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A MASTER OF DECEPTION
[Illustration: "'You see, uncle--this one; as it were, death reduced to its lowest possible denomination'" (_see page_ 99).]
A MASTER
OF DECEPTION
By
Richard Marsh
Author of "Twin Sisters," "The Lovely Mrs. Blake," "The Interrupted Kiss," etc., etc.
With a Frontispiece by DUDLEY TENNANT
CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne 1913
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
1. The Inclining of a Twig.
2. His Uncle And His Cousin.
3. Rodney Elmore the First.
4. The Three Girls and the Three Telegrams.
5. Stella.
6. Gladys.
7. Mary.
8. By The 9.10: The First Part of the Journey.
9. The Second.
10. In the Carriage--Alone.
11. The Stranger.
12. Marking Time.
13. Spreading His Wings.
14. Business First, Pleasure Afterwards.
15. Mabel Joyce.
16. Thomas Austin, Senior.
17. The Acting Head of the Firm.
18. The Perfect Lover.
19. The Few Words at the End of the Evening.
20. The First Line of an Old Song.
21. The Dead Man's Letter.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Master of Deception by Richard Marsh
- 2: Of which Rodney Elmore was a member
- 3: Elmore told him that she would pay his fare and give him
- 4: Rumsey and Elmore joined the agitated Mr
- 5: Rodney Elmore had an excellent time upon the Broads
- 6: Elmore would give the world to make her his wife
- 7: With the pleasantest expression
- 8: Elmore was of a hopeful disposition
- 9: For once in his life Rodney was taken by surprise
- 10: I've had enough of obeying dad
- 11: The question was put to Elmore
- 12: Elmore acting as a sort of chorus
- 13: As Rodney won't join you in drinking
- 14: Were Graham Patterson to have such a stroke
- 15: I told you to ask young Metcalf to get cash for it
- 16: He even won his wife by foul means
- 17: I put that cheque aside and waited
- 18: So far as his uncle was concerned
- 19: Rodney was unfeignedly glad to see him
- 20: While Tom helped himself to the other whack
- 21: Rodney chuckled at the thought of it
- 22: He did not care for matronly women
- 23: Do you think they're newly married
- 24: Then you do really and truly care for me
- 25: The Sunday trains to Dorking were very awkward
- 26: But he could not explain this to Gladys Patterson
- 27: But we meet so seldom that when we do we want to gobble
- 28: Let me put a hypothetical case
- 29: Aren't I the very dearest friend Stella has in the world
- 30: I don't want to lunch at either of the hotels
- 31: I really can't see why you object to Stella
- 32: All the frocks your soul desired
- 33: Beyond doubt the Pullman had been crowded
- 34: Patterson himself seemed conscious of the risk he ran
- 35: And especially for a thief who is the son of a thief
- 36: He waved it affably towards Elmore
- 37: Rodney asked What were you going to do
- 38: Rodney was leaning a little forward
- 39: Patterson glanced towards the black knob
- 40: He could only grow purpler and purpler
- 41: In it he placed the four tabloids
- 42: Rodney had an uneasy feeling that
- 43: They had just passed Earlswood Asylum
- 44: Again that unpleasantly sounding snigger
- 45: Then the creature was a lunatic
- 46: Old tweed hat shaped like a billycock
- 47: Rodney drank what was in his glass
- 48: The train started just as Rodney
- 49: It was someone from the railway company
- 50: Suppose suppose dad did it because he was ruined
- 51: Did you come back in the Pullman
- 52: He had never mentioned his cousin to Stella
- 53: My name is Wilkes Stephen Wilkes
- 54: Patterson had is now his daughter's
- 55: Miss Patterson will decline to see you
- 56: Wilkes whether earnest or otherwise
- 57: Wilkes looked as if he would have said a good deal
- 58: And it's a solid business still indeed
- 59: You are not imputing dishonesty to me
- 60: As the inquest is timed for noon
- 61: You may consider Miss Patterson your client
- 62: Wilkes had met Miss Patterson before
- 63: He was aware that Graham Patterson had consulted
- 64: Wilkes observed In order to avoid misunderstanding
- 65: Does every man have an Agnes Sybil Armstrong
- 66: And Clarence Parmiter shall be my best man
- 67: And a telegram from Stella Austin
- 68: I believe the public are admitted to inquests
- 69: And a very pretty kid you were
- 70: Financially there'd be an end of me
- 71: The inquest hadn't hardly begun before I saw everything
- 72: You said you believed it was a Chinese sweetmeat box
- 73: As that train stopped in Redhill tunnel
- 74: You can get a licence for L2 3s
- 75: Promise to marry on Thursday next Mabel Joyce
- 76: He would be sanguine who hoped to explain a poker
- 77: Elmore was left to his own reflections
- 78: Stella always did like six footers
- 79: Was for the most part observing Miss Joyce
- 80: I've been imprisoned in the warehouse all my life
- 81: Stella has some means of her own
- 82: They're homely folk at Kensington
- 83: Paul's Churchyard on Clarence Parmiter
- 84: The arrangements would be made of which Parmiter had spoken
- 85: I am going to arrange for Miss Patterson to meet you and Mr
- 86: Then there was Mary Carmichael
- 87: Had him kiss her again and again and again
- 88: Miss Claughton would probably have heard also
- 89: Crossed the room with your dear little bare feet Rodney
- 90: That explains why you want to be present at the funeral
- 91: My dear Rodney how should I know what it is
- 92: And the Misses Claughton followed
- 93: You only proposed last Saturday
- 94: How many bridesmaids would you like me to have
- 95: As he eyed her Rodney compared her
- 96: Should I see Stella at the corner of every street
- 97: He always has been throwing out nasty hints about you
- 98: And I suppose an anonymous correspondent
- 99: Rodney smiled at his visitor pleasantly
- 100: That's being an accessory after the fact
- 101: Elmore wants to go to his business
- 102: On the way to the City Rodney paid two or three calls
- 103: It was posted at Brighton on Sunday
- 104: Master Elmore is an all round scoundrel
- 105: Parmiter was in the outer office
- 106: Returning the letter to its envelope
- 107: Elmore prevented him from getting near the lady
- 108: Wilkes made a final attempt at salvage
- 109: Elmore departing together in a cab to lunch
- 110: I'm afraid the explanation is simple too simple
- 111: The inspector had an eye on Rodney
- 112: Graham Patterson did not commit suicide
- 113: Graham Patterson did not commit suicide
- 114: I have killed Graham Patterson
- 115: It was in the form of tabloids
- 116: I have rather a fancy for Broadmoor
- 117: Rodney made an effort to regain his self possession
- 118: I feel you could solve anything
- 119: Rodney drew the gentleman aside
- 120: So I came back from Brighton all alone
- 121: That's a duck of a frock you're arrayed in
- 122: And it is certain that Rodney was with Stella in another
- 123: That is my name I am Rodney Elmore
- 124: And Rodney went up the steps into the house
- 125: Rodney raised his arms above his head
- 126: Look you never so sourly at me
- 127: Caught up an old fashioned locket
- 128: On my word I believe you women like a man who's a blackguard
- 129: With Miss Patterson behind her
- 130: The registrar he'll be waiting for us
- 131: Elmore drew a thousand pounds from the bank
- 132: Rodney Elmore I'm not going to call him Mr
- 133: He blurted out But what about Stella
- 134: On a lengthy visit to Broadmoor
- 135: Was Rodney Elmore his boyhood's friend