The Library Paradox

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Book: Read The Library Paradox for Free Online
Authors: Catherine Shaw
and is now teaching in America!
    Emily’s mother was more shocked by the idea of her daughter’s renting a flat in London than of her travelling all the distance to Germany and living unsupervised in a foreign land. Like any other matron, Mrs Burke-Jones feels that London is a Gehenna, and that her daughter may be led to perdition there. However, Emily held firm, and her mother ended by consenting to give her a modest allowance, on the condition that she share her flat with an older lady by way of a chaperone. The allowance perhaps strains her means a little, but clearly she finds it preferable to tolerating the humiliation of having Emily go out to work. Emily’s results at Girton were quite brilliant, and even her mother feels that it would be a great waste to force her to stop her studies now and vegetate here in Cambridge, a place which, while being a shining light of erudition, is such a lamentable backwater as to progress and social issues, and particularly the rights and abilities of our sex. So Emily has set up housein London, and to all appearances she is very happy there. I am most eager to see her again; her welcoming reply to my telegram was sparing in words (youth is always short of money) but not in feelings.
Tavistock Street
– the words gave me a pleasant little shiver of anticipation. London again! Its streets, its bustle, its vigorous life, its frenetic activity, its easy freedom; a taste of it is like a taste of vibrant red wine.
    These were my thoughts as the train pulled into Liverpool Street. An electric tension swept through me as I stood up; my bag was reached down by a helpful gentleman traveller who ushered me politely onto the platform ahead of himself. The moment I emerged, the very air of London struck me as different, and my excitement increased as I scanned the small group of people waiting to welcome the passengers, to see if I could spot Professor Taylor, who had confirmed that he would fetch me. Before I saw him, he was coming towards me and taking my valise out of my hand.
    ‘I cannot thank you enough for accepting my invitation,’ he said gravely, as though he had prepared the words. I could not help feeling a twinge of worry as to whether he truly believed in the success of my enterprise. I myself was, as always, tremendously uncertain about the outcome, meaning only to try my best.
    ‘Have you already arranged for a place to stay, or will you need a hotel?’ he continued solicitously.
    ‘I will be staying with a friend,’ I responded quietly. ‘But it is enough for me to go to her flat this evening. My case is not heavy; I can carry it with me, and I am ready to start working immediately.’
    ‘How exactly do you intend to begin?’ he said, looking slightly taken aback. ‘I am ready to help you in any way I can, but I must admit that I have not the faintest idea how a detective goes about his – er – or her work. I had thought of organising a small dinner party at my home, with several of my colleagues from the department, as soon as I can manage to send out the invitations. You may possibly learn something useful from them, although it may essentially come down to the fact that Gerard Ralston had but few friends and, as far as we know, no private life at all. What else were you thinking of doing?’
    ‘Well,’ I said, ‘ideally, if it were possible, the very first thing I would do would be to look through all of Professor Ralston’s papers. I meant to ask you where they are now, and if such a thing is feasible. I hope the police have not seized them?’
    ‘As far as I know, the police have not actually taken any papers. Ralston kept all his papers in his study, and the police have looked through everything and sealed the place off. They asked me a number of questions and I did not get the impression that they had found anything conclusive. Indeed, I am afraid you are likely to find more drafts of articles and notes on research than revealing private letters. I cannot

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