The Ashes of London
“I settled my father by the fire with strict instructions not to ramble in the garden or to bother Mistress Ralston. I walked down to the river and hired a tilt boat to take me downstream to the public stairs at Whitehall.
Master Williamson was not at Scotland Yard. I went to his room at Lord Arlington’s office in the Privy Garden. A supercilious clerk directed me to the Matted Gallery. The gallery was crowded with people strolling slowly up and down, bowing to their acquaintance. It was a favou...rite resort at the palace, especially when the weather was too bad for the park.
I found Williamson standing by a window at the far end, looking down on the garden below. He was humming a tune under his breath, as he often did when wrapped in thought.
‘His lordship is in the Duke’s closet,’ he said without preamble, having realized that I was almost at his elbow. ‘It’s mighty inconvenient. He commanded me to wait for him here, but I have a thousand things to do.’ He took me by the arm and drew me into an alcove in which was a table displaying a clock of great antiquity.MoreLess
Master Williamson was not at Scotland Yard. I went to his room at Lord Arlington’s office in the Privy Garden. A supercilious clerk directed me to the Matted Gallery. The gallery was crowded with people strolling slowly up and down, bowing to their acquaintance. It was a favou...rite resort at the palace, especially when the weather was too bad for the park.
I found Williamson standing by a window at the far end, looking down on the garden below. He was humming a tune under his breath, as he often did when wrapped in thought.
‘His lordship is in the Duke’s closet,’ he said without preamble, having realized that I was almost at his elbow. ‘It’s mighty inconvenient. He commanded me to wait for him here, but I have a thousand things to do.’ He took me by the arm and drew me into an alcove in which was a table displaying a clock of great antiquity.MoreLess
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