Page 480 - DRACULA

Dracula

the balcony. It had, however, been roughly torn away, the
uprights which had supported it still remaining. Behind
the rails of the balcony I saw there were some loose
boards, whose raw edges looked white. I would have

given a good deal to have been able to see the notice
board intact, as it would, perhaps, have given some clue to
the ownership of the house. I remembered my experience
of the investigation and purchase of Carfax, and I could
not but feel that I could find the former owner there
might be some means discovered of gaining access to the
house.
There was at present nothing to be learned from the
Piccadilly side, and nothing could be done, so I went
around to the back to see if anything could be gathered
from this quarter. The mews were active, the Piccadilly
houses being mostly in occupation. I asked one or two of
the grooms and helpers whom I saw around if they could
tell me anything about the empty house. One of them said
that he heard it had lately been taken, but he couldn’t say
from whom. He told me, however, that up to very lately
there had been a notice board of ‘For Sale’ up, and that
perhaps Mitchell, Sons, & Candy the house agents could
tell me something, as he thought he remembered seeing
the name of that firm on the board. I did not wish to seem

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