• VIII ‑The woman in the Alcove Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter VIII of "The Woman in the Alcove" describes the aftermath of a sensational crime and its impact on Mr. Fairbrother, the husband of the murdered woman, and Mr. Durand, a man intimately connected with the crime and under suspicion. Following the murder of Mr. Fairbrother's wife in New York, Mr. Fairbrother was on a prospecting tour in the mountains near El Moro. Unaware of his wife's death due to his sickly state and fever, he was brought back to civilization by couriers who refrained from informing…
    • IX ‑The woman in the Alcove Cover
      by LovelyMay In this chapter of "The Woman in the Alcove," the protagonist, emboldened by a conviction to clear her lover, Mr. Durand, of guilt, seeks out Inspector Dalzell at police headquarters to share a theory she believes will lead to his exoneration. Despite understanding the risk of appearing foolish and potentially harming her own reputation, she insists on the possibility of another individual's guilt—a person of high standing and reputation, thus challenging conventional suspicions and the evidence arrayed…
    • X ‑The woman in the Alcove Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter X of "The Woman in the Alcove," the narrator engages in a pivotal conversation with the Inspector, revealing her deep suspicions about Mr. Grey's involvement in a crime centered around a coveted diamond. The Inspector, initially incredulous, listens as the narrator unfolds her detailed theory that Mr. Grey, driven by an obsession to acquire the diamond, orchestrated a complex scheme involving a stiletto, a family cry of death, and a deceptive substitution of the real diamond with a fake. She…
    • XI ‑The woman in the Alcove Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter XI of "The Woman in the Alcove" by Anna Katharine Green titled "The Inspector Astonishes Me," unfolds a significant leap in the investigation into the mystery surrounding the Fairbrother gem. The narrator reveals that no progress was made in improving Mr. Durand’s standing nor in implicating Mr. Grey over the two weeks following the initial events. Mr. Fairbrother contributes a crucial piece of evidence from his sickbed in New Mexico, asserting that the real diamond had a unique setting he…
    • XII ‑The woman in the Alcove Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter XII of "The Woman in the Alcove," Alice Ayers, under the guise of a nurse, begins her covert investigation into Mr. Grey, suspecting him of involvement in a notorious crime. Upon her arrival, she is warmly welcomed by both Mr. Grey and his ailing daughter, which immediately stirs conflict within her. Despite her suspicions, Alice is drawn to their kindness and nobility, complicating her secret mission to exonerate her lover, Anson Durand, by implicating Mr. Grey. Mr. Grey, concerned for his…
    • XIII ‑The woman in the Alcove Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter XIII of "The Woman in the Alcove" describes a restless and anxious night for the narrator, who is heavily burdened with worries about Mr. Durand's fate and the effect of a halted plan intended to prove his innocence. Despite her patient's recovery, her thoughts are not with the patient but with the unfolding mystery and Mr. Durand's precarious situation. The morning brings a conversation with Miss Grey, revealing her heart's secret and adding to the narrator's emotional load. An interaction with…
    • XIV ‑The woman in the Alcove Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter XIV titled "Trapped" from "The Woman in the Alcove," the narrator engages in a tense conversation with Inspector Dalzell concerning the progress in a criminal investigation connected to Mr. Grey and Mr. Durand. The discussion reveals ongoing efforts to locate a critical witness named Sears and hints at the complexities surrounding the involvement of a waiter named Wellgood. The interaction is marked by an air of mutual caution and the revelation of small, potentially significant details about…
    • XV ‑The woman in the Alcove Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter XV of "The Woman in the Alcove," the tension between the inspector and the narrator deepens as they discuss the mysterious figures, Sears and Wellgood, in relation to Mrs. Fairbrother's murder. The inspector shares a detailed description of Sears, hoping it might prompt the narrator’s memory, but the description doesn't align well with her brief recollection of Wellgood, further complicating their investigation. The variability in witness accounts about Wellgood's appearance frustrates their…
    • II ‑The woman in the Alcove Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter II of "The Woman in the Alcove," the narrator regains consciousness to find herself in a room filled with tumult and concern, her fiancé, Mr. Durand, standing beside her. A tragedy has occurred: a woman has been found murdered in an alcove, leading to a state of shock and bewilderment among the guests. Although weak, the narrator insists on staying alongside Durand, despite his apparent unease and the general atmosphere of suspicion that begins to envelop him, particularly due to his last known…
    • III ‑The woman in the Alcove Cover
      by LovelyMay In Chapter III of "The Woman in the Alcove," the protagonist is engulfed in a whirl of despair and confusion as the illustrious diamond, central to a crime, is discovered concealed within her possessions. She vehemently denies any involvement, asserting her ignorance of how the jewel and the gloves, in which it was hidden, came to be in her bag. The kindly inspector, while expressing belief in her innocence, hints at a man's involvement, leading her to staunchly defend Anson Durand's integrity, suggesting…
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