The Sphinx Without a Secret
This very short story was first published in The World, in May
1887. In the story, Lord Murchison recounts to his old friend a strange
tale of a woman he had loved and intended to marry, but was now dead.
She had always been very secretive and mysterious, and he one day
followed her to see where she went, discovering her stealthfully going
to a boarding house.
He suspected there was another man, and confronted her the next day.
She confessed to having been there, but said nothing happened. He did
not believe her and left; she died some time later.
He went to the boarding house to speak to the owner, and she
confirmed she had rented the room and that all the lady ever did was
come to it and sit alone for a few hours at a time, reading or doing
nothing.
After telling his story, he asks his friend if he believes it — that
her secret really was that she had no secret — and his friend said he
was certain of it. Lord Murchison ends with the reply: "I wonder."
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