The Circular Study

The Circular Study, by Anna
Katharine Green

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Title: The Circular Study
Author: Anna Katharine Green
Release Date: July 5, 2006 [EBook #18761]
Language: English
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THE CIRCULAR STUDY
BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN

1900
DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY GARDEN CITY NEW YORK
1914

CONTENTS.
BOOK I.--A STRANGE CRIME.
I.--Red Light
II.--Mysteries
III.--The Mute Servitor
IV.--A New Experience for Mr. Gryce
V.--Five Small Spangles
VI.--Suggestions From an Old Friend
VII.--Amos's Son
VIII.--In the Round of the Staircase
IX.--High and Low
X.--Bride Roses
XI.--Misery
XII.--Thomas Explains
XIII.--Despair
XIV.--Memoranda
BOOK II.--REMEMBER EVELYN.

I.--The Secret of the Cadwaladers
II.--The Oath
III.--Eva
IV.--Felix
V.--Why the Iron Slide Remained Stationary
VI.--Answered
VII.--Last Words

BOOK I
A STRANGE CRIME
CHAPTER I.
RED LIGHT.
Mr. Gryce was melancholy. He had attained that period in life when the
spirits flag and enthusiasm needs a constant spur, and of late there had
been a lack of special excitement, and he felt dull and superannuated.
He was even contemplating resigning his position on the force and
retiring to the little farm he had bought for himself in Westchester; and
this in itself did not tend to cheerfulness, for he was one to whom
action was a necessity and the exercise of his mental faculties more
inspiring than any possible advantage which might accrue to him from
their use.
But he was not destined to carry out this impulse yet. For just at the
height of his secret dissatisfaction there came a telephone message to
Headquarters which roused the old man to something like his former
vigor and gave to the close of this gray fall day an interest he had not
expected to feel again in this or any other kind of day. It was sent from

Carter's well-known drug store, and was to the effect that a lady had
just sent a boy in from the street to say that a strange crime had been
committed in ----'s mansion round the corner. The boy did not know the
lady, and was shy about showing the money she had given him, but that
he had money was very evident, also, that he was frightened enough for
his story to be true. If the police wished to communicate with him, he
could be found at Carter's, where he would be detained till an order for
his release should be received.
A strange crime! That word "strange" struck Mr. Gryce, and made him
forget his years in wondering what it meant. Meanwhile the men about
him exchanged remarks upon the house brought thus unexpectedly to
their notice. As it was one of the few remaining landmarks of the
preceding century, and had been made conspicuous moreover by the
shops, club-houses, and restaurants pressing against it on either side, it
had been a marked spot for years even to those who knew nothing of its
history or traditions.
And now a crime had taken place in it! Mr. Gryce, in whose ears that
word "strange" rang with quiet insistence, had but to catch the eye of
the inspector in charge to receive an order to investigate the affair. He
started at once, and proceeded first to the drug store. There he found the
boy, whom he took along with him to the house indicated in the
message. On the way he made him talk, but there was nothing the poor
waif could add to the story already sent over the telephone. He
persisted in saying that a lady (he did not say woman) had come up to
him while he was looking at some toys in a window, and, giving him a
piece of money, had drawn him along the street as far as the drug store.
Here she showed him another coin, promising to add it to the one he
had already pocketed if he would run in to the telephone clerk with a
message for the police. He wanted the money, and when he grabbed at
it she said that all he had to do was to tell the clerk that a strange crime
had been committed in the old house on ---- Street. This scared him,
and he was sliding off, when she caught him again and shook him until
his wits came back, after which he ran into the store and delivered the
message.

There was