Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/157



Wedgwood as a lone bachelor living in lodgings had a habit of reading his morning newspaper as he breakfasted; his practice was to prop it up against the coffee-pot after pouring out his first cup. But on this occasion he had no sooner seen the words in big capitals than he laid down his knife and fork and seizing the paper in both hands leaned back in his chair and read the advertisement through from its first line to its last.

There was that in the advertisement which not only absorbed the detective's attention, but tickled his sense of humour. Its very phraseology suggested that it had been drafted hurriedly, probably as its originator stood at the counter of a newspaper office. But there was plenty of it. It set out that Avice Mortover, whose personal appearance was fully described, had left her lodgings in Mornington Crescent at such and such an hour on such and such a night in company with a woman who was also described, down to the heavy veil and long fur coat, and that she had not been heard of since.