The Man Upstairs and Other Stories

Коллекция текстов · humor

The Man Upstairs (1)
THERE were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above. In the beginning i…
The Man Upstairs (2)
'Ah! Well, I've done my part of the contract. I've delivered the goods. There the thing is at Epstein's. The public can't blame me if it do…
Something to Worry About (1)
A GIRL stood on the shingle that fringes Millbourne Bay, gazing at the red roofs of the little village across the water. She was a pretty g…
Something to Worry About (2)
For all her contempt, she could not keep a touch of uneasiness from her eyes as she prepared to make her next remark. There was a look abou…
Deep Waters (1)
HISTORIANS of the social life of the later Roman Empire speak of a certain young man of Ariminum, who would jump into rivers and swim in 'e…
Deep Waters (2)
'And a far greater flaw was that it was too altruistic. It boomed you and it boomed Jane, but I didn't get a thing out of it. My revised sc…
When Doctors Disagree (1)
IT is possible that, at about the time at which this story opens, you may have gone into the Hotel Belvoir for a hair-cut. Many people did;…
When Doctors Disagree (2)
She was disappointed. She had expected better results. Mr Shute had lowered with ease the record for gay badinage, hitherto held by the red…
By Advice of Counsel
THE traveller champed meditatively at his steak. He paid no attention to the altercation which was in progress between the waiter and the m…
Rough-Hew Them How We Will (1)
PAUL BOIELLE was a waiter. The word 'waiter' suggests a soft-voiced, deft-handed being, moving swiftly and without noise in an atmosphere o…
Rough-Hew Them How We Will (2)
There was breakfast at the hotel next morning, a breakfast to put heart into a man. During the meal a messenger dispatched in a cab to Paul…
The Man Who Disliked Cats (1)
IT was Harold who first made us acquainted, when I was dining one night at the Cafe Britannique, in Soho. It is a peculiarity of the Cafe B…
The Man Who Disliked Cats (2)
I feel that I am falling behind in the race. 'Er gratitude has made her the more gracious to Captain Bassett. She smiles upon him. And, lik…
Ruth in Exile (1)
THE clock struck five—briskly, as if time were money. Ruth Warden got up from her desk and, having put on her hat, emerged into the outer o…
Ruth in Exile (2)
On the morrow, as promised, the chocolates arrived, many pounds of them in a lordly box. The bludgeoning of fate had not wholly scotched in…
Archibald's Benefit (1)
ARCHIBALD MEALING was one of those golfers in whom desire outruns performance. Nobody could have been more willing than Archibald. He tried…
Archibald's Benefit (2)
Gossett lowered his driver, and wheeled round, but Sigsbee had snatched the envelope from the boy's hand. 'It's all right, old man,' he sai…
The Man, the Maid, and the Miasma (1)
ALTHOUGH this story is concerned principally with the Man and the Maid, the Miasma pervades it to such an extent that I feel justified in p…
The Man, the Maid, and the Miasma (2)
She was changed. The battle-gleam had faded from her eyes. She seemed scared and subdued. Her manner was of one craving comfort and protect…
The Good Angel (1)
ANY man under thirty years of age who tells you he is not afraid of an English butler lies. He may not show his fear. Outwardly he may be b…
The Good Angel (2)
'I think it 'ighly possible, sir, that Miss Elsa and Mr Barstowe may be on the hisland in the lake, sir.' About half a mile from the house…
Pots O'money (1)
OWEN BENTLEY was feeling embarrassed. He looked at Mr Sheppherd, and with difficulty restrained himself from standing on one leg and twiddl…
Pots O'money (2)
He was conscious of a not unpleasant thrill. He had not known that he was superstitious, but for some reason he had not been able to get th…
Out of School (1)
MARK you, I am not defending James Datchett. I hold no brief for James. On the contrary, I am very decidedly of the opinion that he should…
Out of School (2)
Violet, meanwhile, stood patiently before him with the coffee. Mr Blatherwick helped himself. His eye fell on Violet. Violet was a friendly…
Three from Dunsterville (1)
ONCE upon a time there was erected in Longacre Square, New York, a large white statue, labelled 'Our City', the figure of a woman in Grecia…
Three from Dunsterville (2)
She looked at him, surprised. There was a note in his voice that she had not heard before. She was conscious of a curious embarrassment and…
The Tuppenny Millionaire (1)
IN the crowd that strolled on the Promenade des Etrangers, enjoying the morning sunshine, there were some who had come to Roville for their…
The Tuppenny Millionaire (2)
But in that momentary pause George had got off the mark. The table at which he had been standing was the one nearest to the door, and he ha…
Ahead of Schedule (1)
IT was to Wilson, his valet, with whom he frequently chatted in airy fashion before rising of a morning, that Rollo Finch first disclosed h…
Ahead of Schedule (2)
On the following afternoon he acted. It was no occasion for stint. He had to condense into one day the carefully considered movements of tw…
Sir Agravaine — A Tale of King Arthur's Round Table (1)
SOME time ago, when spending a delightful week-end at the ancestral castle of my dear old friend, the Duke of Weatherstonhope (pronounced W…
Sir Agravaine — A Tale of King Arthur's Round Table (2)
While this cryptic conversation was in progress, Agravaine, his worst apprehensions realized, was trying to batter down the door. After a f…
The Goal-Keeper and the Plutocrat (1)
THE main difficulty in writing a story is to convey to the reader clearly yet tersely the natures and dispositions of one's leading charact…
The Goal-Keeper and the Plutocrat (2)
It was evident from the millionaire's demeanour that he had seen nothing. The look on his face was anxious, but not wrathful. He sighted Cl…
In Alcala (1)
IN ALCALA, as in most of New York's apartment houses, the schedule of prices is like a badly rolled cigarette—thick in the middle and thin…
In Alcala (2)
She leaned on the mantelpiece, burying her face in her arms, and burst into a passion of sobs. Rutherford leaped up, shocked and helpless.…
In Alcala (3)
There was utter astonishment in her grey eyes. Her face was very white. 'Will you, Peggy?' He dropped her arm. 'Will you, Peggy?' 'No!' she…