Page "mystery" Paragraph 1076

Yes, gentlemen, I am getting to the point, to my point.

You know the facts ; ;

they are set forth in your own newspapers.

You want from me the story, but a story is about ' why ' and then, perhaps, about how.

The ' when ' you know ; ;

yesterday morning.

So what I am trying to tell you is the ' why ' -- that is my point -- and that concerns the spirit of the matter.

There is an inwardness and a luster to old furniture ( look at that mahogany highboy behind you ) which has a provocative emanation, if I may say so.

Places, too, have their haunting qualities.

Even people.

And my point in this sad story is the spirit of the matter.

When you hold the spirit of a thing, then somehow you know the truth -- you know a fake antique from the real thing.

And the truth is what you've come for, is it not??