CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
ADVENTURE OF THE GOLD TIBERIUS
THE ENCOUNTER OF THE PAVEMENT
NOVEL OF THE DARK VALLEY
ADVENTURE OF THE MISSING BROTHER
NOVEL OF THE BLACK SEAL
INCIDENT OF THE PRIVATE BAR
THE DECORATIVE IMAGINATION
NOVEL OF THE IRON MAID
THE RECLUSE OF BAYSWATER
NOVEL OF THE WHITE POWDER
STRANGE OCCURRENCE IN CLERKENWELL
HISTORY OF THE YOUNG MAN WITH SPECTACLES
ADVENTURE OF THE DESERTED RESIDENCE
"And Mr. Joseph Walters is going to stay the night?" said the smoothclean-shaven man to his companion, an individual not of the mostcharming appearance, who had chosen to make his ginger-colored mustachemerge into a pair of short chin-whiskers.
The two stood at the hall door, grinning evilly at each other; andpresently a girl ran quickly down, the stairs, and joined them. She wasquite young, with a quaint and piquant rather than a beautiful face, andher eyes were of a shining hazel. She held a neat paper parcel in onehand, and laughed with her friends.
"Leave the door open," said the smooth man to the other, as they weregoing out. "Yes, by——," he went on with an ugly oath. "We'll leave thefront door on the jar. He may like to see company, you know."
The other man looked doubtfully about him. "Is it quite prudent do youthink, Davies?" he said, pausing with his hand on the moulderingknocker. "I don't think Lipsius would like it. What do you say, Helen?"
"I agree with Davies. Davies is an artist, and you are commonplace,Richmond, and a bit of a coward. Let the door stand open, of course. Butwhat a pity Lipsius had to go away! He would have enjoyed himself."
"Yes," replied the smooth Mr. Davies, "that summons to the west was veryhard on the doctor."
The three passed out, leaving the hall door, cracked and riven withfrost and wet, half open, and they stood silent for a moment under theruinous shelter of the porch.
"Well," said the girl, "it is done