Samuel Hopkins Adams

“ Then the woman spoke.
“Is it possible for your stars to guide me to an object which I have lost?”
“Nothing is hidden from the stars,” declared their master. “Their radiance shines not alone upon the broad expanses of existence, but also into the smallest crevices of life. You seek jewels, madam?” (Kent had let this much out, as if by accident, in the morning’s conversation.) ”

“ He knows all about the Grosvenors. My own knowledge of Camilla Grosvenor is merely family tradition. She was a woman of great force of character, and great personal attraction, I believe, though she was not exactly beautiful. When she was still under thirty she became the leader of a band of mystics and star-worshipers. I believe that she became infatuated with one of them, a young German, and that there was an elopement by water. This I remember, at least: her body washed ashore on the coast not very far from Hedgerow House. ”

“ Why, Professor Kent, I thought you were a scientific man.”
“Translate ‘science’ down to its simplest terms in Saxon English,” said Kent.
“It would be ‘knowing’, I suppose.”
“Exactly. When I think a man knows something which I wish to know but do not know, I try to possess myself of his knowledge, whether he is microscopist, astrologer, or tinsmith. To that extent I am a scientist.”
“And you expect the stars to tell us something about my lost topazes?” ”

“ You have but to carry out our arrangements implicitly. The place is known to you. There can be no difficulty in your finding it. At two hours after sundown of July the fifth we shall be there. Our ship will be in waiting. All will be as before. Fail me not. Your reward shall be greater than you dream. ⁠ Astræa.”
Kent looked askance at Mrs. Blair. ”

“ He even wanted to build there; but Mr. Alexander Blair wouldn’t listen to it.”
“Would you know the face of Camilla Grosvenor?”
“Of course. The Elliott portrait hangs in the library at Hedgerow House.”
Kent took from under his coat the drawing purchased from Elder Dennett.
“That is the same,” said Mrs. Blair unhesitatingly. “It isn’t quite the same pose as the finished portrait. And it lacks the earring which is in the portrait. But I should say it is surely Elliott’s work. Couldn’t it be a preliminary sketch for the portrait?” ”

“ I couldn’t direct you, but I could show you.”
“In time you shall. One moment. As you realize, you are under presumption of murder. Do you know the identity of the victim?”
“Of Astræa? That’s all I know about her. ”