One group of boys, playing
with a top, did not notice his coming and Muller stopped behind
them to look on. Suddenly a sharp whistle was heard and the boys
looked up from their play, surprised at seeing the stranger behind
them. His eyes were gleaming, and his cheeks were flushed, and a
few bars of a merry tune came in a keen whistle from his lips as
he watched the spirals made by the spinning top.
Before the boys could stop their play the detective had left the
group and hastened onward to the little shop. He left it again
in eager haste after having made his purchase, and hurried back to
the rectory. The shop-keeper stood in the doorway looking in
surprise at this grown man who came to buy a top. And at home in
the rectory the old housekeeper listened in equal surprise to the
humming noise over her head. She thought at first it might be a
bee that had got in somehow. Then she realised that it was not
quite the same noise, and having already concluded that it was of
no use to be surprised at anything this strange guest might do, she
continued reading her scriptures.
Upstairs in the pastor's study, Muller sat in the armchair
attentively watching the gyrations of a spinning top.
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