Friday, October 19, 2018

The Cigarette Case


The Cigarette Case is a 1911 short story by Oliver Onions. It can be read online here. You can listen to it via Librivox here. It begins,
"A cigarette, Loder?" I said, offering my case. For the moment Loder was not smoking; for long enough he had not been talking.

"Thanks," he replied, taking not only the cigarette, but the case also. The others went on talking; Loder became silent again; but I noticed that he kept my cigarette case in his hand, and looked at it from time to time with an interest that neither its design nor its costliness seemed to explain. Presently I caught his eye.

"A pretty case," he remarked, putting it down on the table. "I once had one exactly like it."

I answered that they were in every shop window.

"Oh yes," he said, putting aside any question of rarity. "I lost mine."

"Oh?…"

He laughed. "Oh, that's all right -I got it back again- don't be afraid I'm going to claim yours. But the way I lost it-found it -the whole thing- was rather curious. I've never been able to explain it. I wonder if you could?"

I answered that I certainly couldn't till I'd heard it, whereupon Loder, taking up the silver case again and holding it in his hand as he talked, began:

"This happened in Provence, when I was about as old as Marsham there- and every bit as romantic. I was there with Carroll -you remember poor old Carroll and what a blade of a boy he was- as romantic as four Marshams rolled into one. (Excuse me, Marsham, won't you? It's a romantic tale, you see, or at least the setting is.) We were in Provence, Carroll and I; twenty-four or thereabouts; romantic, as I say; and -and this happened.

12 comments:

  1. An interesting beginning.

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    1. I was drawn in by the focus on the cigarette case, which brings to mind those old movies where the men all have them. I have never seen one in real life.

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  2. I've been reading some season books too. One I started yesterday is called Dracul by Dacre Stoker and JD Barker based on the life of Bram Stoker. I couldn't put it down. Spooky (a bit) in a class gothic way. Not horror. But the writing is fantastic and you might want to keep your eyes open for it. I am listening to it otherwise I would send it to you once I finish. Happy Friday. Hugs-Erika

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    1. This does sound fascinating. I'm putting it on a list to check the library for. Thx!

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  3. I love all of his works, he was a true master! Valerie

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  4. Sounds like a great story for this time of year 😀. Happy weekend! J 😊 x

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    1. I love the old creepy/eerie tales for October :)

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  5. What I would call a sweet old ghost story. :)

    I used to have a cigarette case but I used it to hold business cards. It was given to me as a gift when I used to smoke years ago, but I smoked long cigarette that didn't fit in there--LOL! I couldn't resist using it for something, though! :)

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    1. Cool! My husband had a business card case, and I can see that a cigarette case would work for that :)

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  6. I should never have taken the time to read this since I'm so far behind in visiting people. I actually enjoyed this one.

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    1. I'm glad you're feeling better and am glad this tale gave you some enjoyment :)

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