not always a happy one，but I amglad to feel that here she has a home and true affection.
Bouguereau William
"You see，"said Franklin，"that's how my brother felt to her.He thoughtof her like a daughter.What I feel so unfair is the fact that the moment mybrother is dead，his wife practically turns her out of the house!Womenreally are devils，M.Poirot." "Your sister-in-law is ill and in pain，remember." "I know.That's what I keep saying to myself. One mustn't judge her.All the same，I thought I'd show you this.I don'twant you to get a false impression of Thora from anything Lady Clarke mayhave said." Poirot returned the letter.
Bouguereau William
Poirot took it.Franklin came over beside him and with a pointing fingerread some of the extracts out loud. "-things go on here much as usual.Charlotte is moderately free frompain.I wish one could say more.You may remember Thora Grey?She is a deargirl and a greater comfort to me than I can tell you.I should not have knownwhat to do through this bad time but for her. Her sympathy and interest are unfailing.She has an exquisite taste andflair for beautiful things and shares my passion for Chinese art.I wasindeed lucky to find her.No daughter could be a closer or more sympatheticcompanion.Her life had been a difficult and not always a happy one，but I amglad to feel that here she has a home and true affection.
Bouguereau William
"You see，"said Franklin，"that's how my brother felt to her.He thoughtof her like a daughter.What I feel so unfair is the fact that the moment mybrother is dead，his wife practically turns her out of the house!Womenreally are devils，M.Poirot." "Your sister-in-law is ill and in pain，remember." "I know.That's what I keep saying to myself. One mustn't judge her.All the same，I thought I'd show you this.I don'twant you to get a false impression of Thora from anything Lady Clarke mayhave said." Poirot returned the letter.
Bouguereau William
Gustav Klimt Painting
Gustav Klimt Painting
"Ah?" By now there was no mistaking the twinkle in Poirot's eye. But Franklin Clarke，absorbed in his diplomatic task，was past noticingit. "It's about Thora-Miss Grey，"he said. "Oh，it is of Miss Grey you speak?" Poirot's tone held innocent surprise. "Yes.Lady Clarke got certain ideas in her head.You see，Thora-Miss Greyis well，rather a good-looking girl-""Perhaps-yes，"conceded Poirot. "And women，even the best of them，are a bit catty about other women.Ofcourse，Thora was invaluable to my brother-he always said she was the bestsecretary he ever had-and he was very fond of her，too.But it was allperfectly straight and above-board.I mean，Thora isn't the sort ofgirl-""No?"said Poirot helpfully.
Gustav Klimt Painting
But my sister-in-law got it into her head to be-well-jealous，I suppose. Not that she ever showed anything.But after Car's death，when there wasa question of Miss Grey staying on-well，Charlotte cut up rough.Of course，it's partly the illness and the morphia and all that-Nurse Capstick saysso-she says we mustn't blame Charlotte for getting these ideas into herhead-"He paused. "Yes?" "What I want you to understand，M.Poirot，is that there isn't anythingin it at all.It's just a sick woman's imaginings.Look here"-he fumbled inhis pocket-"here's a letter I received from my brother when I was in theMalay States.I'd like you to read it because it shows exactly what termsthey were on."Gustav Klimt Painting
"Ah?" By now there was no mistaking the twinkle in Poirot's eye. But Franklin Clarke，absorbed in his diplomatic task，was past noticingit. "It's about Thora-Miss Grey，"he said. "Oh，it is of Miss Grey you speak?" Poirot's tone held innocent surprise. "Yes.Lady Clarke got certain ideas in her head.You see，Thora-Miss Greyis well，rather a good-looking girl-""Perhaps-yes，"conceded Poirot. "And women，even the best of them，are a bit catty about other women.Ofcourse，Thora was invaluable to my brother-he always said she was the bestsecretary he ever had-and he was very fond of her，too.But it was allperfectly straight and above-board.I mean，Thora isn't the sort ofgirl-""No?"said Poirot helpfully.
Gustav Klimt Painting
But my sister-in-law got it into her head to be-well-jealous，I suppose. Not that she ever showed anything.But after Car's death，when there wasa question of Miss Grey staying on-well，Charlotte cut up rough.Of course，it's partly the illness and the morphia and all that-Nurse Capstick saysso-she says we mustn't blame Charlotte for getting these ideas into herhead-"He paused. "Yes?" "What I want you to understand，M.Poirot，is that there isn't anythingin it at all.It's just a sick woman's imaginings.Look here"-he fumbled inhis pocket-"here's a letter I received from my brother when I was in theMalay States.I'd like you to read it because it shows exactly what termsthey were on."Gustav Klimt Painting
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
I say "we".Of course，in my own case such a patrol was of little availsince I was never likely to have set eyes on A B C. However，as the idea was to separate so as to cover as wide an area aspossible I had suggested that I should act as escort to one of the ladies. Poirot had agreed-I am afraid with somewhat of a twinkle in his eye. The girls went off to get their hats on.Donald Fraser was standing bythe window looking out，apparently lost in thought. Franklin Clarke glanced over at him，then evidently deciding that theother was too abstracted to count as a listener，he lowered his voice alittle and addressed Poirot. "Look here，M.Poirot.You went down to Churston，I know，and saw mysister-in-law.Did she say-or hint-I mean-did she suggest at all-?" He stopped，embarrassed.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Poirot answered with a face of blank innocence that aroused my strongestsuspicions. "Comment?Did your sister-in-law say，hint，or suggest-what?" Franklin Clarke got rather red. "Perhaps you think this isn't a time for butting in with personalthings-""Du tout!" "But I feel I'd like to get things quite straight." "An admirable course." This time I think Clarke began to suspect Poirot's bland face ofconcealing some inner amusement.He ploughed on rather heavily. "My sister-in-law's an awfully nice woman-I've been very fond of heralways-but of course she's been ill some time-and in that kind ofillness-being given drugs and all that-one tends to-well，to fancy thingsabout people!"Gustav Klimt The Kiss
I say "we".Of course，in my own case such a patrol was of little availsince I was never likely to have set eyes on A B C. However，as the idea was to separate so as to cover as wide an area aspossible I had suggested that I should act as escort to one of the ladies. Poirot had agreed-I am afraid with somewhat of a twinkle in his eye. The girls went off to get their hats on.Donald Fraser was standing bythe window looking out，apparently lost in thought. Franklin Clarke glanced over at him，then evidently deciding that theother was too abstracted to count as a listener，he lowered his voice alittle and addressed Poirot. "Look here，M.Poirot.You went down to Churston，I know，and saw mysister-in-law.Did she say-or hint-I mean-did she suggest at all-?" He stopped，embarrassed.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Poirot answered with a face of blank innocence that aroused my strongestsuspicions. "Comment?Did your sister-in-law say，hint，or suggest-what?" Franklin Clarke got rather red. "Perhaps you think this isn't a time for butting in with personalthings-""Du tout!" "But I feel I'd like to get things quite straight." "An admirable course." This time I think Clarke began to suspect Poirot's bland face ofconcealing some inner amusement.He ploughed on rather heavily. "My sister-in-law's an awfully nice woman-I've been very fond of heralways-but of course she's been ill some time-and in that kind ofillness-being given drugs and all that-one tends to-well，to fancy thingsabout people!"Gustav Klimt The Kiss
Modern Art Painting
Modern Art Painting
"If only we could do something more." "You must remember，Hastings，that the police are doing everythingreasonably possible.Special constables have been enrolled.The good InspectorCrome may have the irritating manner，but he is a very able police officer，and Colonel Anderson，the Chief Constable，is a man of action.They havetaken the fullest measures for watching and patrolling the town and therace-course.There will be plain-clothes men everywhere. There is also the press campaign.The public is fully warned." Donald Fraser shook his head. "He'll never attempt it，I'm thinking，"he said more hopefully."The manwould just be mad!"
Modern Art Painting
"Unfortunately，"said Clarke dryly，"he is mad!What do you think，M.Poirot?Will he give it up or will he try to carry it through?" "In my opinion the strength of his obsession is such that he mustattempt to carry out his promise!Not to do so would be to admit failure，andthat his insane egoism would never allow.That，I may say，is also DrThompson's opinion.Our hope is that he may be caught in the attempt." Donald shook his head again. "He'll be very cunning." Poirot glanced at his watch.We took the hint.It had been agreed that wewere to make an all-day session of it，patrolling as many streets aspossible in the morning，and later，stationing ourselves at various likelypoints on the race-course.
Modern Art Painting
"If only we could do something more." "You must remember，Hastings，that the police are doing everythingreasonably possible.Special constables have been enrolled.The good InspectorCrome may have the irritating manner，but he is a very able police officer，and Colonel Anderson，the Chief Constable，is a man of action.They havetaken the fullest measures for watching and patrolling the town and therace-course.There will be plain-clothes men everywhere. There is also the press campaign.The public is fully warned." Donald Fraser shook his head. "He'll never attempt it，I'm thinking，"he said more hopefully."The manwould just be mad!"
Modern Art Painting
"Unfortunately，"said Clarke dryly，"he is mad!What do you think，M.Poirot?Will he give it up or will he try to carry it through?" "In my opinion the strength of his obsession is such that he mustattempt to carry out his promise!Not to do so would be to admit failure，andthat his insane egoism would never allow.That，I may say，is also DrThompson's opinion.Our hope is that he may be caught in the attempt." Donald shook his head again. "He'll be very cunning." Poirot glanced at his watch.We took the hint.It had been agreed that wewere to make an all-day session of it，patrolling as many streets aspossible in the morning，and later，stationing ourselves at various likelypoints on the race-course.
Modern Art Painting
Art Painting
Art Painting
And，like many gamblers，a murderer often does not know when tostop.With each crime his opinion of his own abilities is strengthened.Hissense of proportion is warped.He does not say "I have been clever andlucky!"No，he says only "I have been clever!"And his opinion of hiscleverness grows and then，mes amis，the ball spins，and the run of colouris over-it drops into a new number and the croupier calls out "Rouge"." "You think that will happen in this case?" asked Megan drawing her brows together in a frown. "It must happen sooner or later!So far the luck has been with thecriminal-sooner or later it must turn and be with us.I believe that it hastruned!The clue of the stockings is the beginning.
Art Painting
Now，instead of everything going right for him，everything will go wrongfor him!And he，too，will begin to make mistakes......" "I will say you're heartening，"said Franklin Clarke."We all need a bitof comfort.I've had a paralysing feeling of helplessness ever since I wokeup." "It seems to me highly problematical that we can accomplish anything ofpractical value，"said Donald Fraser. Megan rapped out: "Don't be a defeatist，Don." Mary Drower，flushing up a little，said: "What I say is，you never know.That wicked fiend's in this place，and soare we-and after all，you do run up against people in the funniest waysometimes." I fumed:
Art Painting
And，like many gamblers，a murderer often does not know when tostop.With each crime his opinion of his own abilities is strengthened.Hissense of proportion is warped.He does not say "I have been clever andlucky!"No，he says only "I have been clever!"And his opinion of hiscleverness grows and then，mes amis，the ball spins，and the run of colouris over-it drops into a new number and the croupier calls out "Rouge"." "You think that will happen in this case?" asked Megan drawing her brows together in a frown. "It must happen sooner or later!So far the luck has been with thecriminal-sooner or later it must turn and be with us.I believe that it hastruned!The clue of the stockings is the beginning.
Art Painting
Now，instead of everything going right for him，everything will go wrongfor him!And he，too，will begin to make mistakes......" "I will say you're heartening，"said Franklin Clarke."We all need a bitof comfort.I've had a paralysing feeling of helplessness ever since I wokeup." "It seems to me highly problematical that we can accomplish anything ofpractical value，"said Donald Fraser. Megan rapped out: "Don't be a defeatist，Don." Mary Drower，flushing up a little，said: "What I say is，you never know.That wicked fiend's in this place，and soare we-and after all，you do run up against people in the funniest waysometimes." I fumed:
Art Painting
Famous painting
Famous painting
"Exactly，Hastings.And that is where the gambler (and the murderer，whois，after all，only a supreme kind of gambler since what he risks is not hismoney but his life)often lacks intelligent anticipation.Because he has wonhe thinks he will continue to win!He does not leave the tables in good timewith his pocket full.So in crime the murderer who is successful cannotconcerve the possibility of not being successful!He takes to himself all thecredit for a successful performance-but I tell you，my friends，howevercarefully planned，no crime can be successful without luck!" "Isn't that going rather far?"demurred Franklin Clarke. Poirot waved his hands excitedly.
Famous painting
"No，no.It is an even chance，if you like，but it must be in yourfavour.Consider!It might have happened that someone enters Mrs Ascher's shopjust as the murderer is leaving.That person might have thought of lookingbehing the counter，have seen the dead woman-and either laid hands on themurderer straight away or else been able to give such an accuratedescription of him to the police that he would have been arrestedforthwith." "Yes，of course，that's possible，"admitted Clarke."What it comes to isthat a murderer's got to take a chance." "Precisely.A murderer is always a gambler.
Famous painting
"Exactly，Hastings.And that is where the gambler (and the murderer，whois，after all，only a supreme kind of gambler since what he risks is not hismoney but his life)often lacks intelligent anticipation.Because he has wonhe thinks he will continue to win!He does not leave the tables in good timewith his pocket full.So in crime the murderer who is successful cannotconcerve the possibility of not being successful!He takes to himself all thecredit for a successful performance-but I tell you，my friends，howevercarefully planned，no crime can be successful without luck!" "Isn't that going rather far?"demurred Franklin Clarke. Poirot waved his hands excitedly.
Famous painting
"No，no.It is an even chance，if you like，but it must be in yourfavour.Consider!It might have happened that someone enters Mrs Ascher's shopjust as the murderer is leaving.That person might have thought of lookingbehing the counter，have seen the dead woman-and either laid hands on themurderer straight away or else been able to give such an accuratedescription of him to the police that he would have been arrestedforthwith." "Yes，of course，that's possible，"admitted Clarke."What it comes to isthat a murderer's got to take a chance." "Precisely.A murderer is always a gambler.
Famous painting
Famous artist painting
Famous artist painting
The odds were in reality greater than that.Of us all，the only personlikely to make such a recognition was Thora Grey. Some of her serenity had broken down under the strain.Her clam，efficient manner was gone.She sat twisting her hands together，almostweeping，appealing incoherently to Poirot. "I never really looked at him......Why didn't I? What a fool I was.You're depending on me，all of you......and I shalllet you down.Because even if I did see him again I mightn't recognizehim.I've got a bad memory for faces." Poirot，whatever he might say to me，and however harshly he might seemto criticize the girl，showed nothing but kindness now.
Famous artist painting
criticize the girl，showed nothing but kindness now. His manner was tender in the extreme.It struck me that Poirot was nomore indifferent to beauty in distress than I was. He patted her shoulder kindly. "Now then，petite，not the hysteria.We cannnot have that.If you shouldsee this man you would recognize him." "How do you know?" "Oh，a great many reasons-for one，because the red succeeds the black." "What do you mean，Poirot?"I cried. "I speak the language for the tables.At roulette there may be a long runon the black-but in the end red must turn up.It is the mathematical laws ofchance." "You mean that luck turns?"
Famous artist painting
The odds were in reality greater than that.Of us all，the only personlikely to make such a recognition was Thora Grey. Some of her serenity had broken down under the strain.Her clam，efficient manner was gone.She sat twisting her hands together，almostweeping，appealing incoherently to Poirot. "I never really looked at him......Why didn't I? What a fool I was.You're depending on me，all of you......and I shalllet you down.Because even if I did see him again I mightn't recognizehim.I've got a bad memory for faces." Poirot，whatever he might say to me，and however harshly he might seemto criticize the girl，showed nothing but kindness now.
Famous artist painting
criticize the girl，showed nothing but kindness now. His manner was tender in the extreme.It struck me that Poirot was nomore indifferent to beauty in distress than I was. He patted her shoulder kindly. "Now then，petite，not the hysteria.We cannnot have that.If you shouldsee this man you would recognize him." "How do you know?" "Oh，a great many reasons-for one，because the red succeeds the black." "What do you mean，Poirot?"I cried. "I speak the language for the tables.At roulette there may be a long runon the black-but in the end red must turn up.It is the mathematical laws ofchance." "You mean that luck turns?"
Famous artist painting
Decorative painting
Decorative painting
"Well，if he wanted his bathing-dress，he must have been going to theseaside.I say，Lily'-his face crinkled up with amusement."What price yourold dugout being the murderer himself?" "Poor Mr Cust?He wouldn't hurt a fly，"laughed Lily. They danced on happily-in their conscious minds nothing but the pleasureof being together. In their unconscious minds something stirred...... ------------------
Decorative painting
Doncaster! I shall，I think，remember that 11th of September all my life. Indeed，whenever I see a mention of the St Leger my mind fliesautomatically not to horse-racing but to murder. When I recall my own sensations，the thing that stands out most is asickening sense of insufficiency.We were here-on the spot-Poirot，myself，Clarke，Fraser，Megan Barnard，Thora Grey and Mary Drower，and in the lastresort what could any of us do? We were building on a forlorn hope-on the chance of recognizing amongsta crowd of thousands of people a face or figure imperfectly seen on anoccasion one，two or three months back.
Decorative painting
"Well，if he wanted his bathing-dress，he must have been going to theseaside.I say，Lily'-his face crinkled up with amusement."What price yourold dugout being the murderer himself?" "Poor Mr Cust?He wouldn't hurt a fly，"laughed Lily. They danced on happily-in their conscious minds nothing but the pleasureof being together. In their unconscious minds something stirred...... ------------------
Decorative painting
Doncaster! I shall，I think，remember that 11th of September all my life. Indeed，whenever I see a mention of the St Leger my mind fliesautomatically not to horse-racing but to murder. When I recall my own sensations，the thing that stands out most is asickening sense of insufficiency.We were here-on the spot-Poirot，myself，Clarke，Fraser，Megan Barnard，Thora Grey and Mary Drower，and in the lastresort what could any of us do? We were building on a forlorn hope-on the chance of recognizing amongsta crowd of thousands of people a face or figure imperfectly seen on anoccasion one，two or three months back.
Decorative painting
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Abstract Painting
Abstract Painting
"Cheltenham." "Doncaster.I know，my girl!After all，I picked up his ticket，didn't I?" "Well，he told me he was going to Cheltenham. I'm sure he did." "Oh，you've got it wrong.He was going to Doncaster all right.Some peoplehave all the luck.I've got a bit on Firefly for the Leger and I'd love tosee it run." "I shouldn't think Mr Cust went to race-meetings，he doesn't look thekind.Oh，Tom，I hope he won't get murdered.It's Doncaster the A B C murder'sgoing to be." "Cust'll be all right.His name doesn't begin with a D." "He might have been murdered last time.He was down near Churston atTorquay when the last murder happened." "Was he?That's a bit of a coincidence，isn't it?" He laughed. "He wasn't at Bexhill the time before，was he?"
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Lily crinkled her brows. "He was away......Yes，I remember he was away......because he forgot hisbathing-dress.Mother was mending it for him.And she said:"There-Mr Cust wentaway yesterday without his bathing-dress after all，"and I said:"Oh，nevermind the old bathing-dress-there's been the most awful murder，"I said，"agirl strangled at Bexhill." "Well，if he wanted his bathing-dress，he must have been going to theseaside.I say，Lily'-his face crinkled up with amusement."What price yourold dugout being the murderer himself?" "Poor Mr Cust?He wouldn't hurt a fly，"laughed Lily. They danced on happily-in their conscious minds nothing but the pleasureof being together. In their unconscious minds something stirred......
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"Cheltenham." "Doncaster.I know，my girl!After all，I picked up his ticket，didn't I?" "Well，he told me he was going to Cheltenham. I'm sure he did." "Oh，you've got it wrong.He was going to Doncaster all right.Some peoplehave all the luck.I've got a bit on Firefly for the Leger and I'd love tosee it run." "I shouldn't think Mr Cust went to race-meetings，he doesn't look thekind.Oh，Tom，I hope he won't get murdered.It's Doncaster the A B C murder'sgoing to be." "Cust'll be all right.His name doesn't begin with a D." "He might have been murdered last time.He was down near Churston atTorquay when the last murder happened." "Was he?That's a bit of a coincidence，isn't it?" He laughed. "He wasn't at Bexhill the time before，was he?"
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Lily crinkled her brows. "He was away......Yes，I remember he was away......because he forgot hisbathing-dress.Mother was mending it for him.And she said:"There-Mr Cust wentaway yesterday without his bathing-dress after all，"and I said:"Oh，nevermind the old bathing-dress-there's been the most awful murder，"I said，"agirl strangled at Bexhill." "Well，if he wanted his bathing-dress，he must have been going to theseaside.I say，Lily'-his face crinkled up with amusement."What price yourold dugout being the murderer himself?" "Poor Mr Cust?He wouldn't hurt a fly，"laughed Lily. They danced on happily-in their conscious minds nothing but the pleasureof being together. In their unconscious minds something stirred......
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