The Greatest Works of S. S. Van Dine (Illustrated Edition). S.S. Van Dine

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СКАЧАТЬ the city’s mid-afternoon noises, muffled by the closed windows, seemed to intensify the ominous silence of the little bedchamber where we waited.

      Then came a sharp report from the other room.

      Markham flung open the door. Heath and Snitkin were already rushing toward Spotswoode’s prostrate body, and were bending over it when Markham entered. Immediately he wheeled about and glared at Vance, who now appeared in the doorway.

      “He’s shot himself!”

      “Fancy that,” said Vance.

      “You—you knew he was going to do that?” Markham spluttered.

      “It was rather obvious, don’t y’ know.”

      Markham’s eyes flashed angrily.

      “And you deliberately interceded for him—to give him the opportunity?”

      “Tut, tut, my dear fellow!” Vance reproached him. “Pray don’t give way to conventional moral indignation. However unethical—theoretically—it may be to take another’s life, a man’s own life is certainly his to do with as he chooses. Suicide is his inalienable right. And under the paternal tyranny of our modern democracy, I’m rather inclined to think it’s about the only right he has left, what?”

      He glanced at his watch and frowned.

      “D’ ye know, I’ve missed my concert, bothering with your beastly affairs,” he complained amiably, giving Markham an engaging smile; “and now you’re actually scolding me. ’Pon my word, old fellow, you’re deuced ungrateful!”

      THE GREENE MURDER CASE

       Table of Contents

      Murder most foul, as in the best it is;

       But this most foul, strange and unnatural.

      —Hamlet.

      TO

      NORBERT L. LEDERER

      Αγαθὴ δὲ παράφασίς ἐστιν ἐταίρου

Table of Contents

       CHAPTER I. A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

       CHAPTER II. THE INVESTIGATION OPENS

       CHAPTER III. AT THE GREENE MANSION

       CHAPTER IV. THE MISSING REVOLVER

       CHAPTER V. HOMICIDAL POSSIBILITIES

       CHAPTER VI. AN ACCUSATION

       CHAPTER VII. VANCE ARGUES THE CASE

       CHAPTER VIII. THE SECOND TRAGEDY

       CHAPTER IX. THE THREE BULLETS

       CHAPTER X. THE CLOSING OF A DOOR

       CHAPTER XI. A PAINFUL INTERVIEW

       CHAPTER XII. A MOTOR RIDE

       CHAPTER XIII. THE THIRD TRAGEDY

       CHAPTER XIV. FOOTPRINTS ON THE CARPET

       CHAPTER XV. THE MURDERER IN THE HOUSE

       CHAPTER XVI. THE LOST POISONS

       CHAPTER XVII. TWO WILLS

       CHAPTER XVIII. IN THE LOCKED LIBRARY

       CHAPTER XIX. SHERRY AND PARALYSIS

       CHAPTER XX. THE FOURTH TRAGEDY

       CHAPTER XXI. A DEPLETED HOUSEHOLD

       CHAPTER XXII. THE SHADOWY FIGURE

       CHAPTER XXIII. THE MISSING FACT

       CHAPTER XXIV. A MYSTERIOUS TRIP

       CHAPTER XXV. THE CAPTURE

       CHAPTER XXVI. THE ASTOUNDING TRUTH

      CHARACTERS OF THE BOOK

      Philo Vance

      John F.-X. Markham

      District Attorney of New York County.

      Mrs. Tobias Greene

      The mistress of the Greene mansion.

      Julia Greene

      The eldest daughter.

      Sibella Greene

      Another daughter.

      Ada Greene

      The youngest daughter.

      Chester Greene

      The elder son.

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