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Two
No,wearemerelyprivatecitizens.Allowmetomakeintroductions.IamMisterCroup,andthisgentlemanismybrother,MisterVandemar."
Theydidnotlooklikebrothers.TheydidnotlooklikeanythingRichardhadseenbefore."Yourbrother?"askedRichard."Shouldn’tyouhavethesamename?"
"Iamimpressed.Whatabrain,MisterVandemar.Keenandincisiveisn’tthehalfofit.Someofusaresosharp,"hesaidasheleanedinclosertoRichard,wentupontiptoesintoRichard’sface,"wecouldjustcutourselves."Richardtookaninvoluntarystepbackwards."Canwecomeinside?"askedMr.Croup.
"Whatdoyouwant?"
Mr.Croupsighed,inwhatheobviouslyimaginedwasaratherwistfulmanner."Wearelookingforoursister,"heexplained."Awaywardchild,willfulandheadstrong,whohasclosetobrokenourpoordearwidowedmother’sheart."
"Ranaway,"explainedMr.Vandemar,quietly.HethrustaphotocopiedsheetintoRichard’shands."She’salittle...funny,"headded,andthenhetwirledonefingernexttohistempleintheuniversalgesturetoindicatementalincapacity.
Richardlookeddownatthepaper.Itsaid:
HAVEYOUSEENTHISGIRL?
Beneaththatwasaphotocopy-grayphotographofagirlwholookedtoRichardlikeacleaner,longer-hairedversionoftheyoungladyhehadleftinhisbathroom.
