Explore "The Man with a Secret" by Fergus Hume on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"He is a man Full of strange thoughts, and fancies whimsical, Who dreams of dreams that make his life a dream. And had he powers supernal at command, Would tumble heaven itself about our ears In his mad searchings for -- I wot not what. "
The room which Beaumont had turned into a studio while painting Squire Garsworth's portrait, overlooked the terrace on to which the French windows opened. It was the drawing-room of the Grange, and was magnificently furnished in the ponderous style of the Georgian period, though now, being but rarely used, an air of desertion and decay seemed to linger about it. The windows, however, being large and curtainless, there was an excellent light to paint by, so Basil established his easel near the centre window, and placed the squire at one further along, in order that the full light should fall on his withered face, showing the multitudinous wrinkles and stern expression that made it a study worthy of Rembrandt. Beaumont often glanced at the attenuated form lying listlessly back in the great arm-chair, and wondered what curious event had changed this man from an idle reveller into an industrious scholar.