SUMMARY-CHAPTER 1 -THE STRANGE MAN'S ARRIVAL

THE STRANGER AT THE INN

            IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY ,ON A WINTRY DAY WHEN THE BITING COLD WIND WAS BLOWING AND SNOW WAS FALLING.A MYSTERIOUS STRANGER (GRIFFIN) CARRYING A THICK BLACK SUITCASE IN HIS GLOVED HAND WALKED  FROM BRAMBLEHURST RAILWAY STATION ARRIVED AT THE LOCAL INN OF LOCAL VILLAGE NAMED IPING  WEST SUSSEX, DURING SNOWSTROM .

             HE WAS WRAPPED  UP ROM HEAD TO FOOT WITH LONG SLEEVED THICK COAT AND GLOVES.HIS FACE WAS HIDDEN AND ENTIRELY BY BANDAGES EXPECT FOR HIS FAKE PINK NOSE AND A WIDE BRIMMED HAT.

             HE WALKED INTO THE COACH & HORSES INN ,PUT HIS SUITCASE DOWN AND SAID ,"A FIRE IN THE NAME OF HUMAN CHARITY!,A ROOM & A FIRE!",HE CLEARED THE SNOW FROM HIS HAT AND MOVE TOWARDS HIS ALLOCATED ROOM WITH MRS HALL (THE OWNER OF THE INN) BEHIND HIM.

MRS HALL AS THE HOSTESS

          MRS HALL LIT THE FIRE AND LEFT HIM ALONE AND WENT TO PREPARE HIS MEAL HER MAID MILLIE HELPED HER IN LAYING THE TABLE . ALTHOUGH THE FIRE WAS BURNING BRISKLY , SHE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE STRANGER STILL WEARING HIS HAT AND COAT  AND SEEMED TO BE LOST IN HIS THOUGHT.

SHE ASKED HIM TO GIVE HIS COAT & HAT SO THAT  SHE COULD DRY THEM  . 

BUT HE REFUSED TO GIVE THEM AND SAID ,"I PREFER TO KEEP THEM ON".

        SHE SAID,"VERY WELL SIR,AS YOU LIKE", THE ROOM WILL BE WARMER IN A BIT.

       HE MADE NO REPLY ,AND TURN HIS FACE AWAY FROM HER. SO SHE LEFT THE ROOM WHEN SHE RETURNED,HE WAS STILL STANDING LIKE A MAN OF STONE.SHE PUT DOWN THE EGGS & BACON AND SAID ,"YOUR LUNCH IS SERVED,SIR". 

HAM,EGGS & BACON IN MEALS

AFTER COMPLETING HIS WORK ,WHEN SHE CARRYING A POT FILLED WITH MUSTARD SHE NOTICED THAT THE GRIFFIN HAD TAKEN OFF HIS OVERCOAT AND HAT AND WAS SITTING ON A CHAIR IN FRONT OF FIRE.

THE STRANGER AND HIS HAT

SHE ASKED GRIFFIN TO DRY HIS CLOTH & HAT , BUT HE REFUSED AT THAT TIME SHE FOUND THAT HIS FACE WAS FULLY COVERED   WITH BANDAGES EXCEPT A PEAKED NOSE, SHE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HIM BUT STILL SHE TAKES HIS CLOTH  FOR DRYING AND LEFT THE HAT ON THE CHAIR .

THE STRANGER AND HIS SERVIETTE

THE STRANGER REMOVED WHITE CLOTHES AND HAD HIS MEAL.MRS HALL THOUGHT THAT HE MIGHT HAVE ENDURED SOME ACCIDENT THAT WHY HE IS HIDING HIS FACE.WHEN MRS HALL CAME TO WIPE THE TABLE HE ASKED HER TO BRING HIS LUGGAGE FROM THE STATION.

 

    

BY- MRADUL DIXIT