VOLUME I.

LONDON: WARD AND DOWNEY, 12, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1885. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]

PRINTED BY KELLY AND CO., GATE STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS AND KINGSTON-ON-THAMES.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

I.--Introduces Mrs. James Preedy; hints at the trouble into which she has fallen; and gives an insight into her social position 1

II.--What was printed on the quarto bill: a proclamation by her Majesty's Government 19

III.--Extracted from the "Evening Moon" 25

IV.--The examination of Mrs. Preedy, continued from the "Evening Moon" 33

V.--Contains further extracts from the "Evening Moon" relating to the Great Porter Square mystery 50

VI.--The "Evening Moon" speaks its mind 56

VII.--In which the "Evening Moon" continues to speak its mind 62

VIII.--The "Evening Moon" postpones its statement respecting Antony Cowlrick 88

IX.--In which the "Evening Moon" relates the adventures of its Special Correspondent 90

X.--The Special Reporter of the "Evening Moon" makes the acquaintance of a little match girl 121

XI.--The "Evening Moon" for a time takes leave of the case of Antony Cowlrick 142

XII.--Mrs. Preedy has dreadful dreams 147

XIII.--Mrs. Preedy's young man lodger 154

XIV.--In which Becky commences a letter to a friend in the country 167

XV.--In which Becky continues her letter, and relates how she obtained the situation at No. 118 175

XVI.--In which Becky writes a second letter to her friend in the country, and gives a woman's reason for not liking Richard Manx 183

XVII.--In which Becky, continuing her letter, relates her impressions of Mrs. Preedy's young man lodger 193

XVIII.--The "Evening Moon" reopens the subject of the Great Porter Square murder, and relates a romantic story concerning the murdered man and his widow 219

XIX.--The "Evening Moon" continues its account of the tragedy, and describes the shameful part enacted by Mr. Frederick Holdfast in his father's house 244

GREAT PORTER SQUARE:

A MYSTERY.