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THE MURDER IN X. STREET (PART V)
Published in What's On London, England 7 March 1908 (page 20)
OUR NEW COMPETITION
THE MURDER IN X. STREET Chapter V
We give this week the final installment of our competition, the result of which, together with the various answers to the many problems set will be published in our number dated March 21st, for week ending March 28th.
What you have to do is read the story and send in your solution of the problems propounded in the course of the narrative and denoted by italics.
To the competitor who sends each week the best and clearest solution we will award a sum of 10s. 6d. All entries for the competition will be kept by us, and when the series is concluded we will send to the competitor whose replies have won most marks during the series the sum of £5, and to the weekly winners the sum of 10s. 6d. each.
Some of the problems are very difficult, but competitors are not expected to solve them all. Answers may be sent in at any time, not necessarily week by week.
Rules—Competitors must attach to their replies the coupon to be found on the outside top corner of the front cover.
Note.—This coupon will only be found on purchased copies of WHAT’S ON, as it is purposely omitted from all copies supplied to hotels, restaurants, clubs, etc., to prevent mutilation.
Competitors should write as clearly as possible, and must send their full name and address with each reply.
The Editor’s decision is final.
No employee of WHAT’S ON is allowed to compete.
Address your replies to Editor, WHAT’S ON, 32, Essex Street, Strand, W.C., and write “Competition” on the top left-hand corner of your envelope.
THE MURDER IN X. STREET. Chapter V.
When he had perfected this, the inspector reminded him of their search.
“Are you sure about the title of the book?” asked Lascelles.
“Well, we’ll go and ask Madame Aganda, the clairvoyant,” and off they went.
“Five goddesses appear!” she murmured. “The first cries ‘Justice’ and shakes her sword and scales. Alas! all is dark: for I know that in her name is concealed the first word of the five words that shall shake the world.
“The second binds me with her fair green girdle and I am blinded with the brilliance of her bloom—alas! for in her name is concealed the second word of the five words that shall shake the world.
“The third gives me to eat of a pomegranate—I am drunk thereon—alas! for wist I but her name, I should perceive therein concealed the third word of the five words that shall shake the world.
“The fourth with spear and shield assails me sore, so that, alas! I cannot learn her name, wherein is concealed the fourth word of the five words that shall shake the world.
“The fifth bears a lamp shining for ever with clear light and lustrous—joy! in her name the last word is concealed of the five words that shall shake the world.”
“I don’t think we’re much enlightened,” muttered Lascelles.
“I think it is wonderful for six bob, in spite of the confusion of V and W. But what does she mean”
“That’s her way of telling us the
title of the book, and it certainly
“What’s that?” asked Lascelles.
“Well, he has sixteen of them. Thomas, Timothy, Titus and Tibullus are quadruplets, Ethel, Emily and Emma are triplets, Henry and Herbert, Sarah and Susan are twins; and Arthur, Robert, Ivan, Nathaniel and Willie were born one at a time. Now he likes them to walk in a sold square, but he won’t allow any of them to be next to one of the same age, either before or behind, or sideways, or skew-whiff.”
“Can he manage it?”
“Oh yes! but he wants their initials to spell out the title of his best masterpiece without any jumps, but moving regularly from one square to the next as the King moves at chess. There are two or three ways of doing that, even; look now! he has got them right at last, with the quadruplets one at each corner.”
[How did he do it?]
“He’s certainly a family man.”
“I should think he was! He’s so fond of his family that never stirs without his father’s brother-in-law, his brother’s father-in-law, his father-in-law’s brother, his brother-in-law’s father, his sister’s father-in-law, and his sister-in-law’s father.”
“He can’t be very fond of solitude!”
Oh! yes, he is. In fact, he is often alone.”
“How can that be?”
“Ask WHAT’S ON!” [Shew the necessary relationships.]
But without waiting to hear the answer, which is indeed quite obvious, the inspector and Lascelles strolled back down the Strand to the scene of the murder.
In the west there appeared suddenly a star of dazzling brilliance. It was a star of twelve magnificent rays, each ray a letter.
All these things, in short, which it has come to take away. Wherefore was gladness in the land.
THE END. |