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Works of ARTHUR GRIFFITHS
Works of ARTHUR GRIFFITHS
L.C. PAGE & COMPANY New England Building, Boston, Mass. Seal Boston L.C. Page and Company Publishers First Impression, January, 1906 Second Impression, February, 1906 Third Impression, February, 1906 Fourth Impression, March, 1908 Colonial Press C.H. Simonds & Co. Boston, U.S.A. FOREWORD I desire to state that the initial fact upon which I have founded this story is within my own experience. I travelled from Calais to Basle by the Engadine Express in the latter end of July, 1
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[Colonel Annesley's Story]
[Colonel Annesley's Story]
The crossing from Dover to Calais had been rough; a drizzling rain fell all the time, and most of the passengers had remained below. Strange to say, they were few enough, as I saw on landing. It was a Sunday in late July, and there ought to have been a strong stream setting towards Central Europe. I hardly expected to find much room in the train; not that it mattered, for my place was booked through in the Lucerne sleeping-car of the Engadine express. Room! When I reached the siding where this t
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
"Probably." The answer was given with great hesitation. "If I go by this train at all, that is to say." "Have you any doubts?" "Why, yes. To tell you the truth, I dread the journey. I have been doing so ever since—since I felt it must be made. Now I find it ever so much worse than I expected." "Why is that, if I may ask?" "You see, I am travelling alone, practically alone that is to say, with only my maid." "And your child," I added rather casually, with no second thought, and I was puzzled to u
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
"What's all this?" she cried in great agitation. "Wait, do not speak, Philpotts, leave him to me.... Do you go back to our place this instant; we cannot be away together, you know that; it must not be left alone, one of us must be on guard over it. Hurry, hurry, I never feel that it is safe out of our sight. "Now, sir," Mrs. Blair turned on me fiercely, "will you be so good as to explain how I find you quarrelling with my maid, permitting yourself to cast aspersions, to make imputations upon two
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
I was too much taken aback to do better than stammer out helplessly, hopelessly, almost unintelligibly, a few words striving to remind her of her own admission. Nothing, indeed, could take the sting out of this, and yet it was all but impossible to accuse her, to blame her even for what she had done. She read that in my eyes, in my abashed face, my hands held out deprecating her wrath, and her next words had a note of conciliation in them. "There are degrees of wrong-doing, shades of guilt," she
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CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
The train reached Amiens punctually at 5 p.m. , and a stoppage of five minutes was announced. I got out to stretch my legs on the platform. No one took much notice of us; it must have been known that the train was empty, for there were no waiters from the buffet with café au lait or fruit, or brioches —no porters about, or other officials. I had not expected to see any passengers come on board the train, a through express, made up of sleeping-cars and a supplementary charge on the tickets. But o
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[The Statement of Domenico Falfani, confidential agent, made to his employers, Messrs. Becke and Co., of the Private Inquiry Offices, 279 St. Martin's Lane, W.C.]
[The Statement of Domenico Falfani, confidential agent, made to his employers, Messrs. Becke and Co., of the Private Inquiry Offices, 279 St. Martin's Lane, W.C.]
I propose, gentlemen, to set down here at length the story of my mission, and the events which befell me from the time I first received my instructions. You desired me to pursue and call to strict account a certain lady of title, who had fallen away from her high estate and committed an act of rank felony. The circumstances which led up to her disappearance and the partners of her flight are already well known to you. The only indication given me, as you are aware, was that I might take it for g
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CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
Whatever may have been the Colonel's intentions when he caught me in his compartment, something, and I think my last words, led him to modify them. He felt, probably, that if he attacked me I might retaliate unpleasantly. I ought to be able to hold my own with him, although in truth I was not over happy at the course events had taken, and I could not compliment myself on my good management. I had not been overprudent; I had pressed my attentions on him rather abruptly, although I had the excuse
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CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII.
The timely appearance of my colleague, Ludovic Tiler, consoled me a little for the loss of the lady and her lot. I had failed, myself, but I hoped that with my lead he would get on to the scent and keep to it. Ere long, on the first intimation from him I might come into the game again. I should be guided by his wire if I got it. For the moment I was most concerned to find out whether Tiler's intervention and my short talk with him had been noticed by the other side. If the Colonel knew that anot
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CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX.
I secured a place with difficulty; there was rather a rush for the St. Gothard express when it ran in. It was composed as usual of corridor carriages, all classes en suite , and I knew that it would be impossible to conceal the fact that I was on board the train. Within five minutes Jules had verified the fact and taken seats in the immediate neighbourhood, to which he and the Colonel presently came. "Quite a pleasant little party!" he said in a bantering tone. "All bound for Locarno, eh? Ever b
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[The Statement of the Second Detective, Ludovic Tiler.]
[The Statement of the Second Detective, Ludovic Tiler.]
I travelled via Ostend, Brussels and Strasburg, and was due at Basle from that side at 4.35 a.m. My instructions were to look out for Falfani there, and thought I might do so if our train was fairly punctual, as it was. We were "on time," and the answer to my first question was that the Lucerne express was still at the platform, but on the point of departure. I got one glimpse of Falfani and one word with him. He was in trouble himself; they had nipped him, caught him tight, and thrown him off t
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CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XI.
For the moment I was dazed and dumfounded, but I took a pull on myself quickly. It was a clever plant. Had they sold me completely? That was still to be seen. My one chance was in prompt action; I must hunt them up, recover trace of them with all possible despatch, follow them, and find them wherever they might be. There was just the chance that they had only moved into another carriage, thinking that when I missed them I should get out and hunt for them in the station. To counter that I ran up
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CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XII.
On reaching the steamboat pier I was introduced to the porter, a shock-headed, stupid-looking creature, whom I forthwith questioned eagerly; but elicited only vague and, I felt sure, misleading replies. The conductor assisted at my interview, stimulating and encouraging the man to speak, and overdid it, as I thought. I strongly suspected that this new evidence had been produced in order to bleed me further. Had he really seen this English lady? Would he describe her appearance to me, and that of
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII.
My spirits rose with my release, but there was still more than freedom to encourage my light-heartedness. I heard now and definitely of my fugitive lady. Falloon had come upon undoubted evidence that she had never left the great Jura-Simplon station, but had remained quietly out of sight in the "ladies' waiting-room" until the next train left for Geneva. This was at 1.35 p.m., and she must have slipped away right under my eyes into the very train which had brought me back from Vevey. So near are
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[Colonel Annesley resumes.]
[Colonel Annesley resumes.]
I left my narrative at the moment when I had promised my help to the lady I found in such distress in the Engadine express. I promised it unconditionally, and although there were circumstances in her case to engender suspicion, I resolutely ignored them. It was her secret, and I was bound to respect it, content to await the explanation I felt sure she could make when so minded. It was at dinner in the dining-car, under the eyes of her persecutor, that we arranged to give him the slip at Basle. I
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CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XV.
It might be thought that I was too hard on my Lord Blackadder, but only those few indeed who were unacquainted with the circumstances of his divorce would find fault with me. The scandal was quite recent, and the Blackadder case had been in everybody's mouth. The papers had been full of it, and the proceedings were not altogether to his lordship's credit. They had been instituted by him, however, on grounds that induced the jury to give him a verdict, and the judge had pronounced a decree nisi o
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CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVI.
I was received with great warmth and cordiality by my friend, and it was made clear to me that my opportune appearance brought her great comfort and support. "I never hoped for such good fortune as this," she began heartily. "I had no idea you were within miles, and was repining bitterly that I had let you get so far out of the way. Now you appear in the very nick of time, just when I was almost in despair. But wait. Can I still count upon your help?" "Why, most certainly, Lady Blackadder." "Lad
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CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVII.
"There should be two Richmonds in the field! That was my grand idea. Two sets, two parties, each of them consisting of one lady, one maid, and one baby, exactly similar and indistinguishable. When the time was ripe we should separate, and each would travel in opposite directions, and I hoped to show sufficient guile to induce my persecutors to give chase to the wrong quarry. Run it to the death, while the party got clear away. "I had made a nice calculation. Fuentellato was at no great distance
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CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
On leaving Salon No. 17 I descended to the ground floor, seeking the smoking-room and a little stimulant to assist me in deciding the best course of action for the following day. As I passed along the corridor I caught sight of l'Echelle, whom I considered my man, in close confabulation with Falfani in a quiet corner. They could hardly have seen me, at least l'Echelle made no reference to the fact when he came to me presently and asked if I had any orders for the morning. I answered him sternly:
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[Falfani again.]
[Falfani again.]
When that audacious and intemperate English Colonel so far forgot himself as to assault my lord the Right Honourable the Earl of Blackadder at Culoz Station in the open light of day before us all, I greatly rejoiced; for, although horror-stricken at his ruffianly conduct, I knew that he would get his deserts at last. The French authorities would certainly not tolerate brawling in the precincts of the railway station, and justice must promptly overtake the sole offender. The blackguard Colonel, t
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CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XX.
There were seven of us passengers, more than enough to fill one compartment, so we did not travel together. My lord very liberally provided first-class tickets for the whole of the party, but the Colonel took his own and paid for the gendarmes. He refused to travel in the same carriage with the noble Earl, saying openly and impudently that he preferred the society of honest old soldiers to such a crew as ours. L'Echelle, still sitting on the hedge, as I fancied, got in with the Colonel and his e
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CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXI.
On leaving his lordship I descended to the grand entrance to the hotel with the intention of beating up the Colonel's quarters in Aix. Although the hotels were certain to be crowded at this, the height of the season, the town is not really large, the visitors' lists are well posted with new arrivals, and there are one or two public places where people always turn up at some time or other in the day. The cercle or casino and its succursale the Villa des Fleurs, with their many spacious rooms, rea
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CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXII.
The rest of the first day at Aix passed without any important incident. I was a trifle surprised that the Colonel did not put in an appearance; but it was explained by l'Echelle, whom I met by appointment later in the day. I understood from him that the Colonel had decided to remain down in the town, where he had many friends, and where he was more in the thick of the fun. For Aix-les-Bains, as every one knows, is a lively little place in the season, and the heart and centre of it all is the Cas
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[Colonel Annesley again.]
[Colonel Annesley again.]
I had no reason to complain of the course of events culminating in the affair at Culoz. I defended to myself the assault upon Lord Blackadder as in a measure provoked and justifiable under the circumstances, although I was really sorry for him and at the poor figure he cut before the police magistrate and gendarmes. But I could not forget the part he had played throughout, nor was I at all disposed to turn aside from my set purpose to help the ladies in their distress. Every man of proper feelin
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CHAPTER XXIV.
CHAPTER XXIV.
To say that I was aghast at the discovery of Lady Blackadder, or, as she preferred to call herself, Lady Henriette Standish, in Aix, and with the precious child, would but imperfectly express my feelings. For the moment I was so utterly taken aback that I could decide upon no new plan of action. I sat there helplessly staring at the poor creature, so full of grief and remorse that I was quite unable to rise to the occasion. I had counted so securely upon tricking Lord Blackadder into a barren pu
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CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXV.
I returned to my hotel vexed and irritated beyond measure by my passage at arms with Lady Henriette Standish, and hating the prospect of any further dealings with her. I very cordially echoed her repeated cry for Lady Claire. Matters would have been very different had her strong-minded sister been on the spot to use her influence and help us with her counsel. What a contrast between the two women! I was more and more drawn to the one, and more and more heartily despised the other. With my mind f
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[The Lady Claire Standish has her say.]
[The Lady Claire Standish has her say.]
It was as much as I could do to restrain myself when I saw my gallant knight, the Colonel, rush at that despicable creature, Lord Blackadder, and shake him. I wanted to put my head out of the window and cry, "Well done!" But I saw the folly of it, much as I was delighted, and checked any demonstration of joy. I had no time to spare for anything outside our settled plan, so I jumped out on to the platform at once, and closely followed by Philpotts joined Henriette, and cried: "Quick, quick, dear,
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CHAPTER XXVII.
CHAPTER XXVII.
When I first caught sight of Mr. Ludovic Tiler he was busily engaged in conversation with one of the guards and a couple of porters. From his gestures, no doubt, he was describing our party, and I was half-inclined to walk up to him and say "Behold!" But then I drew back hesitating. I did not fear him in the least, but he would be sure to draw the others to him, and I did not quite like the idea of having three of them on my hands at once, and with no Colonel on my side. I could only communicate
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
We drove down, Philpotts and I, to the wharf where the steamers of the Transatlantique Company lie. The Oasis had her blue peter flying, and a long gangway stretched from her side to the shore, up and down which a crowd passed ceaselessly, passengers embarking, porters with luggage, and dock hands with freight. At the top of the slope was the chief steward and his men, in full dress, white shirts, white ties, and white gloves, who welcomed us, asking the number of our stateroom, and offering to
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CHAPTER XXIX.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Tangier, the wildest, quaintest, most savage spot on the face of the globe, was to me the most enchanting. Our impressions take their colour from the passing mood; we like or loathe a place according to the temper in which we view it. I was so utterly and foolishly happy in this most Eastern city located in the West that I have loved it deeply ever since. After the trying and eventful episodes of the past week I had passed into a tranquil haven filled with perfect peace. The whole tenor of my li
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L.C. Page & Company's Announcement List of New Fiction
L.C. Page & Company's Announcement List of New Fiction
Haunters of the Silences , By Charles G.D. Roberts , author of "Red Fox," "The Watchers of the Trails," etc. Cloth, one volume, with many drawings by Charles Livingston Bull, four of which are in full color $2.00 The stories in Mr. Roberts's new collection are the strongest and best he has ever written. He has largely taken for his subjects those animals rarely met with in books, whose lives are spent "In the Silences," where they are the supreme rulers. Mr. Roberts has written of them sympathet
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WORKS OF ROBERT NEILSON STEPHENS
WORKS OF ROBERT NEILSON STEPHENS
Each one vol., library 12mo, cloth decorative $1.50 The Flight of Georgiana A Romance of the Days of the Young Pretender. Illustrated by H.C. Edwards. "A love-story in the highest degree, a dashing story, and a remarkably well finished piece of work."— Chicago Record-Herald. The Bright Face of Danger Being an account of some adventures of Henri de Launay, son of the Sieur de la Tournoire. Illustrated by H.C. Edwards. "Mr. Stephens has fairly outdone himself. We thank him heartily. The story is n
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WORKS OF CHARLES G.D. ROBERTS
WORKS OF CHARLES G.D. ROBERTS
Red Fox The Story of His Adventurous Career in the Ringwaak Wilds, and of His Final Triumph over the Enemies of His Kind. With fifty illustrations, including frontispiece in color and cover design by Charles Livingston Bull. Square quarto, cloth decorative $2.00 "Infinitely more wholesome reading than the average tale of sport, since it gives a glimpse of the hunt from the point of view of the hunted."— Boston Transcript. "True in substance but fascinating as fiction. It will interest old and yo
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LILIAN BELL
LILIAN BELL
Carolina Lee With a frontispiece in color from an oil painting by Dora Wheeler Keith. Library 12mo, cloth, decorative cover $1.50 "A Christian Science novel, full of action, alive with incident and brisk with pithy dialogue and humor."— Boston Transcript. "A charming portrayal of the attractive life of the South, refreshing as a breeze that blows through a pine forest."— Albany Times-Union. Hope Loring Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill. Library 12mo, cloth, decorative cover $1.50 "Tall, slender, a
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ALICE MacGOWAN AND GRACE MacGOWAN COOKE
ALICE MacGOWAN AND GRACE MacGOWAN COOKE
Return A Story of the Sea Islands in 1739. With six illustrations by C.D. Williams. Library 12mo, cloth $1.50 "So rich in color is this story, so crowded with figures, it seems like a bit of old Italian wall painting, a piece of modern tapestry, rather than a modern fabric woven deftly from the threads of fact and fancy gathered up in this new and essentially practical country, and therein lies its distinctive value and excellence."— N.Y. Sun. "At once tender, thrilling, picturesque, philosophic
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MORLEY ROBERTS
MORLEY ROBERTS
Rachel Marr "A novel of tremendous force, with a style that is sure, luxuriant, compelling, full of color and vital force."— Elia W. Peattie, in Chicago Tribune . "In atmosphere, if nothing else, the story is absolutely perfect."— Boston Transcript. Lady Penelope With nine illustrations by Arthur W. Brown. "A fresh and original bit of comedy as amusing as it is audacious."— Boston Transcript. The Idlers With frontispiece in color by John C. Frohn. "In 'The Idlers' Mr. Morley Roberts does for the
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STEPHEN CONRAD
STEPHEN CONRAD
The Second Mrs. Jim By Stephen Conrad . With a frontispiece by Ernest Fosbery. Large 16mo, cloth decorative $1.00 Here is a character as original and witty as "Mr. Dooley" or "the self-made merchant." The realm of humorous fiction is now invaded by the stepmother. "It is an exceptionally clever piece of work."— Boston Transcript. "'The Second Mrs. Jim' is worth as many Mrs. Wiggses as could be crowded into the Cabbage Patch. The racy humor and cheerfulness and wisdom of the book make it wholly d
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ARTHUR MORRISON
ARTHUR MORRISON
The Green Diamond Library 12mo, cloth decorative, with six illustrations $1.50 "A detective story of unusual ingenuity and intrigue."— Brooklyn Eagle. The Red Triangle Being some further chronicles of Martin Hewitt, investigator. Library 12mo, cloth decorative $1.50 "Better than Sherlock Holmes."— New York Tribune. "The reader who has a grain of fancy or imagination may be defied to lay this book down, once he has begun it, until the last word has been reached."— Philadelphia North American....
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G. SIDNEY PATERNOSTER
G. SIDNEY PATERNOSTER
The Motor Pirate Library 12mo, cloth decorative, with frontispiece $1.50 "Its originality, exciting adventures, into which is woven a charming love theme, and its undercurrent of fun furnish a dashing detective story which a motor-mad world will thoroughly enjoy reading."— Boston Herald. The Cruise of the Motor-Boat Conqueror Being the Further Adventures of the Motor Pirate. Library 12mo, cloth decorative, with a frontispiece by Frank T. Merrill $1.50 "As a land pirate Mannering was a marvel of
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T. JENKINS HAINS
T. JENKINS HAINS
The Black Barque With five illustrations by W. Herbert Dunton. Library 12mo, cloth $1.50 According to a high naval authority, whose name must be withheld, this is one of the best sea stories ever offered to the public. "The Black Barque" is a story of slavery and piracy upon the high seas about 1815, and is written with a thorough knowledge of deep-water sailing. The Windjammers "A collection of short sea stories unmatched for interest."— New York Sun. The Voyage of the Arrow With six illustrati
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REGINALD WRIGHT KAUFFMAN
REGINALD WRIGHT KAUFFMAN
Miss Frances Baird, Detective A Passage from Her Memoirs. Library 12mo, cloth decorative, with a frontispiece by W.F. Kirkpatrick $1.25 "Miss Baird ravels and unravels circumstantial evidence in her search for the murderer in a most bewildering and thoroughly feminine fashion.... The story is brimful of excitement, and no little ingenuity is displayed in its construction."— Boston Herald. Jarvis of Harvard Illustrated by Robert Edwards. Library 12mo, cloth decorative $1.50 A strong and well writ
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