The Great Secret Author:Edward Phillips Oppenheim Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III MISS VAN HOYT I WAS awakened at about nine o'clock the next morning by a loud and persistent knocking at the door of my room. I sat up in bed a... more »nd shouted, "Come in!" A waiter entered bearing a note, which he handed to me on a salver. I looked at him, around the room, which was still in some confusion, and down at the note, which was clearly addressed to me, J. Hardross Courage, Esq. Suddenly my eyes fell upon the smashed door, and I remembered at once the events of the previous night. I tore open the note. It was typewritten and brief: — "The manager presents his compliments to Mr. Hardross Courage, and would be obliged if he will arrange to vacate his room by midday. The manager further regrets that he is unable to offer Mr. Courage any other accommodation." "Tell the valet to let me have a bath in five minutes," I ordered, springing out of bed, " and bring me some tea. Look sharp!" I was in a furious temper. The events of the night before, strange though they had been, left me comparatively unmoved. I was filled, however, with a thoroughly British indignation at the nature of this note. My room had been broken into in the middle of the night; I had narrowly escaped being myself the victim of a seriousand murderous assault; and now I was calmly told to leave the hotel! I hastened downstairs and into the office. "I wish to see the manager as soon as possible," I said to one of the reception clerks behind the counter. "Certainly, sir, what name?" he asked, drawing a slip of paper towards him. "Courage—" I told him, "Mr. Hardross Courage!" The man's manner underwent a distinct change. "I am sorry, sir," he said, "but Mr. Blumentein is engaged. Is there anything I can do?" "No!" I answered him bluntly. "I want the manager, and no on...« less