Riddle of the Purple Emperor

E. Hanshew Mary

Description

This engrossing mystery features the quirky detective Hamilton Cleek, a one-time master criminal with an uncanny gift for impersonation who has decided to put his nefarious talents to use helping the police. A chance encounter with a young woman who arrived at a train station only to find that nobody has arrived to meet her quickly immerses Cleek in one of the most perplexing mysteries he's ever encountered.

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776671595
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE RIDDLE OF THE PURPLE EMPEROR
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MARY E. HANSHEW
THOMAS W. HANSHEW
 
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The Riddle of the Purple Emperor First published in 1918 Epub ISBN 978-1-77667-159-5 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77667-160-1 © 2016 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Characters Chapter I - Which Introduces a New Friend Chapter II - The Home-Coming Chapter III - In the Dark Chapter IV - The House of Shadows Chapter V - The Threads of Chance Chapter VI - The Cry in the Night Chapter VII - In the Tiger's Clutches Chapter VIII - Complications and Complexities Chapter IX - The House with the Shuttered Windows Chapter X - A Shot in the Dark Chapter XI - A Terrible Discovery Chapter XII - The Woman in the Case Chapter XIII - Tightening the Strands Chapter XIV - The Plot Thickens Chapter XV - Tangled Threads Chapter XVI - In the Doctor's Surgery Chapter XVII - Miss Cheyne Again Chapter XVIII - Dollops Takes a Hand Chapter XIX - The Twin Scarves Chapter XX - A Twisted Clue Chapter XXI - "'Tis a Mad World, My Masters" Chapter XXII - The Trap Chapter XXIII - Untwisting the Threads Chapter XXIV - An Unexpected Contretemps Chapter XXV - "A Tale Unfolded"
Characters
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HAMILTON CLEEK, the Man of Forty Faces, and once known to the police as "The Vanishing Cracksman."
SUPERINTENDENT NARKOM, of Scotland Yard.
LENNARD, his chauffeur.
HAMMOND, PETRIE, Detective Sergeants.
CONSTABLE ROBERTS, Police Officer at Hampton Village.
DOLLOPS, Cleek's trusted friend and protégé.
LADY MARGARET CHEYNE, the only and orphan daughter of
LORD CHEYNE, whose title became extinct on his death, some years previous, but by his will he has left her all the family jewels, including the ill-fated
PURPLE EMPEROR, a big violet-coloured diamond looted from an Indian temple, and set as a pendant. She comes of age at 18, until when she is left in the charge of his eccentric sister,
THE HONOURABLE MISS CHEYNE, a recluse, living in a lonely house, Cheyne Court, on the banks of the Thames. She has kept her niece at the convent of Notre Dame in Paris, since her childhood. Disappointed in love herself, Miss Cheyne has decided that her niece shall be a spinster also, but Lady Margaret has contrived to meet and fall in love with
SIR EDGAR BRENTON, the son of the man who jilted the Honourable Miss Cheyne, and whose chance visit to Paris with his mother, a year earlier, led to his acquaintanceship with Lady Margaret, and with whom he is deeply in love. Unfortunately he is also loved by
JENNIFER WYNNE, the orphan daughter of a doctor who lived in Hampton previous to the present one. She earns a living by teaching, and lives with her brother,
BOBBY WYNNE, a young spendthrift and gambler, in the power of
JAMES BLAKE, the head of the Pentacle Club.
DOCTOR VERRALL, the village doctor, loves Miss Wynne.
Chapter I - Which Introduces a New Friend
*
It was nearly half-past five on a wild March afternoon, in those happyyears before the great war, and Charing Cross Station, struggling in thethroes of that desperate agitation which betokens the arrival of aboat-train from the continent, was full to overflowing with achattering, gesticulating crowd of travellers, all anxious to securefirst place in the graces of that ever-useful personage, the porter.
It was the busiest hour of the day, and everyone seemed to be making themost of it. What wonder, then, that tempers were grazed, nerves jangled,and peaceable individuals were transformed into monsters with bellicoseintentions!
In the yard outside the station a medley of motors chug-chuggedunceasingly, crushed in upon each other like closely packed sardines,and presented to the casual individual a maze of intricacies and noisefrom which he could evolve no beginning and no end.
One car, however, somewhat conspicuous as to colour, stood out amongstthe drab hues of the others, like a poppy in a cornfield. It was the redlimousine of Mr. Maverick Narkom, Superintendent of Scotland Yard andthe car in which that gentleman was wont to take his numerous voyagesabroad.
But, at the moment, Mr. Narkom was not occupying its roomy interior. Itwas a youth who sat at the steering-wheel and he was staring withanxious eyes out of his drab, cockney countenance, glancing from side toside at the hurrying throng which streamed from the station as though hewere expecting every minute to see the King himself stride from it.
But it was no King he waited for—rather, indeed, a Queen—the Queen ofhis beloved master's heart, and as he sat there staring about him, hebecame conscious of a queer, gnawing pain somewhere in the region of hisstomach. The knowledge of the very excellent tea he had missed, byreason of this endless waiting, swept over him in an overwhelming tide.
"Lor' Lumme," ejaculated he as the time sped on and she for whom hewatched came not. "If she don't come by the next train I shall beredooced to eating of me bloomin' 'at to save me life! I'll be a livingskeleton, I will, with not even as much to chew at as a winkle or acharcoal biscuit. But the guv'nor, bless 'is 'eart, ain't even 'ad asmuch as that! He'll be just fit to bust 'isself in a minute—an'speakin' of hangels, 'ere he is!"
Here "he" certainly was, the only being in the world who counted toDollops, and he looked both tired and depressed.
Under ordinary circumstances one might as well have expected to meet anuncaged lion in the streets of London, as to come across Hamilton Cleekwandering up and down in so exposed a place as Charing Cross Station atany hour of the day, much less when the Paris boat-train was expected.This train might debouch any number of Maurevanians or French apaches,all pledged to kill the "Rat of a Cracksman," the "Man of Forty Faces"who had long ago left their haunts and company for the sake of one fairwoman whose eyes had pierced the depths of his degradation, bidding himaspire to better things.
And it was for her, his queen among women, that Cleek waited now. Thatmorning's post had brought a brief scrap of a letter telling him thatshe was returning to-day from a long visit to the Baron de Carjorac andhis daughter in Paris. Only a short, friendly note it had been, butsufficient to cause Cleek to spend his day at the station, not knowingby which train she would arrive. It was little wonder, therefore, thatat half-past five Dollops was growing desperate.
A whistle shrilled. There was the sudden excited clamour of many voicesand the boat-train, late and overcrowded, had come in!
Cleek switched on his heel, forged a way through the waiting crowd, andbetook himself to the gates. For a moment only a flow of passengers methis gaze, when suddenly the sight of a slenderly knit figure made hisheart leap to his mouth. A mist swam in front of his eyes, blurringtheir vision momentarily, and he took an exultant step forward. For itwas Ailsa Lorne herself. She gazed at him with a look of glad surprise,and a swift rush of colour came to the pure oval face which set hispulses hammering.
"Ailsa—!"
Hand met hand in the warm clasp which there is no mistaking and thenCleek realized that she was not alone. By her side stood a young girlnot more than eighteen, if looks counted for anything, evidently sotired and worn with the rigours of the journey that she seemed too dazedto notice anything or anybody.
Ailsa, thrusting a friendly arm through hers, drew her forward.
"Lady Margaret, this is a very dear friend of mine," she said in herfresh young voice, "Lieutenant Deland, dear."
No need to tell Cleek that there was some special reason for thismeeting and introduction, for he knew only too well how quick AilsaLorne was to lend a helping hand to any one in trouble, and heregistered a silent vow to do all he could, should occasion demand, forthis tired-looking child.
Then Ailsa spoke again, looking significantly at Cleek.
"We have both been victims of a terrible crossing, and Lady Margaret hasfound no one to meet her. She has come from the convent of Notre Dame inParis, and has to go all the way to Hampton now."
"Hampton?" Cleek echoed, raising his eyebrows involuntarily, for he knewAilsa would go direct to the riverside cottage in that place which shehad made her home.
"Yes, I tell her we are to be near neighbors. So, dear," she turnedagain to her companion, who was staring round the station in evidentsearch of some friendly face, "supposing you let Lieutenant Deland driveus both together? He will drop me at my home, and put you down at CheyneCourt."
The girl's eyes lit up with something akin to real pleasure.
"Oh, indeed I will, if you—he—will not mind; I am so worried. I feltsure Auntie would have come to meet me. It is all so strange—" Hervoice died away as if she were too tired to resist, and the eyes ofCleek and Ailsa met in significant understanding.
"The limousine is outside," he murmured in a low voice, "and I will runyou down myself if that will suit you."
"Indeed it will," said Ailsa, gratefully, "and I shall just tuck thatpoor child into the car, then come and sit in front with you so that wecan talk."
A sudden light came into Cleek's eyes, a sudden smile curved the cornersof his mouth at this proof of Ailsa's trust in him, and he led the wayout of the station.
Outside, Dollops was speedily dismissed to get a long-wished-for meal.Realizing that his beloved master was happy in his self-appointed task,he relinquished his place at the wheel, and was speedily lost to sightin the ever