expect you and know that you are there working onbehalf of our firm. Linger not in Ireland as George Clerval is expectant of your immanent arrival in Geneva.
Sir Arthur Gray
E DWARD F REAMEâS INTERVIEW WITH M AGISTRATE K IRWIN
The door to Magistrate Kirwinâs offices was easily identified as his name and position had been engraved on a large and brightly polished brass plate nailed upon the door. When I stepped from the street, a clerk all but leapt to his seat and came to my side; he was one of three clerks, each perched upon a stool from where he leant over a thick ledger in which he had been making careful entries. With a high quavering voice, the clerk greeted me and professed, in a series of incomplete sentences, his complete and sincere solicitations for my continued good health. Before I could properly state my business, he beckoned me to follow him to the magistrateâs own office.
Not waiting for a response to his staccato rap on the door, the clerk ushered me into Magistrate Kirwinâs office. Inside, the magistrate was in conference with another man, both of whom rose immediately upon my entry, looks of astonishment upon their faces, no doubt due to the sudden and unannounced intrusion. Magistrate Kirwin made as if to begin introductions, but halted seemingly at a loss as to how to commence. To aid the magistrate, I removed my hat and took a step forward with the intention of introducing myself. Rather than setting the magistrate at ease, my gesture seemed to discomfort the man even more, prompting a rather erratic twitching of his eyebrows as the fingers of one of hishands began to play nervously upon the shiny buttons of his ornate waistcoat. The magistrateâs companion looked from one of us to the other and then quickly excused himself without ever having given his name
Victor Frankenstein described Magistrate Kirwin as an old, benevolent man with calm and mild manners; however, I met an agitated man with nervous and erratic behaviour. Physically, the magistrate had a ruddy complexion and a short neck, and was also quite portly. His fine waistcoat was intricately embellished, and a great gold watch chain hung suspended before his ample stomach. He also wore a number of rings set with large stones, and his wig and shoes were quite new. To my eye, he seemed to wish to affect a style rather more in the fashion of a court dandy than a town magistrate.
Following the incomprehensible waving of his hands and the muttering of words, which I was left to interpreted as some form of greeting, the magistrate regained his seat behind the desk while I took a chair across from his. It had not escaped my notice that the room was furnished in large and ornate pieces, which, judging by the more exotic nature of the woods used, had been shipped from overseas. This included the desk, with an intricate mosaic inlay top and the matching chair with thick velvet cushioning. Otherwise, the room was unremarkable; the wall covering had yellowed slightly with age, and the uneven floorboards were scuffed and scarred.
I spoke to Magistrate Kirwin, expressing my hope he would permit me to forego elaborate civilities and move directly to the reason for my meeting with him. My purpose today was to ask him a few questions about the murder of Henry Clerval and the subsequent arrest of Victor Frankenstein. I told him, as he was the official responsible for the inquiry into Henry Clervalâs murder and someone who met both Victor and Alphonse Frankenstein, it was my hope to gain from him much needed clarification regarding certain elements of the murder.
The magistrate looked more than a little bewildered, frankly quite astounded, and again I had to wonder if either he had not in fact received Sir Arthur Grayâs letter or perhaps there was something amiss with the rightness of his mind. The magistrate was not a young man, but he did not generally have the appearance of someone whose mental capacities had become
Sir Arthur Gray
E DWARD F REAMEâS INTERVIEW WITH M AGISTRATE K IRWIN
The door to Magistrate Kirwinâs offices was easily identified as his name and position had been engraved on a large and brightly polished brass plate nailed upon the door. When I stepped from the street, a clerk all but leapt to his seat and came to my side; he was one of three clerks, each perched upon a stool from where he leant over a thick ledger in which he had been making careful entries. With a high quavering voice, the clerk greeted me and professed, in a series of incomplete sentences, his complete and sincere solicitations for my continued good health. Before I could properly state my business, he beckoned me to follow him to the magistrateâs own office.
Not waiting for a response to his staccato rap on the door, the clerk ushered me into Magistrate Kirwinâs office. Inside, the magistrate was in conference with another man, both of whom rose immediately upon my entry, looks of astonishment upon their faces, no doubt due to the sudden and unannounced intrusion. Magistrate Kirwin made as if to begin introductions, but halted seemingly at a loss as to how to commence. To aid the magistrate, I removed my hat and took a step forward with the intention of introducing myself. Rather than setting the magistrate at ease, my gesture seemed to discomfort the man even more, prompting a rather erratic twitching of his eyebrows as the fingers of one of hishands began to play nervously upon the shiny buttons of his ornate waistcoat. The magistrateâs companion looked from one of us to the other and then quickly excused himself without ever having given his name
Victor Frankenstein described Magistrate Kirwin as an old, benevolent man with calm and mild manners; however, I met an agitated man with nervous and erratic behaviour. Physically, the magistrate had a ruddy complexion and a short neck, and was also quite portly. His fine waistcoat was intricately embellished, and a great gold watch chain hung suspended before his ample stomach. He also wore a number of rings set with large stones, and his wig and shoes were quite new. To my eye, he seemed to wish to affect a style rather more in the fashion of a court dandy than a town magistrate.
Following the incomprehensible waving of his hands and the muttering of words, which I was left to interpreted as some form of greeting, the magistrate regained his seat behind the desk while I took a chair across from his. It had not escaped my notice that the room was furnished in large and ornate pieces, which, judging by the more exotic nature of the woods used, had been shipped from overseas. This included the desk, with an intricate mosaic inlay top and the matching chair with thick velvet cushioning. Otherwise, the room was unremarkable; the wall covering had yellowed slightly with age, and the uneven floorboards were scuffed and scarred.
I spoke to Magistrate Kirwin, expressing my hope he would permit me to forego elaborate civilities and move directly to the reason for my meeting with him. My purpose today was to ask him a few questions about the murder of Henry Clerval and the subsequent arrest of Victor Frankenstein. I told him, as he was the official responsible for the inquiry into Henry Clervalâs murder and someone who met both Victor and Alphonse Frankenstein, it was my hope to gain from him much needed clarification regarding certain elements of the murder.
The magistrate looked more than a little bewildered, frankly quite astounded, and again I had to wonder if either he had not in fact received Sir Arthur Grayâs letter or perhaps there was something amiss with the rightness of his mind. The magistrate was not a young man, but he did not generally have the appearance of someone whose mental capacities had become
Similar Books
