The Sleuth of St. James Street

Book Excerpt: ...the sweep of country before the window."The thing went on, Excellency, the voice offering its lure, and presenting it in brief flashes of materialization, and the Master endeavoring to seize and detain the visitations, which ceased instantly at his approach to the hearth."The man paused."I knew the Master contended in vain against the thing; if he would acquire possession of what it offered, he must destroy what the creative forces of the spirit had released to him."Again he paused."Toward morning he went out of the house. I could hear him walking on the gravel before the door. He would walk the full length of the house and return. The night was clear; there was a chill in it, and every sound was audible."That was all, Excellency. The Master returned a little later and ascended to his bedroom as usual."Then he added: "It was when I went in to put wood on the fire that I saw the footprint on the hearth."There was a force, compelling and vi...