The Society of Thirteen Read Online Free PDF

exchange, a second man appeared at the doorway. He was smaller and paler than the first, dressed in a fussy suit and with thick sideburns framing his flushed cheeks.
    â€˜Yes? Can I help you?’ he asked.
    â€˜You John Symmonds?’ asked Tom.
    â€˜Oh, very interesting. Don’t say another word.’ The man looked at the orphans with great curiosity and rubbed his chin. ‘No. I’ll need more. Please repeat after me:
Where are the hares?
They should have waited. Those tattered old creatures. Where have they gone? They are running away.
’
    Tom and Esther looked at each other.
    â€˜Please, if you would be so kind,’ said the man, insistently.
    â€˜
Where are the ’ares?
’ said Tom. ‘
They should’ve waited. Those tattered old creatures. Where’ve they gone? They’re runnin’ away
. What flippin’ ’ares you on about?’
    â€˜Excellent. So what do we have? Two smartly dressed minors, apparently employed in some kind of postal capacity and yet from the dropped Hs and Gs; the habitual glottal stops; the insistent contractions and the flattened vowels, I’d place you amongst the sub-criminal classes of London. Though I do detect some education, which would suggest that you have spent time either in a ragged school or an orphanage. There is a hint of an Irish inflection in your speech, so I’ll guess a Catholic orphanage. How did I do?’
    â€˜How did you know all that?’ asked Tom.
    â€˜To a linguist such as myself the human voice is as revealing as a man’s attire. Take my man, Kiyaya. You did not need to hear him speak to know that he travelled a great distance to be here, did you? You could tell by his appearance.’
    The huge man stood silently behind him.
    â€˜Where’s he from then?’ asked Esther.
    â€˜He is a native of America. A fascinating country, linguistically speaking. Kiyaya here speaks only his native tongue.’
    â€˜He don’t say much,’ said Tom.
    â€˜In his own language he is capable of great loquacity. He is here helping me with my book. I am writing a detailed account of the many languages and dialects of America. Fascinating subject. He also acts as my manservant. Between you and I though, he makes terrible tea.’ Mr Symmonds chuckled.
    Kiyaya’s face remained as impassive as before, showing no recognition that he was the subject of the conversation.
    â€˜Now, what is it you are delivering?’ asked Mr Symmonds.
    Esther handed him the letter and watched him open and read it. ‘What a mysterious missive,’ he said. ‘How many of these are you delivering?’
    â€˜We’ve got one more to go,’ said Tom.

Chapter 8
Novelist
    The fourth envelope was addressed to a Mr G. Hayman, but when the orphans called on the door of his Soho town house, they were informed by the housekeeper that Mr Hayman was currently residing in Brighton. Since Lord Ringmore had issued strict instructions that the letter be delivered by the following evening, Esther asked for an address where he could be located. The housekeeper, a young woman with sharp blue eyes, replied that Mr G. Hayman did not want to be disturbed in Brighton, but the orphans were quite adamant and eventually she relented and furnished them with the address, requesting that they did not reveal it came from her.
    Lord Ringmore had provided the orphans with money for train fares but as they had spent it on breakfast Tom suggested they sneak on board a train at London Bridge. They spent the journey hiding from the ticket inspector and, when the train pulled into Brighton, jumped off and easily outran the station guard. Outside the station, Esther asked a grocer for directions to the address while Tom stole a couple of pears to eat on the way.
    â€˜Have you noticed how much easier swiping is dressed up all respectable like?’ said Tom, as they walked up a steep hill.
    â€˜Yeah, if you look like