29 chapters
6 hour read
Selected Chapters
29 chapters
CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD London, New York, Toronto & Melbourne First published January 1914. Popular Edition February 1919.
CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD London, New York, Toronto & Melbourne First published January 1914. Popular Edition February 1919.
CHAPTER I. To Introduce Mr. Julius Rohscheimer CHAPTER II. "Thirty Men who were all Alike" CHAPTER III. Midnight—and the Man CHAPTER IV. The Head of Cæsar CHAPTER V. A Mystic Hand CHAPTER VI. The Shadow of Séverac Bablon CHAPTER VII. The Ring CHAPTER VIII. In the Dressing-room CHAPTER IX. Es-Sindibad of Cadogan Gardens CHAPTER X. Kimberley CHAPTER XI. Mr. Sanrack Visits the Hotel Astoria CHAPTER XII. Love, Lucre and Mr. Alden CHAPTER XIII. The Listener CHAPTER XIV. Zoe Dreams CHAPTER XV. At "The
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
TO INTRODUCE MR. JULIUS ROHSCHEIMER
TO INTRODUCE MR. JULIUS ROHSCHEIMER
"There's half a score of your ancestral halls," said Julius Rohscheimer, "that I could sell up to-morrow morning!" Of the quartet that heard his words no two members seemed quite similarly impressed. The pale face of Adeler, the great financier's confidential secretary, expressed no emotion whatever. Sir Richard Haredale flashed contempt from his grey eyes—only to veil his scorn of the man's vulgarity beneath a cloud of tobacco smoke. Tom Sheard, of the Gleaner , drew down a corner of his mouth
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
"THIRTY MEN WHO WERE ALL ALIKE"
"THIRTY MEN WHO WERE ALL ALIKE"
The room was so inconveniently crowded that dancing was a mere farce, only kept up by the loyal support of Mrs. Rohscheimer's compatriots. The bulk of the company crowded around in intermingling groups, to the accompaniment of ceaseless shuffling and murmuring which all but drowned the strains of the celebrated orchestra. But lining the wall around was a rank of immaculately groomed gentlemen who seemed to assume a closer formation as Haredale, from behind the palms, observed them. In two partic
14 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
MIDNIGHT—AND THE MAN
MIDNIGHT—AND THE MAN
The next two days were busy ones for Sheard, who, from a variety of causes—the chief being his intimacy with the little circle which, whether it would or not, gathered around Mr. Julius Rohscheimer—found himself involved in the mystery of Séverac Bablon. He had interviewed this man and that, endeavouring to obtain some coherent story of the great "hold up," but with little success. Everything was a mysterious maze, and Scotland Yard was without any clue that might lead to the solution. All the F
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE HEAD OF CÆSAR
THE HEAD OF CÆSAR
The voices died away. A door banged somewhere. Then Sheard all but cried out; for a hand was laid upon his arm. " Ssh! " came Séverac Bablon's voice from the next mummy-case; and a creak told of the cabinet door swinging open. "This way!" Sheard followed immediately, and was guided along the whole length of the room. A door was unlocked and re-locked behind them. Downstairs they passed, and along a narrow corridor lined with cases, as he could dimly see. Through another door they went, and came
14 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
A MYSTIC HAND
A MYSTIC HAND
"It amounts," said J. J. Oppner, the lord of Wall Street, "to a panic. No man of money is safe. I ain't boilin' over with confidence in Scotland Yard, and I've got some Agency boys here in London with me." "A panic, eh?" grunted Baron Hague, Teutonically. "So you vear this Bablon, eh?" "A bit we do," drawled Oppner, "and then some. After that a whole lot, and we're well scared. He held me up at my Canadian mills for a pile; but I've got wise to him, and if he crowds me again he's a full-blown ge
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE SHADOW OF SÉVERAC BABLON
THE SHADOW OF SÉVERAC BABLON
The mystery of personality is one which eludes research along the most scientific lines. It is a species of animal magnetism as yet unclassified. Personality is not confined to the individual: it clings to his picture, his garments, his writing; it has the persistency of a civet perfume. From this slip of cardboard lying upon Rohscheimer's famous oval table emanated rays—unseen, but cogent. The magnetic words "Séverac Bablon" seemed to glow upon the walls, as of old those other words had glowed
8 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE RING
THE RING
As the cab containing Baron Hague drove off along Park Lane, the Baron heaved a sigh of relief. This incomprehensible Séverac Bablon who had descended like a simoon upon London was a perturbing presence—a breath of hot fear that parched the mind! And the house in Park Lane, too, recently had been made the scene of a unique outrage by this most singular robber to afford any sense of security. The Baron was glad to be away from that house, and, as the cab turned the corner by the Park, was glad to
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IN THE DRESSING-ROOM
IN THE DRESSING-ROOM
The house was very quiet. Julius Rohscheimer stood quite motionless in his dressing-room listening for a sound which he expected to hear, but which he also feared to hear. The household in Park Lane slept now. Park Lane is never quite still at any hour of the night, and now as Rohscheimer listened, all but holding his breath, a hundred sounds conflicted in the highway below. But none of these interested him. He had been in his room for more than half an hour; had long since dismissed his man; an
14 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
ES-SINDIBAD OF CADOGAN GARDENS
ES-SINDIBAD OF CADOGAN GARDENS
Upon the night following the ill-omened banquet in Park Lane was held a second dinner party, in Cadogan Gardens. Like veritable gourmets, we must be present. It is close upon the dining hour. "Zoe is late!" said Lady Vignoles. "I think not, dear," her husband corrected her, consulting his celebrated chronometer. "They have one minute in which to demonstrate the efficiency of American methods!" "Thank you—Greenwich!" smiled her vivacious ladyship, whose husband's love of punctuality was the only
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
KIMBERLEY
KIMBERLEY
Dessert was being placed upon the table when Bernard Megger went out to the telephone, and a fairly general conversation upon the all-absorbing topic had sprung up when he returned—pale, flabby—a stricken man! "Vignoles!" he said hoarsely. "A word with you." The host, who did not care for the society of Mr. Megger, rose in some surprise and stepped aside with his wife's guest. "I am a ruined man!" said Megger. "My chambers have been entered and my safe rifled!" "But——" began Vignoles, in bewilde
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
MR. SANRACK VISITS THE HOTEL ASTORIA
MR. SANRACK VISITS THE HOTEL ASTORIA
Mr. J. J. Oppner and his daughter sat at breakfast the next morning at the Astoria. Oppner was deeply interested in the Gleaner . "Zoe," he said suddenly. "This is junk—joss—ponk!" His voice had a tone quality which suggested that it had passed through hot sand. Zoe looked up. Zoe Oppner was said to be the prettiest girl in the United States. Allowing that discount necessary in the case of John Jacob Oppner's daughter, Zoe still was undeniably very pretty indeed. She looked charming this morning
19 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
LOVE, LUCRE AND MR. ALDEN
LOVE, LUCRE AND MR. ALDEN
Zoe was waiting for Lady Mary Evershed. Lady Mary was late—an unremarkable circumstance, since Lady Mary was a woman, and less remarkable than ordinarily for the reason that Lady Mary had met Sir Richard Haredale on the way. At the time she should have been at the Astoria she was pacing slowly through St. James's Park, beside Haredale. "My position is becoming impossible, Mary," he said, with painful distinctness. "Every day seems to see the time more distant, instead of nearer, when I can say g
14 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE LISTENER
THE LISTENER
Sheard sat with both elbows resting upon his writing-table. A suburban quietude reigned about him, for the hour was long past midnight. Before him was spread out the final edition of the Gleaner and prominent upon the front page appeared:— With a tact which was inspired by private information from a certain source, the Gleaner had pooh-poohed the story of the mysterious cards received by the guests at Julius Rohscheimer's. The story had leaked out, of course, but Sheard was in no way responsible
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
ZOE DREAMS
ZOE DREAMS
If you know the Astoria, you will remember that all around the north-west side of the arcade-like structure, which opens on the Old Supper Room, the Rajah Suite, the Louis Ballroom, the Edwardian Banqueting Hall, and the Persian Lounge, are tiny cosy-corners. In one of these you may smoke your secluded cigar, cigarette or pipe, wholly aloof from the bustle, with its marked New Yorkist note, which characterises the more public apartments of the giant caravanserai . There is a nicely shaded light,
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
AT "THE CEDARS"
AT "THE CEDARS"
Zoe was nonplussed. She was unable to believe that this deserted place was the spot referred to by Séverac Bablon. She still clung to the idea that there must be some mistake, though she had the evidence of her own eyes that the cottage was called Laurel Cottage. The notion of writing a note and slipping it through the letter-box came to her. But she remembered that there was no letter-box. Then, such a course might be dangerous. She looked gratefully towards the beam of light from the cab lamps
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE LAMP AND THE MASK
THE LAMP AND THE MASK
"10761," said Alden. "I wonder whose car that is." None of the watchful trio had any idea. But whomever was within it, the second car performed exactly the same man[oe]uvres as the first, and, a few moments after its appearance, was lost to sight and hearing once more. But a matter of seconds later, came the familiar thud-thud-thud ; and a third car plunged up the hill and went swinging around the drive. Again, no one of the three was able to recognise the number. Out by the further gate of the
8 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE DAMASCUS CURTAIN
THE DAMASCUS CURTAIN
The British public poured contributions into the air-fleet fund with a lavishness that has never been equalled in history. For, after the stupendous sums, each one a big fortune in itself, which the Jewish financiers had subscribed, every man who called himself a Britisher (and who thought that Britain really needed airships) came forward with his dole. There was a special service held at the Great Synagogue in Aldgate, and Juda was exalted in public estimation to a dizzy pinnacle. One morning,
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
A WHITE ORCHID
A WHITE ORCHID
Whoever could have taken a peep into a certain bare-looking room at Scotland Yard some three hours after Sheard had left Finchley Road must have been drawn to the conclusion that the net was closing more tightly about Séverac Bablon than he supposed. Behind a large, bare table, upon which were some sheets of foolscap, a metal inkpot, and pens, sat Chief Inspector Sheffield. On three uncomfortable-looking chairs were disposed Detective Sergeant Harborne, he of the Stetson and brogues, and M. Duqu
15 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THREE LETTERS
THREE LETTERS
Sheard did not remain many minutes in Downing Street that night. The rooms were uncomfortably crowded and insupportably stuffy. A vague idea which his common sense was impotent to combat successfully, that he would see or hear from Séverac Bablon amidst that political crush proved to be fallacious—as common sense had argued. He wondered why his extraordinary friend—for as a friend he had come to regard him—had been unable to keep his appointment. He wondered when the promised news would be commu
7 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CLOSED DOORS
CLOSED DOORS
"Why can't they open the doors? I can see there are people inside!" A muffled roar, like that of a nearing storm at sea, drowned the querulous voice. "Move along here, please! Move on! Move on!" The monotonous orders of the police rose above the loud drone of the angry crowd. Motor-buses made perilous navigation through the narrow street. The hooting of horns on taxi-cabs played a brisk accompaniment to the mournful chant. Almost from the Courts to the trebly guarded entrance of the Chancery Leg
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
A CORNER IN MILLIONAIRES
A CORNER IN MILLIONAIRES
At the moment that Julius Rohscheimer's car turned into the Square, a girl, enveloped in a dark opera wrap, but whose fair hair gleamed as she passed the open door, came alone, out of Lord Evershed's house, and entering a waiting taxi-cab, was driven away. "Stop!" ordered Haredale hoarsely through the tube. The big car pulled up as the cab passed around on the other side. "Follow that cab." With which the pursuit commenced. And Haredale found himself trembling, so violent was the war of emotions
22 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE TURKISH YATAGHAN
THE TURKISH YATAGHAN
It was about a fortnight later that a City medical man, Dr. Simons, in the dusk of a spring evening, might have been seen pressing his way through the crowd of excited people who thronged the hall of Moorgate Place, Moorgate Street. Addressing himself to a portly, florid gentleman who exhibited signs of having suffered a recent nervous shock, he said crisply. "My name, sir, is Simons. You 'phoned me?" The florid gentleman, mopping his forehead with a Cambridge-blue silk handkerchief, replied rat
15 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
M. LEVI
M. LEVI
The art of detection, in common with every other art, produces from time to time a genius; and a genius, whatever else he may be, emphatically is not a person having "an infinite capacity for taking pains." Such masters of criminology as Alphonse Bertillon or his famous compatriot, Victor Lemage, whose resignation so recently had stirred the wide world to wonder—achieve their results by painstaking labours, yes, but all those labours would be more or less futile without that elusive element of i
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
"V-E-N-G-E-N-C-E"
"V-E-N-G-E-N-C-E"
At half-past seven on the morning following M. Levi's visit the Count de Guise opened the door of 59b Bedford Court Mansions to that eccentric old art expert. M. Levi was accompanied by his partner, a tall, heavily bearded man, who looked like a Russian, and by two other strangers, one an alert-eyed, clean-shaven person in a tweed suit, the other a younger man, evidently Scotch, who carried a little brown bag. These two would commence an inventory, m'sieur being agreeable. Entering the dining-ro
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
AN OFFICIAL CALL
AN OFFICIAL CALL
The Home Secretary sat before the red-leathern expanse of his writing-table. Papers of unique political importance were strewn carelessly about that diplomatic battlefield, for at this famous table the Right Honourable Walter Belford played political chess. To the right honourable gentleman the game of politics was a pursuit only second in its fascinations to the culture of rare orchids. It ranked in that fine, if eccentric, mind about equal with the accumulating of rare editions, early printed
21 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
GRIMSDYKE
GRIMSDYKE
Not a sound disturbed the silence of the deserted place, save when the slight breeze sighed through the trees of the adjoining coppice, and swayed some invisible shutter which creaked upon its rusty hinges. An owl hooted, and the detective was on the alert in a moment. It was a well-known signal. Was the owl a feathered one or a human mimic? No other sound followed, until the breeze came again, whispered in the coppice, and shook the shutter. Then the chauffeur's whistle came, faintly, and with
8 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
YELLOW CIGARETTES
YELLOW CIGARETTES
In our pursuit of the fantastic being, about whom so many mysteries gathered, we have somewhat neglected the affairs of Sir Richard Haredale. Thanks to Mr. Belford's elusive visitor, these now ran smoothly. In order to learn how smoothly we have only to present ourselves at a certain important social function. "These military weddings are so romantic," gushed Mrs. Rohscheimer. "And so beastly stuffy," added her husband, mopping his damp brow with a silk handkerchief bearing, in gold thread, the
16 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
AT THE PALACE—AND LATER
AT THE PALACE—AND LATER
How self-centred is man, and how darkly do his own petty interests overshadow the giant things of life. Thrones may totter and fall, monarchs pass to the limbo of memories, whilst we wrestle with an intractable collar-stud. Had another than Inspector Sheffield been driving to Buckingham Palace that day, he might have found his soul attuned to the martial tone about him; for "War! War!" glared from countless placards, and was cried aloud by countless newsboys. War was in the air. Nothing else, it
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter