[The Mystery of 31 New Inn by R. Austin Freeman]@TWC D-Link book
The Mystery of 31 New Inn

CHAPTER III
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Rather more remarkable was the invisibility of the coachman.

Why could he not be sent to fetch the coffee, and why did not he, rather than the housekeeper, come to take the place of Mr.Weiss when the latter had to go away.
There were other points, too.

I recalled the word that sounded like "Pol'n," which Mr.Graves had used in speaking to the housekeeper.
Apparently it was a Christian name of some kind; but why did Mr.Graves call the woman by her Christian name when Mr.Weiss addressed her formally as Mrs.Schallibaum?
And, as to the woman herself: what was the meaning of that curious disappearing squint?
Physically it presented no mystery.

The woman had an ordinary divergent squint, and, like many people, who suffer from this displacement, could, by a strong muscular effort, bring the eyes temporarily into their normal parallel position.
I had detected the displacement when she had tried to maintain the effort too long, and the muscular control had given way.

But why had she done it?
Was it only feminine vanity--mere sensitiveness respecting a slight personal disfigurement?
It might be so; or there might be some further motive.


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