An End and a Beginning Read Online Free PDF Page A

hook, line, and sinker, if I may use that term. My advice to you is to work, and to hope.”
    He began to cough, and drew a handkerchief from his pocket, and spread it across his mouth, and from behind it he said, “Excuse me.” Then he put away the handkerchief.
    â€œIf I give you Joseph Kilkey’s address, will you promise to go and see him? As I said, he is an old man now. He has never recovered from his experiences as a conscientious objector in that war, and he still carries that frightful scar. However, I know he kept contact with you all those years, but he would do that, it is one of the principles of our society. I know he would like to see you again. Will you promise me two things, Mr. Fury? First, to go right along now and see Kilkey, and secondly to come back to me at this office at ten o’clock to-morrow morning. Can I have your promise?”
    â€œWhat happened to my mother?”
    â€œMr. Kilkey will tell you.”
    â€œHas he ever found his wife?”
    â€œYou refer to your sister?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œNo.”
    There was a knock on the door.
    â€œWho is that?” called Mr. Delaney.
    â€œMiss Francis,” piped a high feminine voice.
    â€œDo please come in.”
    Miss Francis came in. She was dressed entirely in blue, and she carried a soiled brown-paper parcel under her arm. She glanced at the visitor. “Another one.”
    â€œI’ve been down to Lawton Street, and have seen that woman.”
    â€œMrs. Corles?”
    â€œYes, Mr. Delaney.”
    â€œDo sit down,” he said, and took a chair to her. “You won’t mind this gentleman being here. We understand each other too well for that. Now about Mrs. Corles?”
    Miss Francis put down her parcel.
    â€œHere are the things, Mr. Delaney.”
    â€œI presume the police put them together.”
    â€œYes. The sergeant handed them to me half an hour ago.”
    He opened the parcel, from which he extracted a blue handkerchief, a pair of scapulars, a cheap pair of spectacles without case, three silver coins, two photographs, a scissors, a small leather purse. This contained a single halfpenny.
    â€œWhere was she found?”
    â€œBehind the area at Grand Street, just a hundred yards away from the Angel.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œShe lives in Lawton Street.”
    â€œOf course. I’ve the number here,” said Mr. Delaney, as he pulled a stub of pencil from his pocket. “Fifty-three. Thank you, Miss Francis,” he said.
    Peter Fury glanced at the parcel’s contents. They seemed to carry with them the very aura of their owner, the very breath seemed contained in the handkerchief.
    â€œYou see, Mr. Fury,” announced Mr. Delaney, as he looked up from the desk, “I really deal in human débris,” at which remark Miss Francis looked quickly up at the visitor.
    â€œAll right, Miss Francis, two o’clock this afternoon at 53 Lawton Street.”
    Miss Francis got up and wished the old man a good morning. Glancing at the other, she wished him a good morning, too, and then was gone.
    â€œOne of my helpers, Mr. Fury,” said the old man. “What we learn in our work is the very essence of the human situation. What we discover is not the excesses, but the pathetic limitations. And you would be astonished, though we are not , not at the height to which the human creature can climb but to the depths to which it can sink. I say it in no admonishing terms, young man, it is far too tragic for censure. How unimportant you seem to me when I think of the creature picked up at half-past one this morning. But to return to the other matter. I hope you will do what I ask. I am thinking of your interests. I shan’t hold you for a single moment longer if you will give me that promise. And, by the way, five shillings after fifteen years is humiliating. You require clothes.”
    He handed Mr. Fury ten pounds, and added disgustedly, “And