I desire that a shorthand-writer attend to take it
down."
He dropped weakly into a chair which Wessex placed for him. The
Assistant Commissioner, doubtless stimulated by the manner of his
extraordinary visitor, who now extracted a cigar from the breast
pocket of his ill-fitting jacket and nonchalantly lighted it,
successfully resumed his well-known tired manner, and, pressing a
bell:
"One shall attend, Mr. Brinn," he said.
A knock came at the door and a sergeant entered.
"Send Ferris," directed the Assistant Commissioner. "Quickly."
Two minutes later a man came in carrying a note book and fountain
pen. The Assistant Commissioner motioned him to a chair, and:
"Pray proceed, Mr. Brinn," he said.
CHAPTER XXX. NICOL BRINN'S STORY OF THE CITY OF FIRE
"The statement which I have to make, gentlemen, will almost
certainly appear incredible to you. However, when it has been
transcribed I will sign it. And I am going to say here and now
that there are points in the narrative which I am in a position
to substantiate. What I can't prove you must take my word for.
But I warn you that the story is tough.
"I have a certain reputation for recklessness. I don't say it may
not be inherent; but if you care to look the matter up, you will
find that the craziest phase of my life is that covering the last
seven years. The reason why I have courted death during that
period I am now about to explain.
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