The Riddle of the Night   By: Thomas W. Hanshew (1857-1914)

[Illustration: HE TOOK UP THE DECANTERS ONE BY ONE AND SAMPLED THEIR CONTENTS IN TURN]

THE INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURE LIBRARY

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THREE OWLS EDITION

THE RIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

BY THOMAS W. HANSHEW

Author of "Cleek, the Man of the Forty Faces," "Cleek of Scotland Yard," Etc.

W. R. CALDWELL & CO. NEW YORK

Copyright, 1915, by DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. A Mysterious Affair 3 II. How the Chase Ended 14 III. The Shadow That Lay Behind 23 IV. Clews and Suspicions 36 V. The Riddle of the Night 47 VI. A Little Discrepancy 58 VII. "Coming Events Cast Their Shadows Before" 72 VIII. Ailsa Lorne 77 IX. Blind Groping 88 X. Another Strand in the Web 101 XI. The Cloudburst 109 XII. The Thunderbolt 120 XIII. A Question of Veracity 127 XIV. A Change in the Program 139 XV. A Clew from the Air 149 XVI. A Bold Stroke 159 XVII. A Blunder and a Discovery 171 XVIII. Springing a Surprise 182 XIX. Picking up Threads 188 XX. "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth" 199 XXI. When Two and Two Make Four 204 XXII. When Four and Four Make Eight 215 XXIII. The Lady at the Gate 226 XXIV. The Mousetrap 237 XXV. The Fly in the Ointment 248 XXVI. The Open Window 260 XXVII. The View Halloo 268 XXVIII. Loisette is Vindicated 279 XXIX. "Quick! Fire!" 287 XXX. Nearing the Truth! 296 XXXI. How the Truth Was Told 304

CHARACTERS

HAMILTON CLEEK, The Man of the Forty Faces and once known to the Police as "The Vanishing Cracksman," now the great Detective in his various disguises as Monsieur Georges de Lesparre, Philip Barch, George Headland.

SUPERINTENDENT NARKOM, of Scotland Yard.

LENNARD, his chauffeur.

HAMMOND } Detective Sergeants. PETRIE }

MELLISH, Police Officer.

DOLLOPS, Cleek's trusted assistant.

LORD ST. ULMER, the father of

LADY KATHERINE FORDHAM, who is in love with

GEOFFREY CLAVERING, the only son and heir of

SIR PHILIP CLAVERING, of Clavering Close, and

LADY CLAVERING, his second wife.

COUNT FRANZ DE LOUVISAN, found mysteriously murdered after having forced Lady Katherine to become engaged to him.

AILSA LORNE, Lady Katherine's friend and companion.

GENERAL and

MRS. RAYNOR, Lady Katherine's relatives.

HARRY RAYNOR, their son.

CHAPTER ONE

A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR