The Philosopher's Pendulum, and Other Stories (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883. Excerpt: ... THE SEEK A TALE. The fast train from London to Paris, vid Folkestone and Boulogne, stops for a few minutes at Verton--an unimportant station where passengers are rarely set down or taken up. In general, the engine merely renews its supply of water, and the train proceeds on its way. We were seven in the same carriage one fiercely hot day in July, and we had been grumbling, ever since we left Boulogne, at the parsimony of the company which, in order to avoid adding a carriage, had thus crowded us, when suddenly, at Verton, just as the train was moving off, the door of our carriage was hastily opened, and an eighth--and most unwelcome--fellow-traveller made his appearance. I occupied a corner near the door by which he entered. On my right an Englishman was sleeping soundly; and in front of him was the only vacant seat. It was filled with rugs, umbrellas, and other articles which we had all thrown there. Next to this unoccupied place, and opposite to me, sat a young man of about twenty-five, as to whose nationality I had entertained some doubts, until he drew from his pocket a cigarette-case in solid silver, filled with Russian papyros. He selected one of these, squeezed it gently between his fingers, and lighted it by means of a long match attached to the case. He then inhaled the smoke with a deep breath, and afterwards exhaled it, with a peculiar look of enjoyment, through his fine and well-cut nostrils. This young Russian, who wore a fashionable travelling suit, seemed out of health. His manners were those of a gentleman. He was very tall and thin, and, from the olive hue of his complexion, he might have been mistaken for a Spaniard or a Brazilian. The long, slender fingers of his well-shaped hand seemed endowed with strange flexibility, and were constan...