CHAPTER XXVI

THE TURNPIKE HOUSE By Fergus Hume

CONTENTS I. THE CONVICT'S RETURN. II. THE STILL FORM IN THE HOUSE. III. YOUNG LOVE, TRUE LOVE. IV. A STRANGE EPISODE. V. A SHADOW OF THE PAST. VI. MR. CASS SPEAKS. VII. WEBSTER'S CHILDHOOD. VIII. HERCULES AND OMPHALE. IX. THE EMBASSY OF GEOFFREY HERON. X. THE GREAT SECRET. XI. RUTH'S DIPLOMACY. XII. THE TOY HORSE. XIII. JOB, THE SAPENGRO XIV. THE CLAIRVOYANT. XV. THE PUNISHMENT OF CURIOSITY. XVI. JENNIE BRAWN MAKES A DISCOVERY. XVII. HERON FOLLOWS THE TRAIL. XVIII. THE MONEY-LENDER. XIX. JOB BECOMES CIVILISED. XX. WHAT MR. CASS HAD TO SAY. XXI. RUTH IS COMFORTED. XXII. AT BAY. XXIII. STILL IN DOUBT XXIV. ANOTHER PIECE OF EVIDENCE. XXV. ANOTHER PIECE OF EVIDENCE. XXVI. THE PENANCE OF INEZ. XXVII. A DOUBTFUL WITNESS. XXVIII. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS. XXIX. THE END OF THE TURNPIKE HOUSE. XXX. THE END OF THE TURNPIKE HOUSE.

TRACKED BY A TATTOO By Fergus Hume CONTENTS CHAP I. The Crime II. A Recognition III. The Result Of The Crime IV. Another Discovery V. The Red Star Advertisement VI. A Startling Incident VII. Difficulties VIII. A Mysterious Parcel IX. Vaud and Vaud X. Exit Dr. Renshaw XI. Another Link in the Chain XII. The Intervention of Chance XIII. The Tattooed Cross XIV. Fanks Makes Up his Mind XV. Coming Events XVI. Unhappy Lovers XVII. Two against One XVIII. On the Twenty-First of June XIX. The Defiance of Anne Colmer XX. The Green Overcoat XXI. The Eight Bells Enigma XXII. Mrs. Boazoph Receives a Shock XXIII. The Confession of Hersham XXIV. The Clue of the Handwriting XXV. At Mere Hall, Hants XXVI. Mrs. Prisom's Story XXVII. Mrs. Prisom's Story--continued XXVIII. Sir Louis Explains XXIX. Dr. Binjoy Protests XXX. A Letter from Hersham, Senior XXXI. The Secret is Revealed XXXII. Mrs. Boazoph Tells the Truth XXXIII. How and Why the Deed was Done XXXIV. The Same XXXV. The Opinion of Octavius Fanks

THE SEALED MESSAGE >

By Fergus Hume

CONTENTS I. A QUEER FISH II. THE MESSAGE III. FAIRYLAND IV. THE FAIRY PRINCESS V. GOLDEN HOURS VI. THE PAST OF ADONIS GEARY VII. LOVE VIII. LEGAL ADVICE IX. MRS. CROSBIE X. THE AMULET XI. THE OTHER GIRL XII. A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY XIII. THE TABLES TURNED XIV. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS XV. A TRAGEDY XVI. THE DWARF "SCHAIBAR" XVII. "AS IN A LOOKING-GLASS" XVIII. THE FIRST MARRIAGE XIX. SIGNOR VENOSTA XX. A DARK MYSTERY XXI. MAJOR REBB AT BAY XXII. A CONFESSION XXIII. TOD'S DISCOVERY XXIV. THE SECOND MARRIAGE XXV. GEARY'S ACCUSATION XXVI. THE GODS ARE JUST

THE SPIDER. By Fergus Hume

CONTENTS I. A POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIP II. A CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION III. HOW THE TRAP WAS SET IV. WHO WAS CAUGHT IN THE TRAP V. AFTER THE TRAGEDY VI. WHAT MR. IRELAND KNEW VII. AFTER THE TRAGEDY VIII. THE GRIEF OF IDA IX. WITCHCRAFT X. WITCHCRAFT XI. THE NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK XII. A TEMPTING OFFER XIII. THE BAZAAR XIV. RUN TO EARTH XV. FACE TO FACE XVI. THE SEARCH XVII. IN THE TRAIN XVIII. AT BOWDERSTYKE XIX. A BOLD OFFER XX. GERBY HALL XXI. JUSTICE XXII. THE END OF IT ALL

THE LOST PARCHMENT By Fergus Hume CONTENTS CHAP I. Schoolfellows II. The Vicar III. Lovers IV. The Cottage V. A Revelation VI. Counsels Opinion VII. A Nine Days Wonder VIII. Mallien Speaks IX. A Serious Position X. Dorinda XI. Carringtons Advice XII. On the Track XIII. Confession XIV. A Clue XV. Circumstantial Evidence XVI. A New Witness XVII. Difficulties XVIII. Setting a Trap XIX. Resurgam XX. A Weird Story XXI. A Final Surprise

THE LADY FROM NOWHERE By Fergus Hume CONTENTS I. The Tragedy of the Strange Room II. The Death-card III. A Woman without a Past IV. The Five Landladies V. A Friend in Need VI. The Crime of Kirkstone Hall VII. Comments on the Crime VIII. Mr. Prain, Solicitor IX. Kirkstone Hall X. Strange Behaviour XI. The Mad Gardener XII. The Diamond Necklace XIII. Arthur Ferris XIV. A Surprising Discovery XV. The Revelation of Mr. Prain XVI. Miss Wedderburn XVII. An Explanation XVIII. What Mrs. Presk found XIX. The Unexpected occurs XX. A Needle in a Haystack XXI. Found at Last XXII. A Secret Hoard XXIII. The Convict's Defence XXIV. Proof Positive XXV. How the Deed was done XXVI. The End of it All

THE MILLIONAIRE MYSTERY By Fergus Hume CONTENTS I. A MIDNIGHT SURPRISE II. THE HUT ON THE HEATH III. AN ELEGANT EPISTLE IV. ANOTHER SURPRISE V. A NINE DAYS' WONDER VI. THE MISSING KEY VII. IN DIXON'S RENTS VIII. AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW IX. INVESTIGATION X. ANOTHER DISAPPEARANCE XI. THE STRANGER XII. A STRANGE STORY XIII. A STRANGE STORY--continued XIV. THE ENMITY OF CAPTAIN LESTRANGE XV. TROUBLE XVI. ALAN'S DEFENCE XVII. JOE'S EVIDENCE XVIII. A PORTION OF THE TRUTH XIX. A REAPPEARANCE XX. THE AMAZEMENT OF ALAN THOROLD XXI. THE STORY OF THE PAST XXII. THE BEGINNING OF THE END XXIII. ONE PART OF THE TRUTH XXIV. THE OTHER PART OF THE TRUTH

THE FEVER OF LIFE CONTENTS I. PINCHLER'S DOCKYARD. II. WANTED, A CHAPERON. III. THE WOMAN WITH THE FIERCE EYES. IV. WHAT MRS. BELSWIN HAD TO SAY. V. THE PRODIGAL SON. VI. THE DRAGON. VII. THE GARDEN OF HESPERIDES. VIII. MRS. BELSWIN'S CORRESPONDENCE. IX. A RUSTIC APOLLO. X. A BOUDOIR CONSULTATION. XI. THE ART OF DINING. XII. ARS AMORIS. XIII. EXIT MRS. BELSWIN. XIV. SIGNOR FERRARI DECLINES. XV. THE RETURN OF THE WANDERER. XVI. FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED. XVII. BEFORE THE STORM. XVIII. FACE TO FACE. XIX. THE OUTER DARKNESS. XX. A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. XXI. ARCHIE MAKES HIS PLANS. XXII. MRS. B. CONSIDERS WAYS & MEANS. XXIII. BETTER LEAVE WELL ALONE. XXIV. A MEMORY OF THE PAST. XXV. SILAS PLAYS HIS LITTLE GAME. XXVI. VAE VICTIS. XXVII. THE CASE. XXVIII. WHAT MRS. BELK FOUND. XXIX. DANGER. XXX. CLEVER DEFENCE. XXXI. A TRAGIC SITUATION. XXXII. NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA. XXXIII. MR. DOMBRAIN SHOWS HIS TEETH. XXXIV. IN OPEN COURT. XXXV. EXPIATION. XXXVI. A MEMORY OF THE PAST.

A TRAITOR IN LONDON By Fergus Hume CONTENTS I. CUPID IN LEADING STRINGS. II. A SHOT IN THE DARKNESS. III. THE NAME OF THE VICTIM. IV. A STRANGE PIECE OF EVIDENCE. V. VAN ZWIETEN SHOWS HIS TEETH. VI. WHAT MR. SCARSE ADMITTED. VII. AUNT JUDY. VIII. BAD NEWS. IX. MRS. ST. LEGER IS DISCREET. X. THE MASS MEETING. XI. A STARTLING DISCOVERY. XII. A STORY OF THE PAST. XIII. THE END OF THE STORY. XIV. WHAT VAN ZWIETEN KNEW. XV. THE GIRL HE LEFT BEHIND HIM. XVI. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS. XVII. CHECKMATED. XVIII. EXIT VAN ZWIETEN. XIX. A TERRIBLE LETTER. XX. ON THE TRACK. XXI. IN SOUTH AFRICA. XXII. AT THE FRONT. XXIII. A DUTCH LOCHINVAR. XXIV. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. XXV. BESIEGED. XXVI. IN CAPTIVITY. XXVII. NEMESIS. XXVIII. CALM AFTER STORM.

IN QUEER STREET By Fergus Hume CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE BOARDING-HOUSE II. OLD SCHOOL-FELLOWS III. MAN PROPOSES IV. THE ADVERTISEMENT V. THE NEXT STEP VI. SEEKING TROUBLE VII. AN AMAZING DISCOVERY VIII. FAMILY HISTORY IX. GWEN X. VANE'S AUNT XI. MACBETH'S BANQUET XII. CUPID'S GARDEN XIII. DANGER XIV. AT BAY XV. A FRIEND IN NEED XVI. EXPLANATIONS XVII. BLACKMAIL XVIII. HENCH'S DIPLOMACY XIX. A DENIAL XX. REAPING THE WHIRLWIND XXI. THE SUNSHINE OR LIFE

THE AMETHYST CROSS By Fergus Hume CONTENTS I. THE BEGINNING OF A MYSTERY II. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS III. ANOTHER MYSTERY IV. A FAMILY HISTORY V. MRS. WALKER'S OPINION VI. PURPLE AND FINE LINEN VII. AFTER MIDNIGHT VIII. UNDER A CLOUD IX. TWO GIRLS X. THE DEUS EX MACHINA XI. THE SEAMY SIDE XII. A COUNTERPLOT XIII. MRS. WALKER'S VISIT XIV. THE FAMILY LAWYER XV. A STARTLING LETTER XVI. RECOGNITION XVII. DISGRACE XVIII. LADY CHARVINGTON'S ACCUSATIONS XIX. MR. HALE EXPLAINS XX. JOURNEYS END IN LOVERS' MEETING XXI. TWO INTERVIEWS XXII. THE PLOT XXIII. ONE PART OF THE TRUTH XXIV. ANOTHER PART OF THE TRUTH XXV. REVENGE XXVI. THE END OF IT ALL

THE PURPLE FERN By Fergus Hume CONTENTS I. THE MAN IN GREY II. AN ADVENTURE III. TWINS IV. A MYSTERY V. THE VICAR VI. A DISCOVERY VII. DR. JERCE EXPLAINS VIII. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IX. THE INQUEST X. A CHANCE WHISPER XI. THE DOG XII. BUSINESS AFFAIRS XIII. THE NEW EPOCH XIV. PRUDENCE XV. THE VICAR'S TROUBLES XVI. A STRANGE COMMUNICATION XVII. THE RECALL OF DR. JERCE XVIII. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS XIX. ZARA, THE BUTTERFLY XX. PROOF POSITIVE XXI. ACKWORTH'S NEWS XXII. THE ANONYMOUS LETTER XXIII. AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY XXIV. FERDINAND BAIRD AT BAY XXV. THE WHOLE TRUTH XXVI. NEMESIS

THE PINK SHOP By Fergus Hume CONTENTS I. IN THE EVENING. II. IN THE MORNING. III. THE LOST BAG. IV. THE INQUEST. V. SIR JOSEPH'S INTENTIONS. VI. AUDREY'S KNIGHT ERRANT. VII. THE LADY DETECTIVE. VIII. A MYSTERIOUS COMMUNICATION. IX. THE QUESTION OF THE CLOCK. X. A SURPRISE. XI. A STORY OF THE PAST. XII. THE UNKNOWN CUSTOMER. XIII. A BLIND CLUE. XIV. AN AMAZING DISCOVERY. XV. RALPH'S SUSPICION. XVI. A DILEMMA. XVII. WHAT AUDREY OVERHEARD. XVIII. A LEGAL OPINION. XIX. MATRIMONIAL ARRANGEMENTS. XX. A MUSIC HALL ARTIST. XXI. THE MARRIAGE. XXII. THE PHOTOGRAPH. XXIII. ONE PART OF THE TRUTH. XXIV. ANOTHER PART OF THE TRUTH. XXV. REVENGE. XXVI. FINAL EXPLANATIONS.

THE INDIAN BANGLE By Fergus Hume CONTENTS PROLOGUE THE FIRST SCENE: AT CASTERWELL. CHAPTER. I. DAVID AND JONATHAN. II. THE SEALED LETTER. III. AT THE MANOR HOUSE. IV. A QUEER COINCIDENCE. V. THE SUSPICIONS OF LAURENCE MALLOW. VI. THE REVEREND MANNERS BROCK. VII. MARGERY. VIII. JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER. IX. "TWENTY-ONE." X. A PRE-NUPTIAL CONTRACT. XI. THE NEW MAID. XII. "WEDDING-BELLS." THE SECOND SCENE: AT SANDBEACH. I. "THE HAPPY PAIR." II. "THE BROOCH." III. "CLARA'S LETTER." IV. "MORE MYSTERY." THE THIRD SCENE IN LONDON. I. "MYSTERIOUS MRS. ARNE." II. "MRS. PURCELL." III. "A PRIVATE INQUIRY AGENT." IV. "ONE OF US." V. "MADAME DEATH-IN-LIFE." VI. "ANOTHER LINK." VII. "AN UNEXPECTED MEETING." VIII. "THE LIGHT-HAIRED MAN." IX. "MAN PROPOSES." X. "WOMAN DISPOSES." THE FOURTH SCENE: IN FLORENCE. I. "ON THE LONG TRAIL." II. "ONE PORTION OF THE CONSPIRACY." III. THE SANDAL-WOOD CHEST. IV. "ANOTHER PORTION OF THE CONSPIRACY." THE FIFTH SCENE: IN LONDON. I. "THE MISSING MAN." II. "MONSIEUR ROUGE IS CONFIDENTIAL." III. "A TERRIBLE ADVENTURE." IV. "THE ISHMAELS OF HUMANITY." THE SIXTH SCENE: AT CASTERWELL. I. "AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL." II. "THE PENANCE OF MARGERY." III. "MR. BROCK AND THE LETTER." IV. "THE TREASURES AT KIKAT." V. "LET THE DEAD PAST BURY ITS DEAD." VI. "MR. BROCK'S ADDENDA." VII. "THE CIPHER DIARY." VIII. "A ROGUE'S MEMOIRS." EPILOGUE

THE GATES OF DAWN By Fergus Hume

CONTENTS I. The Pleasures of the Road. II. Palmistry. III. Tithonus. IV. The Peacock in Jackdaw's Feathers. V. Tinker Tim. VI. The First Letter to a London Friend. VII. Diana of Farbis. VIII. The Recluse. IX. Village Gossip. X. Parson Jarner. XI. Farbis Court. XII. The Portrait in the Gallery. XIII. Under the Greenwood Tree. XIV. Dan's Secret. XV. Retrospection. XVI. Afternoon Tea. XVII. The Second Letter to a London Friend. XVIII. An Elizabethan Ancestor. XIX. The Pale Ladye. XX. In the Oak Parlour. XXI. The Days pass by. XXII. A Dreamer of Dreams. XXIII. Parson Jarner is astonished. XXIV. A Woman scorned. XXV. Jealousy. XXVI. Cupid in Arcady. XXVII. The Third Letter to a London Friend. XXVIII. Fire and Flame. XXIX. The Gipsy's Prophecy. XXX. The Final Letter to a London Friend.

THE MIKADO JEWEL By Fergus Hume CONTENTS I. A MYSTERIOUS MISSION II. WHAT HAPPENED III. AFTERWARDS IV. THE INQUEST V. THE INQUEST CONTINUED VI. A FAMILY LEGEND VII. THE GARDEN OF SLEEP VIII. THEODORE IX. BASIL X. THE NEW-COMER XI. HARRY'S SWEETHEART XII. A JAPANESE DIPLOMATIST XIII. THE UNEXPECTED XIV. THE JEWEL XV. PENTREDDLE'S STORY XVI. LOVERS XVII. TROUBLE XVIII. PLEASURE XIX. THE TRUTH XX. A FURTHER EXPLANATION

THE SCARLET BAT By Fergus Hume CONTENTS I. Sowing The Wind II. Reaping The Whirlwind III. A Friend In Need IV. Two Hundred Pounds Reward V. The Inquest VI. A Scrap Of Paper VII. Cupid's Bargain VIII. A Pleasant Surprise IX. The Old Romance X. A Queer Mark XI. Frank's Story XII. The Unexpected Happens XIII. A Quaker Lady XIV. A Public Clue XV. A Strange Disappearance XVI. What Mildred Knew XVII. The Sealed Letter XVIII. A Queer Visitor XIX. A Story Of The Past XX. A Strange Will XXI. An Unexpected Meeting XXII. Miss Cork Explains XXIII. Balkis XXIV. Tamaroo Speaks XXV. Nemesis XXVI. A Wedding Present

JONAH'S LUCK By Fergus Hume CONTENTS CHAP. I. THE ADVENTURE OF THE INN II. A RECOGNITION III. CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE IV. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT V. HUE AND CRY VI. THE CARAVAN VII. KIND'S OPINIONS VIII. MISS MAUD TEDDER IX. THE SOLICITOR X. THE INQUEST XI. LOVERS XII. THE STRANGE WORD XIII. A MEXICAN BEAUTY XIV. AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL XV. A FRIEND IN NEED XVI. M. GOWRIE'S PLOTTING XVII. MAUD'S INHERITANCE XVIII. A SURPRISING DEFENCE XIX. MRS. MOUNTFORD'S ACCUSATION XX. AT THE "MARSH INN" XXI. ON BOARD THE YACHT XXII. ANOTHER MYSTERY XXIII. AN EXPLANATION XXIV. STARTLING NEWS XXV. THE CAPTAIN'S STORY XXVI. THE BEGINNING OF THE END XXVII. THE END

THE PEACOCK OF JEWELS By Fergus Hume CONTENTS I. THE ROTHERHITHE CRIME. II. AT THE VICARAGE. III. A STORY OF THE PAST. IV. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR. V. THE LETTER. VI. THE BOARDING-HOUSE. VII. YULETIDE. VIII. AN EXPLANATION. IX. ANOTHER TRAIL. X. MR. SORLEY'S JEWELS. XI. JOTTY. XII. AN INDIAN CLIENT. XIII. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR. XIV. FACE TO FACE. XV. THE BLACK BAG. XVI. MISS INDERWICK'S EXCURSION. XVII. THE SECRET. XVIII. THE TREASURE HUNT. XIX. AT DAWN. XX. WHO IS GUILTY? XXI. THE TRUTH. XXII. CALM AFTER STORM.

THE DISAPPEARING EYE By Fergus Hume

CONTENTS I. A WEIRD DISCOVERY. II. THE BEGINNING OF A MYSTERY. III. AFTER EVENTS. IV. FACTS. V. AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. VI. MY RIVAL. VII. A FRIEND IN NEED. VIII. THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD. IX. GERTRUDE'S FATHER. X. A SURPRISE. XI. MISS DESTINY SPEAKS. XXII. GERTRUDE'S DEFENCE. XIII. LOVE. XIV. THE UNFORESEEN HAPPENS. XV. AN EXPLANATION. XVI. STRIVER'S THREAT. XVII. LADY MABEL'S VISIT. XVIII. AN ALARMING MESSAGE. XIX. A DANGEROUS POSITION. XX. THE CIPHER. XXI. THE AIRSHIP. XXII. THE WHOLE TRUTH.