A MASTER OF MYSTERIES
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[Illustration: "He pulled the mare nearly up on her haunches." (Page 114). A Master of Mysteries.--Frontispiece]
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A MASTER OF MYSTERIES
By L. T. MEADE and ROBERT EUSTACE
Illustrated By J. AMBROSE WALTON
London Ward, Lock & Co Limited Warwick House Salisbury Square E C New York And Melbourne
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Contents
PAGE
I THE MYSTERY OF THE CIRCULAR CHAMBER 9
II THE WARDER OF THE DOOR 57
III THE MYSTERY OF THE FELWYN TUNNEL 95
IV THE EIGHT-MILE LOCK 139
V HOW SIVA SPOKE 183
VI TO PROVE AN ALIBI 227
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Introduction
It so happened that the circumstances of fate allowed me to follow my own bent in the choice of a profession. From my earliest youth the weird, the mysterious had an irresistible fascination for me. Having private means, I resolved to follow my unique inclinations, and I am now well known to all my friends as a professional exposer of ghosts, and one who can clear away the mysteries of most haunted houses. Up to the present I have never had cause to regret my choice, but at the same time I cannot too strongly advise any one who thinks of following my example to hesitate before engaging himself in tasks that entail time, expense, thankless labour, often ridicule, and not seldom great personal danger. To explain, by the application of science, phenomena attributed to spiritual agencies has been the work of my life. I have, naturally, gone through strange difficulties in accomplishing my mission. I propose in these pages to relate the histories of certain queer events, enveloped at first in mystery, and apparently dark with portent, but, nevertheless, when grappled with in the true spirit of science, capable of explanation.
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Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Master of Mysteries by Eustace and Meade
- 2: He was the heir to the Wentworth estates
- 3: Towards evening on the following day I arrived at Harkhurst
- 4: 'Why should I not visit the Castle Inn
- 5: And so they give it out that it was syncope
- 6: His wife and a grandchild live there also
- 7: We don't want visitors at the Castle Inn
- 8: I can only promise to give you a bed if Bindloss agrees
- 9: Liz stood perfectly still for a moment
- 10: Here Bindloss gave his wife a warning glance
- 11: I perceived that Bindloss was angry
- 12: The head of the bedstead caught me as it flew round
- 13: And what about Archibald Wentworth
- 14: The police immediately started in pursuit of Bindloss
- 15: Bindloss was left in full possession
- 16: Curzon and Phyllis are coming to stay for a fortnight
- 17: Phyllis bestowed upon him a startled glance
- 18: Allen was full of astonishment and
- 19: 'What can Phyllis think of this
- 20: Was standing in the old pew
- 21: Clinton leading the way with the lantern
- 22: While Clinton held it in that position
- 23: Clinton had scarcely done so before
- 24: With a wild paroxysm of fury he flung himself upon me
- 25: I pressed it against the door just opposite the hasp
- 26: Geoffrey Bainbridge was ushered into my room
- 27: And the signal box is on the Felwyn side
- 28: That Pritchard went down to the tunnel for that purpose
- 29: That Pritchard saw some apparition
- 30: Will you come down to Felwyn with me to morrow
- 31: Bainbridge came out to meet us
- 32: Bainbridge touched up the mare
- 33: The same thing as convicted of the murder of Pritchard
- 34: Inspector Henderson went in with me
- 35: I soon perceived that Henderson was in the same condition
- 36: Henderson pulled out his watch
- 37: Just hand me that brandy flask
- 38: And looking up I saw Bainbridge hurrying down the path
- 39: I could go for a week to the Ridsdales
- 40: And Vyner and I went for a long pull up stream
- 41: Vyner and Lord Ridsdale were amongst the latter number
- 42: Ridsdale nodded and left my cabin
- 43: When I received a letter from Ridsdale
- 44: Thinking what the issue of my visit to Vyner would be
- 45: And I have been that weak I could hardly wind up the sluices
- 46: And began to wind up one of the sluices
- 47: Gripping the boat hook in my hand
- 48: The weapon flew into splinters in my hand
- 49: I neither feared Ridsdale nor his wife
- 50: For a moment or two later old Jimmy Pegg and Dr
- 51: And Ridsdale was terribly agitated
- 52: My friend managed to get possession of Siva
- 53: He lives in a place called The Hynde
- 54: Bagwell eagerly asked me if I did not intend to sign
- 55: I eventually agreed to accompany Laurier into Somersetshire
- 56: Edward Thesiger was a handsome old man
- 57: Miss Thesiger went straight to her uncle's side
- 58: Thesiger remained gravely silent for a moment
- 59: And encouraged Uncle Edward to talk of Siva
- 60: Jasper himself is a very poor man
- 61: The swan's mouth was evidently at one focus
- 62: Bagwell drove me himself to the station
- 63: I still retained my hold of Bagwell
- 64: Added Cressley in a musing tone
- 65: Managed to pick up an acquaintance with Cressley
- 66: Cressley made a sort of half promise
- 67: I don't know that I am absolutely nervous
- 68: Having despatched my telegram to Cressley
- 69: I am going down to Cressley Hall
- 70: So you are going to spend to night with him at Cressley Hall
- 71: After giving Murdock a long and earnest stare
- 72: In a few moments the jobmaster came in
- 73: Cressley had come home with a fortune
- 74: Who took these means of circumventing me
- 75: Managed to wake up Mitchell the housekeeper
- 76: Cressley was sleeping in this room
- 77: Cressley into another room and then come back
- 78: And Wickham having thought it best to decamp
- 79: The men had thought that Cressley would prove an easy prey
- 80: With about Fifty Illustrations by Stanley L
- 81: Fully Illustrated by Stanley L
- 82: With Full page Illustrations by St
- 83: The Curse of Clement Waynflete
- 84: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
- 85: With Frontispiece and Vignette by W