there be fiction

Don’t get too excited, it’s still me: yours, truly, di-42. I thought I would make a side blog entirely dedicated to Good Omens fanfiction, because I’m addicted to spreading the joy and love these fics bring. If you’ve seen me around, you might know that I make monthly lists with the fictions I read and my (positive only) thoughts about them. You can find all the lists if you scroll down this post. The criteria I use for a fic to be in those lists are: I finish it. That’s it. Or I finish the first one or two chapters for WIPs. If I finish reading a fiction I will say what I like about it, or what the fic is about, in my lists. Those lists are not about recommending the best of the best, they are about telling each other stories, reading each other’s stories, telling other fellow fans about those stories, and generally building community.

I quite often find myself going through my own posts to find some fictions to recommend when someone asks for something specific, so I thought I could make  this side blog and re-organize those fictions by theme. Easier to find more quickly. This is all still a work in progress: I will update when I have the time, and more fictions and themes to add. Some themes will only have one fic, and quite a few fics will be in several lists. I will, in time, link the lists to this pinned post. Feel free to reblog any post and add your own recs (self recs absolutely welcome). Please note, these are just re-shuffles of the fics mentioned in my monthly lists; if you want some more detailed themed recs, you might want to visit curiouspupsicle and curiouspupsiclelibray. If you’re looking for a fic in particular, I’m sure you know you’ll need to ask aziraphales-library. For daily recs, please follow handyowlet. For weekly recs, please follow addledmongoose. For more recs, please follow sabine-smitten-obviously. To have fun with some of the most amazing lines our fantastic writers come up with, please follow good-omens-fanfic-be-like. If you want to check out my monthly lists as they come, that’s my main blog.

If you want your fic to be taken off these lists, please let me know.

Please, now and always, don’t judge a fiction by the number of kudos!

The lists so far:

Season 1 and post season 1 list

Canon divergent, parallel universes, and reverse omens

Human/demon and human/angel AUs

In-universe jealousy

South Downs and/or safe, happy future

G and T rated human one-shots

Season 3, post season 2, and fix-it

Fluffy, lighthearted and funny (in-universe)

My favourite human AUs

Summoning

Writers

Christmas

Neighbours

Fake relationships

Criminals and spies AUs

Halloween

Enemies to lovers

Snake and snake care

Bite size

Teachers and professors AUs

Outsiders or side characters' POVs

Inspired by or connected to a film

E rated human one-shots

1941

Ghosts and spooky

Singers. rockstars and musicians

Strangers to lovers and meet cute

Warlock

Forced proximity

Friends to lovers

Low to no angst

Weddings and marriage proposals

Bittersweet, open or unhappy ending

E-rated in-universe one-shots

Reality TV

Media

Trans characters

Public and semi-public sex

Epistolary

Distant future

Tadfield

Actors AUs

Through the ages

COVID and lockdown

Ace and demi characters

Inspired by or connected to a song

Politics

Valentine's Day

S3 trailer-inspired, post S3 and S3 fix-its

Rarepairs and underrated characters

Fantasy AUs

Established relationships in a human setting

Twenty years in the making

Animals and pets

Ineffable wives

Flatmates

Misunderstandings

Gardener Crowley

Getting back together

Based on the fanfiction To All the Lovers in the House Tonight by kedgeree!

(Commission for @lydsqd)

Based on the fanfiction To All the Lovers in the House Tonight by kedgeree!

(Commission for @lydsqd)

So, January hasn't really been a great month in terms of time to dedicate to reading the wonderful fictions this fandom has to offer. Have fallen behind on yet another WIP I was reading, I haven’t been able to go back to a few fics I started a couple of months ago and I haven't started @addledmongoose’s The Devil’s In the Details (but I recommend it by default. Addled’s fictions are all unquestionably good. You can go and read it). But once again, where we lack in quantity, we more than make up for in quality!

Usual disclaimer, if you want your fiction taken off this list, or know someone who does, please let me know. 

When I have the time (so probably not very soon) this fictions will be added to the nice and accurate lists of Di-42, witch, so please consider following my side blog for themed lists and even more silliness.

Surely you know it by now, but it’s always worth repeating that if you judge a fiction by the number of kudos it already has you’ll miss out on true gems.

Now, my friends, let me tell you what I loved about 

January’s Jolly Fictions

WIPs:

Finding Mr. Claus, by Captclockwork @clockworkcap, @puzzl3cat. Rated E, chapters6/?

Lovely and sexy human AU where Aziraphale is Santa in a shopping centre grotto and Crowley finds a job as an elf. It's really lovely to witness the immediate attraction between them and the growing bond. There might or might not be a mystery to unravel as well.

The Nutter Curse: An Epistolary Romance, by @bohoteacher @thinkinginscripts. Rated T, chapters 7/27.

Epistolary human AU in which Dr Aziraphale Fell is researching the Nutter curse: a curse that a so-called witch cast upon the descendants of the crow;eigh family almost 400 years ago. I still have to catch up on the latest chapters, but I’m enjoying this fiction very much. The tone of the letters between Aziraphale and Crowley is very much in character, their banter is gentle and their getting to know each other very entertaining.

Mine and Hogs_and_ham’s The Solstice Dinner, rated E, chapters 7/8. 

We are nearly at the end of this Gilmore Girls inspired, enemies to lovers human AU, full of banter and bickerflirting. Crowley is a grumpy cafe owner in Tadfield, Aziraphale is the sunny proprietor of the local inn. Needless to say, they loathe each other. And are not in the least attracted to each other. Ha! Written for the Winter Omens Big Bang, a fairly lighthearted story set in a Stars Hollowesque Tadfield. Come and marvel at Hog’s amazing artworks!

Complete Fictions:

Trivia Night: A Love Story, by @missunderstoodlyrics. Rated E, 32k. P. Jan 24.

Lovely, no angst, strangers to lovers human AU. Crowley and Aziraphale meet while taking part in the trivia tournament with their respective rival teams. A lovely story of gentle flirting and falling in love with one another.

The Great Porcine Potentilla Heist, by copperbadge. Rated T, 21k. P. Oct 25, but written after season 1.

Fantastic post season 1 fiction, full of teasing, pining and their typical obliviousness. Our Ineffables, finally free from heaven and hell, enjoy life in London between a trip to a secondhand bookshop and lunch at the pub. To escape a little situation they find themselves in, they take a holiday to Tadfield. Aziraphale wants to try sleeping. Crowley wants to steal a plant from RP Tyler. Everyone knows they are a couple except them. You know the drill. Humour, lighthearted feelings, love declarations. Lovely, lovely fiction!

My own Just a Neighbour I Know. Rated T, 14k. P. Jan 26.

Lighthearted neighbour human AU written for a dear fandom friend. Featuring awkward flirting, pining, two very smitten and very oblivious men, misdelivered post, Agnes the cat, and Crowley’s cupboard.

One shots and short stories:

From Whose Womb Came The Ice? By Werpiper. Rated G, 9k. P. Dec 25.

This lovely story is set immediately after the events narrated in A Companion To Owls and is about the importance of keeping asking questions and looking for answers. We get to know Sitis, Ennon, Keziah and Jemimah better as they get to know the snow.

,Lap Of Luxury, by Savyl. Rated T, 4k. P. Jan 26.

I am so blessed that my friend wrote this lovely, romantic and funny in-universe story for me! I can’t begin to tell you how much I love it! The humour is outstanding as always in Savyl’s stories, and their love and bravery are so heartwarming! Aziraphale and Crowley are relaxing in the bookshop. When they get too close for heaven and hell’s liking, Soho is hit by a thunderstorm.

Chirality, by GaiasEyes @gaiaseyes451. Rated T, 958 words. P. Nov 25.

Very intriguing human AU starring God and Lucifer. I loved how the power dynamics were expressed in this fiction!

Matters Of Perspective, by @naturallyteal. Rated M, 3k. P. Jan 26.

I am so chuffed that this fantastic, fluffy and sexy post canon fic was written especially for me! Teal plays beautifully with the POVs, and the result is a mix between hilarious and heartwarming. Plus, Angel claims Demon, enough said. I thoroughly loved it!

Everything We’ve Learned Along The Way, by @spectrallydistracted. Rated T, 9k. P. Jan 26.

Oh, I truly can’t begin to tell you how much I loved this story! It made me feel all fuzzy inside! So heartwarming, angst-free, sweet and just joyful! Friends to lovers human AU that will touch your soul and heart. The love between Aziraphale and Crowley seeps through every single line of this fic as they pretend-date as an experiment to understand why everyone Crowley dates falls in love with him.

Inceptiversary 2016 – Inception 30 Day Challenge

DAY20: A pairing you ship.

EAMTHURRRRRRR!

(Seriously, why isn’t this portmanteau more used? It’s so deliciously dorky!)

Ariadne Writes Fanfiction, Yusuf Blows Things Up, and Cobb Really Doesn’t Want to Know

Ariadne shipped them silently.

Yusuf was purposefully oblivious.

Cobb was in denial.

And Arthur and Eames? Well, their behavior should’ve been an answer unto itself.

(read the fanfiction on AO3)

Such an important day called for a collab! So I asked the lovely @randombitsofstars if she wanted to write something based on my fanart and, damn, did she! Follow the link to read her fanfiction in all its splendour!

Hi. We have loads of fics on our #hurt aziraphale, #aziraphale whump, and #aziraphale-centric tags, so check those out. Here are more to add...

What could have been… by sooduhnim (T)

He’s done this dozens of times before now, they ebb and flow and some are worse than others, Aziraphale doesn’t know what they are, where they came from, why they happened shortly after he cut ties with Heaven, maybe they’re a punishment for all his “sins”.

Where We Wake Sobbing For Joy by LucyCrewe11 (T)

Crowley rescues a traumatized Aziraphale from Hastur and imprisonment in Hell, only to fear something inside the angel has snapped forever and he's lost his best friend. So he breaks the rules and goes to a place where he isn't welcome, a world that is Aziraphale's alone, in hopes of making things right again.

Falling Slowly by ShesAKillerQueen98 (T)

Three months of peace after the failed apocalypse ends in tragedy as Heaven finds a new way to punish Aziraphale, one that's much more permanent. Will he and Crowley be able to pick up the pieces?

Asunder by EdosianOrchids901 (M)

When a protective charm goes awry, Aziraphale is left trapped in a terrible situation, and in terrible pain. Will Crowley be able to find a way to save him?

Promise by AppleSeeds (T)

While back at his childhood home to help his elderly parents prepare for Christmas, Aziraphale is shocked when the post arrives and includes a letter addressed to him, which turns out to be from his childhood best friend, Crowley. The letter sparks some painful realisations for Aziraphale, who must confront the truth about his family's cruelty towards him before setting out to reunite with the man he loved so deeply all those years ago.

Confusion by FizzyBadger (G)

‘Wait, you’re injured, calm down. Shit Aziraphale, stop struggling, you’ll make it worse.’ Aziraphale stopped. Not because he wanted to, but because moving hurt and he thought if he carried on he might be sick.

This really just scratches the surface but I had so much fun making this, maybe I'll do another one. These are all fics I consider fandom classics. I limited myself to one fic per author and tried to include a mix of genres.

A gainst the Rest of the World by SilentAuror (151K, E, Post-Reichenbach)

B e Here Now by Todesfuge (94K, M, post-Reichenbach)

C ooperative Principle by bendingsignpost (56K, E, Uni profs AU)

D eflowered - Director's Cut by Lorelei_Lee (328K, E, Mafia BDSM AU)

E lectric Pink Hand Grenade by BeautifulFiction (67K, E, Sickfic/Casefic)

F ill Our Mouths With Cinnamon Now by lbmisscharlie (114K, E, Parentlock)

G host Stories by SwissMiss (22K, M, Domestic)

H itting the Water at Sixty Miles an Hour by what_alchemy (30K, E, Fake relationship)

I n deed accomplish our designs by greywash (95K, E, Post-Reichenbach)

J ust a Kiss by emmagrant01 (19K, E, 5 Times)

K intsukuroi by sussexbound (91K, E, S4 Fixit)

L eft by lifeonmars (45K, M, Magical realism)

M aintenance and Repair by patternofdefiance (106K, E, Sci Fi AU)

N ature and Nurture by earlgreytea68 (203K, M, Parentlock/Clonelock)

O ur Enthusiasms Which Cannot Always Be Explained by withoutawish (32K, M, Casefic/Romance)

P erformance in a Leading Role by Mad_Lori (156K, E, Actors AU)

Q uintessential by thisprettywren (49K, E, Senseverse AU)

R iptide Lover by jinglebell (114K, E, Merlock AU)

S chool for Scandal by orphan_account (222K, E, Boarding school AU)

T hirst by bittergreens (122K, E, Post-pool casefic/Romance)

U nwind by illwick (752K, E, BDSM series)

V essel by Rhuia (15K, E, Sickfic/Casefic)

W atson's Folly by Diana Williams/dkwilliams (299K, M, Regency AU)

X mas: Goodness Gives Extras by mydwinter (39K, E, Romance/Casefic)

Y ou Give Me Fever by michi_thekiller (16K, E, 1950's Greaserlock AU)

I went on a bit of a fic-reading spree this spring, and this list of favorites is the result! There are many other fics that I’ve enjoyed reading, but these are the ones that I’ve really loved for one reason or another.

I’ve tagged the authors whose tumblrs I could find. If that’s you, thank you so much for sharing your writing with us. If your work is on here, you wrote something that I really treasure.

1. A River Without Banks, by Chryse. E, 203,286 words. Starts right after Season 3. A mix of Sherlock’s perspective, John’s perspective, and the perspectives of other characters. Sherlock-focused for the first half.

Author’s summary: “‘You love this, being Sherlock Holmes.’ He had once. When had it all gone so wrong?”

This is my absolute favorite. The author’s characterization of Sherlock is amazingly accurate, and Sherlock’s character development over the course of the story is breathtakingly executed and moving. The plot is fantastic and takes you on a page-turning emotional roller coaster, especially for about the first half of the story. I was also continually impressed by how many details from the show and references to earlier parts of the fic the author was able to weave in throughout while still keeping the story creative and original. Most importantly, though, I love this fic for the message that it sends about Sherlock and John’s love, which is a far more positive message than the one that the actual show settled upon in the end. I’m grateful that we have this version of their love story, and, personally, I like to pretend that this was Season 4 and how the show ended.

2. Another Country, by Chryse. E, 67,414 words. Starts right after the end of TAB. Sherlock’s perspective.

Sherlock spends one month and three days under house arrest in 221B, trying to get clean from the drugs, track down the new Moriarty, and figure out what the hell is going on between him and John.

Another fantastic work by Chryse. This author really gets Sherlock’s character, and once again the characterization of Sherlock is spot-on and convincing. There are a few other elements that also make this a compelling story, including smart use of minor characters, a solid central mystery, and a complicated relationship between Sherlock and John that includes a pretty convincing post-Season-3 version of John. Excellent.

3. walk through ghosts, by @augustbird. M, 6,125 words. Written between Seasons 2 and 3. Sherlock’s perspective.

Author’s summary: “The thing is: Sherlock thought that the two of them would have forever to figure it out.”

This is the saddest fic I have ever read, and so beautifully written. The author captures Season 2 Sherlock’s character perfectly; the fact that this story feels so real is what makes it devastating. The day after I read this, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and walked around with my heart physically aching in my chest.

4. Nature and Nurture, by @earlgreytea68. M, 203,273 words. Set sometime after Season 2. Alternates between John’s and Sherlock’s perspectives, but mostly told from John’s.

The British government clones Sherlock. He and John decide to raise the baby.

A true fandom classic. The premise sounds super cracky, but somehow it really works. This fic is surprisingly serious at times, but overall it is the cutest and funniest thing I have ever read in my life. Basically 200,000+ words of Sherlock and John being adorable gay fathers together and working through some feelings, with line-by-line some of the most hilarious dialogue ever. The five accompanying ficlets that the author wrote as short follow-ups are also worth checking out; my favorites were School (T, 4,753 words) and The Radovljica Apicultural Museum (T, 4,540 words).

5. To a Friend Who Sent Me Roses, by @algyswinburne. E, 16,147 words. Set sometime after Season 4 (but ignores TFP, as we all should lol). Sherlock’s perspective.

Author’s summary: “Five times Sherlock is mistaken for John’s partner and Rosie’s father, and one time it isn’t a mistake.”

This fic is sad, sweet, and hot by turns. Absolutely lovely to read in so many ways, and with so many great details and lines. I think this story offers convincing portrayals of what Sherlock’s and John’s characters might be like after it all and how they might finally get together. This and A River Without Banks are my favorite alternate endings to the show. Beautiful!

6. for all that bitter delights will sour, by @darcylindbergh. E, 9,585 words. Set sometime after Season 3. Sherlock’s perspective.

John initiates a sexually and emotionally abusive relationship with Sherlock.

The second saddest fic I have read. I would never want what happens in this fic to happen to Sherlock and John, so I don’t exactly recommend it as a Johnlock fic. But as a short story, this is a gem, full of absolutely gorgeous and incredibly moving writing. It depicts difficult themes very deftly, in lines and paragraphs that I had to stop to read over and over. I appreciate this as an emotionally powerful and thought-provoking piece of writing inspired by Sherlock, so for that reason I think it deserves to be on this list.

7. The Ground Beneath Your Feet, by Chryse. E, 68,803 words. Set after Season 3, but as if the last two minutes of HLV never happened. “The plane went on to Eastern Europe, and this is what came after.” John’s perspective.

This fic is pretty dark; the author describes it as “a PTSD story in which John was wholly devoted to Sherlock.” I don’t love it quite as much as the other two fics by Chryse that I’ve listed here, but that’s mostly because those two are just so amazing! I still really enjoyed this one. It was wonderful to see a kind and caring version of John emerge out of Season 3, and the story had several memorable moments, including one particularly nail-biting scene. I also really liked seeing John and Mycroft become friends as they bonded over their shared concern for Sherlock.

8. The Adventures of a Single Girl in London (Plus a Consulting Detective), by @earlgreytea68. M, 32,913 words. Set soon after Season 3. Alternates between different characters’ perspectives.

Bored with life at her new cottage in Sussex, Janine returns to London and moves in with Sherlock at 221B. Hilarity, heartbreak, and eventual Johnlock ensue.

This is a Season 3 fix-it fic that features an absolutely lovely friendship between Sherlock and Janine and the best version of Janine that I’ve come across in a fic. Sherlock is vulnerable and sweet, John is an absolute idiot, Janine is perfect, and the last two chapters just make me scream. Great stuff.

And that’s it for now! If you know of any other fics that I might like based on the above, I’d be happy to hear about them, so drop me a line!

There's a lot of discussion on the topic of leaving comments on fics; Writers want them, readers aren't sure what to say in them, and a small army of dedicated blogs are doing their best to ensure every fic gets at least one!

This post will focus on the existing numbers, but if you'd like to engage with the action towards reducing the number of fics with no comments, have a look at the following blogs: @nomorezerocomments @safics-with-0-comments @justleaveacommentfest @letsmakecommentingfun

Top Fics With Most Comments:

(Listing top 20 instead of the usual top 10 because of the unusual distribution of fandoms! It's a fascinating spread)

Strawberry and Blueberry Jam by U.nderZeWeather (Voltron) Last Updated on: 2-Aug-22 Chapters: 323/? Comments: 49,891

Chained by War and Love by Lady_Nature (The Tudors) Last Updated on: 2-Aug-25 Chapters: 123/145 Comments: 45,476

All the Young Dudes by MsKingBean89 (Harry Potter) Finished on: 12-Nov-18 Chapters: 188/188 Comments: 44,520

http://ao3.org/works/41675805 Carlos from MarvelandZeldaFan's Children of the Heroes by KR5 (Linked Universe) Posted on: 13-Sep-22 Chapters: 1/1 <(note: this is art) Comments: 43,808 <(note: practically ALL those were contained within a singular thread between the author and the giftee, where the later messages took an old-tumblr spaghetti-style look xD)

Next Big Thing by earlgreytea68 (Inception) Last Updated on: 11-Jul-15 Chapters: 231/? Comments: 43,705

Forgetting About Stolas Ars Goetia by Marirock (Hazbin Hotel) Last Updated on: 28-Aug-25 Chapters: 66/? Comments: 42,130

Meet-Tired by SimpleSoupsandAppleTarts (The Untamed) Last Updated on: 30-Aug-25 Chapters: 1,431/? Comments: 40,308

1796 Broadway by rainproof, teaberryblue (Avengers) Finished on: 19-Sep-14 Chapters: 708/708 Comments: 37,483

Crimson Rivers by bizarrestars (Harry Potter) Finished on: 14-Feb-23 Chapters: 75/75 Comments: 36,300

Hidden Scenario - [Dramatis Personae] by Anonymous (Omniscient Reader) Last Updated on: 29-Aug-25 Chapters: 259/? Comments: 31,445

Viridian: The Green Guide by Clouds (BNHA) Finished on: 7-Aug-21 Chapters: 120/120 Comments: 30,743

A Thing Of Vikings by athingofvikings (How to Train Your Dragon) Last Updated on: 6-Oct-24 Chapters: 165/? Comments: 29,818

Mystery of Prince Atsushi by orphan_account (Original Work) Last Updated on: 25-Sep-23 Chapters: 1/? Comments: 28,634 <(note: practically all of those are contained within a single thread where the author roleplays with guest(s) under various nicknames)

Entirely Out of Spite by Bgtea (Genshin Impact) Finished on: 21-Aug-25 Chapters: 46/46 Comments: 28,495

The Grand Unified Theory of Shěn Qīngqiū: Qi Refining by 00janeblonde (SVSSS) Finished on: 10-Jul-24 Chapters: 501/501 Comments: 28,246

there's blood on your lies by HopeStoryteller (Pokemon) Finished on: 23-Feb-25 Chapters: 242/242 Comments: 27,893

Only the Divine's favorite fall in love... by ArklynVanilla (Cookie Run) Finished on: 1-Dec-23 Chapters: 16/16 Comments: 27,821

If You Had This Time Again by dls (Marvel) Finished on: 22-Mar-19 Chapters: 100/100 Comments: 27,004

One for All and Eight for the Ninth by griffinguy24 (BNHA) Last Updated on: 13-Feb-25 Chapters: 78/? Comments: 26,079

Dearly beloved by Sophia96 (Yuri!!! on Ice) Last Updated on: 21-Apr-25 Chapters: 458/? Comments: 25,836

Number of fics within comments brackets

>20k comments: 29 fics 10-20k comments: 145 fics 5-10k comments: 763 fics 1-5k comments: 22,331 fics 500-1k comments: 44,530 fics 100-500 comments: 411,943 fics 50-100 comments: 512,539 fics 10-50 comments: 3,645,944 fics 1-9 comments: 7,062,924 fics <1 comments: 3,888,557 fics

Nearly half (45.4%) of all AO3 fics have between 1-9 comments!

Vast majority (93.8%) of all AO3 fics have under 50 comments!

However he did look at Mycroft with a creased brow at being treated like a child. It was as if his old friend had forgotten he was a grown man, sure one from a time long passed but that didn't mean he was a fool or a toddler again. It was a warning look and nothing more to come of it in the moment, he needed Mycroft and for whatever his return was about, Mycroft would need him too.

"You replace it was a better ideology," Arthur answered without hesitation, "People strive to better their lives in some way, these monsters turned weapons are one thing and while I may not have comprehension of just what you might be talking about, swords can be melted down, turned into rewards, arrows can be woven into fence posts for a person to have their own space and crops after a war." Optimistic but that's just what Arthur was, he tried, always, to be the good in humanity even if sometimes he stumbled too.

"But all of these things start small, it is not society that changes people but people who change society." He raised his eyebrows and offered Mycroft a smile, an old rhetoric but not an untrue one. "We did it once before and we can do it again if we must."

Perhaps they could replace the dangerous ideology in the world. Mycroft doubted it would be possible - certainly not on a global level, and even more certainly not within the near future - but he understood that many individuals found it nice to dream, and he could admit that those dreamers were the men who ended up making a difference.

Personally, Mycroft wasn't a dreamer. He was a pragmatist. It wasn't his job to change the world, though. He could guide humanity and advise them, but his place had never been that of a leader.

"Perhaps you are right," he ended up diplomatically conceding. "Whatever the case, we shall see soon enough. I suspect whatever is happening is hardly going to wait for you to catch your breath before demanding your attention."

But that was enough of that. Mycroft didn't want Arthur to feel he was under too much pressure too quickly.

In Celebration of All Fanfic writers and some of the popular platforms that provide places to spread the joy of telling stories beyond the beloved books, shows, movies, etc. that inspire them!

British Birds, or, The Adventure Of The Empty Heart - rated T, ~6600 words

On the eve of his return to public life in 1894, Sherlock Holmes happens into a dusty bookshop.

He's just assembling a disguise. He couldn't have much in common with this stuffy little bookseller, could he?

The bell rang as I entered, startling the proprietor from his bespectacled focus on that morning’s Telegraph. A middle-aged man, still living in the era of his youth, I inferred from attire some decades out of date; of irregular habits, if one trusted the opening hours posted behind the glass of the door; likely of independent means, given the absence of customers and the dust settled undisturbed over nearly everything. I expected no less; Britain offers up many such examples, scions of well-do-do families who can afford to practise a hobby under the guise of an occupation.

I did not expect his startled, almost joyful look, nor the cry of “My dear fellow! Is it truly –” quickly interrupted as he snatched away his half-moon reading-glasses and rose from his desk. His manner became instantly more guarded. “Oh – my pardon, I mistook you for someone else, I fear. May I be of help?”

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