An ancient English Cathedral Tower? How can the ancient English Cathedral towerbe here! The well-known massive gray square tower of its old Cathedral? How canthat be here! There is no spike of rusty iron in the air, between the eye andit, from any point of the real prospect. What is the spike that intervenes, andwho has set it up? Maybe it is set up by the Sultan’s orders for theimpaling of a horde of Turkish robbers, one by one. It is so, for cymbalsclash, and the Sultan goes by to his palace in long procession. Ten thousandscimitars flash in the sunlight, and thrice ten thousand dancing-girls strewflowers. Then, follow white elephants caparisoned in countless gorgeouscolours, and infinite in number and attendants. Still the Cathedral Tower risesin the background, where it cannot be, and still no writhing figure is on thegrim spike. Stay! Is the spike so low a thing as th

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The Mystery of Edwin Drood

by Charles Dickens

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