A Christmas Mystery: The Story Of Three Wise Men (Paperback) - Paperback

I felt it. It was like the beating of wings Frontispiece, 48 I told you the pIace was uncanny . 40 InstinctiveIy they all knelt down . . 63 Carried with them an inaIienabIe joy and possession into the great world . . 54 A CHRISTMAS MYSTERY A CHRISTMAS MYSTERY THREE men who had gained great fame and honour throughout the world met unexpectedly in frodt of the bookstall at Paddington Sta tion. Like most of the great ones of the earth they were personally t acquainted, and they exchanged sur prised greetings. Sir Angus McCurdie, the eminent physicist, scowled at the two others beneath his heavy black eyebrows. Im going to a God-forsaken place in Cornwall called Trehenna, said he. Thats odd so am I, croaked Professor Biggleswade. He was a little, untidy man with round spectacles, a fringe of greyish beard and a weak, rasping voice, and he knew more of Assyriology than any man, living or dead. A flippant pupil once remarked that the Professors face was furnished with a Babylonic cuneiform in lieu of features. People called Deverill, at Foul lis Castle asked Sir Angus. Yes, replied Professor Biggles wade. How curious I am going to the Deverills, too, said the third man. This man was the Right Honour able Viscount Doyne, the renowned Empire Builder and Administrator, around whose solitary and remote life popular imagination had woven many legends. He looked at the world through tired grey eyes, and the heavy, drooping, blonde moustache seemed tired, too, and had dragged down the tired face into deep furrows. He was smoking a long black cigar. I suppose we may as well travel down together, said Sir Angus, not very cordially. Lord Doyne said courteously I have a reserved carriage. The rail waycompany is always good enough to place one at my disposal. It would give me great pleasure if you tvould share it. The invitation was accepted, and the three men crossed the busy, crowded platform to take their seats in the great express train. A porter, laden with an incredible load of para phernalia, trying to make his way through the press, happened to jostle Sir Angus McCurdie. He rubbed his shoulder fretfully. Why the whole land should be turned into a bear garden on account of this exploded superstition of Christmas is one of the anomalies of modern civilization. Look at this insensate welter of fools travelling in wild herds to disgusting places merely because its Christmas You seem to be travelling your self, McCurdie, said Lord Doyne. Yes-and why the devil Im doing it, Ive not the faintest no tion, replied Sir Angus. Its going to be a beast of a jour ney, he remarked some moments later, as the train carried them slowly out of the station. The whole country is under snow - and as far as I can understand we have to change twice and wind up with a twenty-mile motor drive. He was an iron-faced, bee-browed, stern man, and this morn ing he did not seem to be in the best of tempers. Finding his companions inclined to be sympathetic, he con tinued his lamentation. And merely because its Christ mas Ive had to shut up my labo ratory and give my young fools a holiday - just when I was in the midst of a most important series of experiments...