The Fenchurch Street Mystery | Emma Orczy | A Bitesized Audiobook

[@snowysnowyriver]

This is one of favourite channels. There is such a lot of trash on TV these days that I often find myself relying on audio books for entertainment in the evening. These old classic stories are now overlooked and so what a treat it is to have channel dedicated to them. And then the icing on the cake is the perfect narration. Thank you for channel. Bless you.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Kind of you to say so, thank you!

[@patriciajrs46]

He is great.

[@footfault]

Thank you for rescuing these tales from nearly-forgotten authors, for us. Much appreciated. Your library of these audios shows how much we can enjoy neglected works.

[@BitesizedAudio]

You're most welcome! Glad to know you enjoy them

[@moniclare4214]

I am settling down for the night . I have your story ready Simon. Although I am far from being a child . Your voice and the quality of story soothes me enough that I can feel content with my mind listening to the story. I am going through bereavment which I wouldn't wish on anyone and your channel helps get me through many a dark 24 hrs. Do keep us up to date Simon. By the way many of your listeners do know authentic and that is why we follow and are willing to listen to new content from ypu . You have high standards and we the listeners are never let down. KZbin are doing themselves a disfavour by not going to your channel and other channels .by comparing it to others of a lesser standard they should be in the professional level of knowing you bring a high calibre of audiobooks and narratives to youtube.. all the best Simon .

[@BitesizedAudio]

I'm so sorry to hear of your bereavement. Glad if these stories offer you some comfort. All best wishes

[@wisdomoftheearlychristians2037]

It is none of my business; and please forgive me for putting my oar in. I, several years ago, dealt with a marital separation, followed by the loss of both parents within 4 months. I found, listening to The Secret Garden on Stephen Red Fox Garnett channel, helped me; his hushed Yorkshire accent, the simplicity of the story; it was like balm to the soul. I've endured a further loss since then, and probably listened another 8 times. Sorry, Simon, I don't want to take anything from you, but I know that your channels don't compete so hopefully you won't mind. It enabled me to learn to take small joys like a child again; my thoughts are with you

[@cressidapotter6331]

Totally agree, couldn’t have out it better myself. 😊

[@griffini19]

You are truly among the finest readers on the planet. And I also appreciate the high level of the the recording and production, I am not clear as to who you are.... But you are so talented. Along with Greg Wagland and Jonathan Cecil. THANK YOU!!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you so much @griffini19 for your very generous comments, I'm flattered to be bracketed in such distinguished company! As to who I am, my name's Simon Stanhope and I'm a UK-based actor/voice artist. Thanks again, and glad to know you enjoy the stories

[@helenamcginty4920]

You forgot Hugh Frasier. All actors I note. The training and experience shows. So many on libra vox think all you have to do is read out loud.

[@SpuktasticAudio]

Another tale I was not previously familiar with which is always a treat. You're a bit of a detective yourself, cher Simon! A delight as always. ❤

[@BitesizedAudio]

I always like to surprise... Thanks Bob, so glad to know you enjoyed it. Do let me know about those reviews!

[@janflower4068]

¶

[@judikingsman6132]

3rd time listening ❤ . I do not listen to USA narrators 😏

[@seferino]

British narrators are the best for audiobooks. 💯💯👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Nicky-n4p]

The more I listen to this channel, the more I love it. What a treasure you are, my friend. Thank you

[@cynthiaholland13]

Oh thank you so much for the new upload. Perfect timing.

[@NannyOggins]

Excellent mystery, I do love a tale that exercizeses my “leetle grey cells”! Didnt solve this one completely which makes it all the more fun! Thank you for another superb performance.

[@selenerainey8406]

Its a delight to listened to your clear, beautiful english, Simon. I love these stories, too! So soothing and interesting. What a gift! , it brings so much joy to ohers.. And i much prefer a real human voice, then the AI voices on the other channels 🎉🎉🎉

[@wmnoffaith1]

You know, I just got done listening to the entire collection of the old man in the corner stories by Emma Orczy by a Librivox narrator. The narration was truly dreadful but I stuck it out because the stories really were clever. I don't know how I made it 55 years of reading mysteries without hearing about her. I would love to hear you narrate these. The one you've done here is wonderful.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you! I definitely have more of these stories in the pipeline for the new year

[@robertapearson3507]

Wmnoffaith1 - I, too, found the Libbrivox reader to be rather slow and sort of dull-sounding. I am not made of the same stuff as yourself. When I now see/hear that they are a Librivox recording I simply move on to another channel. Therefore, it would be wonderful if Mr. Bitesize Audio would record them. I look forward to hearing them. 👵🏻🐾💕🇨🇦

[@susangardner6059]

Libbrivox narrators are very hard to listen to and if I don't like or can't settle with the narrator's voice I find it impossible to listen to the audios. No such problem with this channel thank heaven 😊😊😊

[@nokomarie1963]

@@susangardner6059 Honestly, I think it might be the equipment.

[@garry2893]

Bravo! Another great story. Thank you and do have a Merry Christmas. Awaiting the next stellar tale!

[@YvonneWilson312]

This was such a treat, Simon, as I knew it would be - thank you so much! Having read the book many years ago I was aware of the destination, as it were, but had forgotten some of the wonderfully meandering journey!

[@bonniebarbee7984]

So glad to have a new one to listen to this evening. Thank You so very much. You have made my day , as an elderly woman with a disability it such a joy .

[@BitesizedAudio]

That's lovely to know Bonnie, thank you. Best wishes to you

[@Lemma01]

Delightfully rendered- I'd lost sight of the Baroness- thank you for reminding me!

[@BitesizedAudio]

You're most welcome! Glad to know you enjoyed it!

[@loreuniversechannel9984]

Entertainingly interesting! A style of storytelling whose voice is, at once, old-world yet new and refreshing... wonderful, compelling -- brilliant!

[@GradKat]

Good story! I must admit I have not read anything by Baroness Orczy other than The Scarlet Pimpernel. Didn’t realise she wrote detective stories.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks GradKat. Yes indeed, she seems to have rather downplayed her detective stories herself, barely bothering to mention them in her memoirs. The Old Man in the Corner is, I think, a very solid contribution to the genre. She also (later) wrote a series involving a female detective, Lady Molly of Scotland Yard (1910), following in the footsteps of Loveday Brooke and Dora Myrl, although those stories seem to be less well regarded critically than the Old Man series. Certainly the Baroness herself appeared to regard Sir Percy as her greatest creation!

[@basildellavalle8189]

Ì⁸8⁸80

[@sockmonkey22]

@@BitesizedAudio Thanks! I did a screenshot of your recommendations. I always loved Leslie Howard as the foppish spy Pimpernel. Chauvelin was a great villain. Each time I watch the movie I am of course rooting for the British Aristocracy. Not that I’m pro-beheading or anything, but why am I siding with the “let-them-eat-cake” privileged Castle-dwellers? 😯🤔🤗

[@shadetreader]

I wonder if all of her hackwork laughably glorifies the rich 🙄

[@katyvdb5993]

Exquisitely read as always, and what an ingenious (if not very moral!) ending. I had never come across Baroness Orczy's detective stories before, but I do hope you will upload more.

[@BitesizedAudio]

I certainly will! Hoping to do another one before too long. And thanks so much for the coffee earlier, I really appreciate your support. Best wishes

[@ginabeena6757]

What a twist! Wonderful! Thank you and Happy Holidays!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you Gina, same to you!

[@gohboy56]

Sir Simon! I always look forward to your impeccable diction in your narratives. This newest one brings back long buried memories ...the pronunciation of currency/ coins used way back. My dad was involved in the administration of British colonies and I now recall his use of tuppence, half penny etc. As usual your choice of a tale with twists and turns live up to your admirable standard.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

A penny for your thoughts !

[@BitesizedAudio]

That's lovely to hear, funny how memories are triggered by little details like that. Thank you so much for your support, and your kind words. Best wishes

[@gohboy56]

@ 2smvalkyrie. Hope you had a great Yuletide...had been meaning to acknowledge your rather witty response re my message to Sir Simon. A penny for my thoughts indeed🤗 Take care fellow fan of Classic Ghost Stories!

[@charvi999]

Whoa! I didn't see that coming! Amazing story. I enjoyed the way you voiced the lawyer. I am addicted to your readings.

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Excellent, Simon, as always! Thank you.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks Rosie. Lovely to hear from you, I hope you're keeping well

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

@@BitesizedAudio Yes, I am. Thank you.

[@synesthete23]

What a story! I wasn’t impressed at first and felt it was a slow start, but what a finish! Thank you Simon not only for your wonderful narration but also your impeccable selections 👍

[@justinweber4977]

When I first read the Old Man, I felt the same way. But, also like you said, once the stories get going, they pick up entertainingly.

[@julielevinge266]

Selections always brilliant,have found so many new genres through this channel, always good to have help of a professional, expert✊♥️

[@ImCarolB]

Kudos to you, Simon, and to the Baroness for this twisted tale! It was a bit ear-pricking because my grandfather's name was William Kershaw, and my great-grandfather was in the Prussian army, as referenced near the end.

[@BitesizedAudio]

How spooky! Glad you enjoyed it, thanks Carol

[@dranimations7902]

An interesting mystery - and an equally mysterious mystery solver.

[@Reonrei]

Wasn't he Kershaw in his new identity?

[@lyndaa7560]

Really well read as usual, which always adds to the atmosphere, I wonder who he was it’s another puzzle on top of a puzzle. Thank-you xx

[@divine.damage]

Thank you! Always excellent.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad to know you enjoyed it, thanks DD

[@jolenelittlewood7978]

Nice one guy's, excellent production,will always be listening 🎧

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks Jolene, appreciated!

[@susanotway7875]

Excellent! Thank you Simon, again!

[@RockyRacoon123]

Love these “man in the corner” stories! 👍👍

[@nq1solo728]

Everything at first has caught my attention. The title, the theme and the description. Fortunately, everything at last was quite satisfactory. An overwhelming thriller!

[@phamviz5755]

Oh my, I love you voice so much. Your channel is wonderful specially for whom love learning English by Story like me. Thank you again, keep it up !

[@dalewilson59]

Thanks, I enjoyed listening

[@BitesizedAudio]

Appreciated, thanks Dale

[@Bhakti-rider]

I'm not certain I've found anything on your channel before, but I'll sure be looking now! I'm only about 11 minutes into this, but within the first two or three minutes I'd already been delighted by your enunciation - perfectly splendid! I wonder if you have any knowledge or opinion of Rafael Sabatini's stories?

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you for visiting the channel, and for your kind comments. I know of Sabatini only as the author of Captain Blood, and there again I'm not sure whether I've read it many years ago, or simply seen the Errol Flynn film! Having just looked up his list of works, I see that he also wrote several volumes of short stories... I must investigate further. Any particular recommendations?

[@Bhakti-rider]

@@BitesizedAudio Anything he wrote! He comes up with the most amazing, unanticipated twists and turns of plot; in my opinion he's the best creator of stories ever. And on top of that, his writing style, the way he crafts sentences, while I can imagine it not being everyone's cup of tea, thoroughly delights me. I first became aware of his stories when I heard Bill Cavness reading Scaramouche on an NPR station in the 80s. Each time I read another story, I think it's his best - they all are.

[@katherenaboulden8482]

@@BitesizedAudio Scaramouche

[@KiKiabout]

Excellent... Thank you!

[@magicbulletdancers]

What a great listen ! Thank you 👍

[@hilaryfinlayson5356]

Thank you for your amazing stories. Just the best. Hilly

[@minwade5436]

Thank you a delightfully narrated tale. Your voice is mellifluous & well suited to the task. Cheers 👏🏻🇦🇺

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you kindly!

[@marthaharnish178]

I believe that when you love the art, you love the artist as well. Simon, I send my love to you and all the others who work on this channel. I wish you the happiest of holidays, regardless of what you celebrate.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you so much Martha. I'm actually the only one working on the channel, alas... although I must say my family are very supportive, especially when I disappear for hours on end. Best wishes to you too, thanks for listening and for your kind comments

[@marthaharnish178]

You do everything yourself? Sir, you are a marvel! I enjoy your stories so much. I'm American, and I'm hearing them for the first time. I love a good ghost story or mystery!

[@jeffreese1828]

Excellent reading !!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks Jeff!

[@JulieLevinge]

Please, please cover more of Baroness Orczy unraveled knot mysteries. I can only find them narrated by people who appear to mispronounce every other word,making it impossible to listen to. Never has your superb narration been so deeply appreciated.✊❤️

[@marianshand4523]

One of your best narratives, and you have one of the best vocals. Love it. Best Reg, from QLD Aust.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you Marian, much appreciated

[@susanhepburn6040]

Thank you very much.

[@BitesizedAudio]

You're welcome, thanks Susan

[@marchuws4993]

Lovely stories lovely narration.🌼

[@afroozm9413]

Thank you for your story.

[@esterherschkovich6499]

I go to Fenchurch Station at lot☺Thank you🌸🌸

[@BitesizedAudio]

It's some years since I passed through... Is the first class refreshment room (as featured in the story) still there....?

[@sockmonkey22]

This one I must listen to again. I’m lost.

[@sockmonkey22]

Spoiler alert- So the wife didn’t recognize her own husband in the courtroom.🙄🙄🙄

[@BitesizedAudio]

@steve shay Apparently not... He does make a point of saying she refused to look at him in the dock, which sort of explains it, although I think I had the same initial reaction as you when I first read it.

[@sockmonkey22]

@@BitesizedAudio Thank you! Now I don’t feel so bad. 🤫😀 The willing suspension of disbelief.

[@eltoyongardener1225]

Was kinda lost myself. Thanks to this ability to “scroll back” and play back. Of course the penmanship of the accused is different from the letters. It was Kershaw, posing as Smethurst who was being accused, who was asked to write in front of the magistrate. If Mrs Kershaw saw what the “man in the dock” wrote, she would have been shocked to realize that her own husband is imposturing the supposed killer of her own husband!😜

[@Laura-tp8wz]

Many thanks!

[@feralbluee]

omg - i had to listen to the ending twice. i wasn’t pay enough attention at first and got totally confused. great story! :)

[@BitesizedAudio]

Yes, it's quite a devious plot! Glad you enjoyed it, thanks Alexa

[@jack8841]

Simon did an aceptional job reading as usual, the story itself was good overall, I really like what we've seen of the main character and i'd be intrested to hear more from this searies although personally i thought the ending was a bit of a let down for reasons that would bs a spoiler to go into

[@BitesizedAudio]

Appreciated Myrddin, thank you. I saw your earlier comment and (without giving spoilers) think you have a point!

[@justinweber4977]

Can't believe this escaped my notice. I LOVE "The Old Man in the Corner"!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Excellent, glad to know that. Re it escaping your notice, I've been wondering if my notifications have not been reaching all my channel members for some reason. I can't see what the membership tab looks like from a member's point of view, and I've no way of knowing whether the notifications (especially of member previews and exclusives) aren't getting through to everyone, or whether people are just busy and choosing to leave them til they're ready (which is completely understandable!). Anyway, glad to know you've seen it now, thanks again for your support

[@justinweber4977]

@@BitesizedAudio No problem there. I could also be missing things just because my alerts get pretty cluttered too. Can't speak for other members, but me just plain not realizing I have an alert is ALWAYS a possibility.

[@Frenchblue8]

Most enjoyable! However I do have to say, being a true ~and fictional~ crime aficionado of well pretty much my whole life, I did see it coming from the start. I won't give away the game but it was still a jolly good ride because the telling of it. The telling of it was wonderful! Thank you! A cup of coffee coming your way, dear narrator. PS. 31, January 2022 Enjoy your coffee!☕

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you so much, greatly appreciated!

[@snippycutwell9878]

Loved it thanks

[@waldokitts5698]

Excellent!!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you!

[@kimmyrick1950]

Excellent

[@johnnyrockabilly4962]

A great story cooool

[@irenabevans3411]

Not heard of this tale before by the Baroness, are you here anymore?, wonderful narration. as ever Thank you

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks Irena. There are more: this was the first in a series of stories featuring the characters of the Old Man in the Corner and Polly Burton, and I'd certainly like to revisit them in the future.

[@irenabevans3411]

@@BitesizedAudio look forward to hearing them, sorry about dotty spelling in my previous comment, been trying to get rid of spell check as it puts in word's or sentences not required _ if I forget to do a spell check before posting them gibberish appears, most aggregvating

[@inisipisTV]

The Teahouse detective is a series of short stories. There are many of them.

[@Frenchblue8]

Of course this investigation and trial would never pass muster in today's era of no stone unturned. We would never take for granted so much of what this trial court judge did as well as a virtually non-existent prosecutor, for example, that nobe of Smith guest's European colleagues "spoke a word of English", or exactly how Sir Edward found out about the Italian hotel owner, how nobody even tried to corroborate the defende ts story anout being told a sob story, then led around the East End or wherever, or that items belonging to one man could have been planted on a murder victim. But what was never touched on by the old man.. was WHY kershaw would abandon such a good and clearly loyal wife..what was his endgame...and why. Yeh. I dont ACTUALLY care, i loved the tale as told to Polly by the old man and his string int the ABC Tea Shoppe

[@txnygotw]

Beautifully read, as always. Special thanks for pronouncing Baroness Orczy's name correctly. :) How do you know Hungarian pronunciation? Do you check up on it before reading?

[@BitesizedAudio]

Appreciated, thank you! I can't claim to speak Hungarian, but I do try to get things like that right so yes I usually double/triple check pronunciations from as many sources as I can find beforehand. Thanks for your kind comments

[@cosmos5623]

Its the 'Teahouse Detective'. Well done.

[@sarahsamaria8283]

Hope we get to hear more stories of this Holme's character. Well plotted and as always excellently narrated by you. Only sorry that the murderer got away Scot free.

[@tottiemae2258]

Please do not put spoilers in your comments. It ruins it for anyone coming after you.

[@roelienpostma2367]

I realy appreciate the elaborate information about the female writer! How interesting her own life, and the whole era! Have these stories been made into a film?

[@BitesizedAudio]

I'm glad to know the notes are of interest. There hasn't been a film adaptation, that I know of, although one of the stories from this series ('The Mysterious Death on the Underground Railway', which I've also narrated elsewhere on the channel) was adapted as an episode of a 1970s British TV series 'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'. However, in the adaptation the character of the old man in the corner was eliminated and the journalist Polly Burton was made into the detective, investigating the crime directly herself. I can see the logic of this... the "indirect narration" of the original doesn't translate well to the screen, and sitting in the corner of a tea shop isn't very dramatic! As I think some other commenters have mentioned, there was also a BBC radio series some years ago, called 'The Teahouse Detective', which dramatized some of these stories. Bernard Hepton played the old man in the corner.

[@cruisepaige]

I love your voice and trust your choices!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks @cruisepaige, appreciated!

[@tonyrawlinson8894]

Just been reading Baroness Orczy's TOM in the Corner. I'd like to hear you read any of them: I particularly like "The Robbery in Phillimore Terrace" and "The Liverpool Mystery." The latter refers to xenophobia, which I doubt has lessened much in all these years. Her grasp of Liverpool geography is for the most part sound. There was a Liverpool North Western Hotel and it was opposite St George's Hall, and there is a Bold Street, although there's no such thing as "up the Birkenhead end of the town", as Birkenhead is across the river! "The Mysterious Death on the Underground Railway" is the most famous and always seems to feature in any anthology worth its salt. The overall highlight is Polly constantly trying to interject and being cut off by TOM!

[@itallia666]

Ah ha! SPOILER ALERT...! Very good story, even though id kind of worked out the gist of the mystery, it did not detract from the excellence of your wonderful narration. Plus even though id worked out that Kershaw was the murderer of Smethurst the millionaire & thus posed as the dead man i hadnt worked out the how & why of the case, so was fully satisfied with the end results of the story...except.. who was the slightly built nervous chap who informed Polly of his theory? Hmm wonder if anyone else has any idea who he was? Thank you in boatloads, Simon A very intriguing tale most marvellously narrated in your own inimitable style!

[@BitesizedAudio]

@Itallia 3,6,9 Thank you, so glad to know you enjoyed it. I wonder if you'd mind editing the start of your comment just to alert people that there is a potential spoiler ahead (just because I know that some listeners read the comments while listening to the story). To answer your question: the Old Man in the Corner has no name, but he's the focus of this series of stories - an "armchair detective" who manages to solve crimes through logic and brainpower, including those which have baffled the police. A very impressive individual!

[@itallia666]

@@BitesizedAudio No problem, have already amended my comment heading In caps SPOILER ALERT I shall be careful in future & shall add the above if i have mentioned anything that may spoil anyones listening enjoyment I forget sometimes not everyone does what i do which is decide on my own if i shall watch or not so never read comments prior to viewing, only after it. I shall carefully word any further comments, as id hate to influence potential listeners. Thank you for letting me know 😶👍

[@skylights2379]

That was a fun story!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks for listening

[@mariameere5807]

I’m learning more and more about authors that I find authors On this spectacular channel! I like to Wikipedia them! Thank you for this!🕊🤍🕊

[@mariameere5807]

In this case it was not necessary one little bit to use Wikipedia, That’s what I love about this channel..... among many other things, the background work you do and put under the videos, You should be so proud of yourself. When I get the Christmas spirit, I will listen to a Christmas Carol. Your version- obviously! It will be interesting to listen to it instead of watching it which I do every year! I find Charles Dickens Quite depressing actually, actually genius but very depressing subject material with lots of poverty et cetera but I love Oliver twist and the Christmas Carol! Happy endings! Maybe the other one would have had happy ending because I read them instead of having the option to watch them, I never found out!

[@crystalclear6864]

Yes added bonus with the background knowledge. Thanks that these stories are re discovered. Narration the icing on the cake. Delightful to hear english spoken properly. And bringing the characters to life

[@manasbose8817]

Another great treasue Simon. I will not be listening to to anything else from you next week or so as then I will have some Xmas treats to enjoy 😍

[@BitesizedAudio]

Wonderful! I hope that by then there should be another two saved up for you, all being well...

[@victorfinberg8595]

there is something really odd about this trial. one key point is that the defense brings in a couple surprise witnesses. this violates the entire concept of "discovery", during which both parties lay all the evidence on the table. you just are not allowed to introduce evidence that one party is not aware of.

[@patriciajrs46]

Love to hear read anything, Simon. The Baroness is quite a novelty, I think, as a writer. I think it's wonderful. Some of your British terms are unknown to me; most of them have to do with money. I don't understand the different break downs of monies. Love this story.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks Patricia. To be fair, the currency references are probably quite unfamiliar to many modern British ears, we've been through a few devaluations and revaluations, not to mention decimalisation, since this story was written. Two pence (tuppence), three pence (thruppence) and so on are quite antiquated terms, although we do still hear them occasionally...

[@inisipisTV]

I like to study Victorian era history. The understanding of pre-decimal British monetization is indeed quite confusing. Good thing it was all cleaned up.

[@beverlyadams7205]

I like the man in the corner! 🤗👍

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad to know that, thanks Beverly. I'm sure there'll be more from him in the new year...

[@peterchaloner2877]

Wonderfully authoritative voice, guaranteed not only to entertain but also to cow the lower orders.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you Peter!

[@justinweber4977]

You know, Inglewood, in hindsight, feels like he could both, be a Law and Order Attorney AND a Phoenix Wright attorney.

[@QofCats]

Spoilers ahead: Stolen identity seems to be a recurrent theme in Baroness Orczy short stories!

[@sandraelder1101]

I didn’t know she’d written anything except the Scarlet Pimpernel stories. Thanks for reading & posting!

[@andrewbyronloveshire5209]

Great reading - but the elephant in the room with the 'twist' ending... There is no way Kershaw can now live as a millionaire - his handwriting won't sign cheques or any other paperwork, nor will his 'disguise' fool intimate friends... so he might have got away with murder... but is still poor except for the luggage and money taken from the train.

[@Nicky-n4p]

But Kershsaw had samples of his victims handwriting and signature. And he could live anywhere in the world with his newfound wealth...

[@leifvejby8023]

Fenchurch, wonder what happened to her - and will her and Arthur ever meet again?

[@mijiyoon5575]

Plate of tongue ... yum yum ...NOT!👅

[@wordzmyth]

Cold pressed tongue can be very delicious meat. It has to be prepared properly in the English way.

[@rahawa774]

@@wordzmyth I agree - lovely in a sandwich: soft brown bread, mustard or piccalilli and some lamb's lettuce or cress :)

[@raipa111]

18:50

[@catherinep2034]

Well, I'm just as puzzled as Polly.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that. Puzzled by the mystery, or by the old man? He's quite an elusive character...

[@catherinep2034]

@@BitesizedAudio I understood the mystery, quite clever, thou the poor wife. It's just the fidgety man that's confused me. Was he hoping Polly would write about it, or he just needed to get it off his chest? Very bizarre that he left so suddenly.

[@rmkpilates]

I am confused...

[@indigobunting2431]

I didn't understand the ending. Spoiler, anyone?

[@amazingtheatre1262]

A few misreadings but excellent entertainment

[@BitesizedAudio]

I'm glad to know you enjoyed it, but may I ask what misreadings you noticed? I try my very best to check and double-check all the stories I record before uploading and am always mortified when errors slip through, as inevitably they sometimes do. I also (very occasionally) make editorial changes myself if necessary. It's complicated because in stories of this age there are often variations between different editions of the text, some things have been changed by editors and typos may have crept in to some editions. Where possible I check against the original. In this particular case, I deliberately made three slight variations from the original text - one which I think may be due to a typo in the version I worked from, but which I left as it made no difference to the sense (in fact it arguably aided it), and two minor changes which I made myself to aid the clarity of the story when it wasn't immediately clear which character was being referred to (and whereas in the written form it's easy to re-read a sentence, I wanted to save listeners the bother of re-winding). Actually one of the latter two cases was in fact to correct a very obvious mistake, where the third person narrative lapsed into first person in reference to Polly: a definite error either by the author or the original editor. If you noticed more than those variations I'd be grateful to know the details; at some point I may put a few of the stories together in a compilation, so I potentially have an opportunity to correct mistakes.

[@sittnknittnwatchn3980]

💙🎙📚💙

[@PamelaTitterington]

👍🏻

[@kimmccabe1422]

Wouldn't it be nice if intelligence was brought into everything-not just mysteries ha

[@ter2710]

Irish accent???

[@johngoodchild9617]

,

[@lawrencegoldworm960]

By God this is a boring, unnecessarily drawn out story. Told with all the import of an old shopping list. Zzzzzz.

[@terranovarubacha5473]

So good! Although Spoilers! . . . . I'm a little confused as to how he's meaning to keep up the illusion that he is someone he isn't. Maybe I missed something but this seems like a tremendous plot hole. Enjoyable though, even when predictable and unlikely. Masterful, that! :)

[@caroleastwood9386]

Marvellous yet again Simon. Thank you!