No he said without turning around He glanced over his shoulder I prefer to keep them on Only then did Mrs Hall notice that he wore blue glasses that covered most of his face His coat collar was turned up and covered his neck Very well said Mrs Hall As you wish In a bit the room will be warmer Hearing no reply Mrs Hall left the room Minutes later she returned with bacon and eggs Your lunch is served sir Thank you said the man without looking at her Mrs Hall would have liked to ask his name but he was short with her A man with no manners she thought When Mrs Hall returned to the kitchen she heard a chink chink chink It was Millie her helper stirring the mustard Millie Mrs Hall gasped How could I forget the mustard Surely he’ll be looking for 6
the mustard jar She quickly fi lled the mustard pot and carried it upstairs Mrs Hall knocked and opened the door The visitor moved quickly so quickly that she only got a glimpse of a white object disappearing behind the desk It was as if he were picking something up off of the fl oor She placed the mustard jar on the table and noticed the overcoat and hat on a chair in front of the fi re She reached for them I suppose I can take these to dry in the kitchen Leave the hat said a muffl ed voice When she looked he was still crouched behind the desk but had raised his head to speak Mrs Hall was too surprised to speak The man was holding a white napkin over the bottom portion of his face It covered his jaw and mouth But that’s not what startled her It was the fact that his forehead above his blue glasses was covered by a white bandage Another bandage covered his ears Not a scrap of his face except his pink nose showed 8
He wore a dark brown velvet jacket with a high black collar turned up about his neck His thick black hair escaping between the crossed bandages projected in curious curls Mrs Hall wasn’t prepared to see such an odd sight The man remained holding the napkin She noticed his brown gloved hand Leave the hat he repeated through the napkin Her nerves started to recover She placed the hat by the fi re I didn’t know sir she began that She paused a bit embarrassed Thank you he said quickly He glanced from her to the door and at her again I’ll have them nicely dried she assured him As she scooted out of the room she took one last look at the blue goggles and white bandages before closing the door The visitor sat listening to her retreating feet Finally he lowered his napkin and resumed eating Mrs Hall returned to the kitchen Millie That poor man He’s had an accident of some 9
