" I should explain
that our only garden is in front of the house.
"If you wait till it is dark you needn't be afraid of anyone seeing you,"
protested my wife.
"And run the risk of being detected by some suspicious policeman. No, thank
you."
"Then if you won't do it yourself you must find someone who will. It is our
last hope of persuading Cook to stay."
"By heaven!" I cried, looking at my watch, I am a quarter-of-an-hour late.
I must run."
This was my customary device to evade the embarrassing dilemmas which my
wife not infrequently thrust upon me at this hour. So for the moment I
escaped. All day in the office I was fully occupied. From time to time the
memory of Dundee lying stark in the basement obtruded itself upon my
thoughts, but I dismissed the vision as one does a problem one has not the
courage to face.
The problem remained unsolved when I stepped out of the train on my return
from the City. To gain time for reflection I resolved to make a detour. As
I struck into an unfamiliar side street, I looked up, and there in front of
me stood an undertaker's shop.
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