gabriel! michael exclaimed.
cleo seemed amused at michael’s reaction. it’s not that uncommon a name, she told him over her shoulder.
i had a brother named gabriel.
really? cleo laughed. i do not think this little fellow was your brother. he was the most hideous human i have ever seen - ugly hideous, not scary hideous.
that’s he! michael exclaimed. it must be he! he stood up. which way did he go? he asked cleo.
well, i didn’t watch him go. i suppose he took the elevator or went down the stairs, and out into the street. cleo mock shuddered. i certainly hope he is not lurking about.
i have to go after him, michael said firmly. he started for the door.
go with him, cleo ordered adolf, who had been watching and listening silently, but alertly. with the mildest of grimaces, he got up from his comfortable chair.
yes, michael told adolf, you go down one end of the street, i will go down the other.
very well, adolf murmured. he was closer to the door than michael, and approached it.
look here, adolf said. this must have been left by our mysterious visitor.
the letter that gabriel had slipped under the door was plainly visible on the floor, now that someone had approached it.
adolf picked it up. it was not in an envelope, but was folded in thirds. adolf walked over to the divan where cleo was seated and handed it to her. michael waited by the door.
without opening the letter, cleo nodded toward the door. adolf returned to the door and opened it , and gestured to michael to exit before him.
but michael did not leave. instead he asked cleo, aren’t you going to read it?
if you wish. cleo unfolded the letter and read it, but not aloud.
what does it say? michael asked impatiently. adolf waited beside him, holding the door open.
do you really want me to read it? cleo finally asked.
yes, of course i want you to, michael replied.
No comments:
Post a Comment