I have been thinking again to-day of those astonishing times when neither of us ever looked at a newspaper; when we were purely happy in the boundless consumption of paper, pencils, tea and our elders' patience; when we embraced the most severe literature, and ourselves produced such light reading as was necessary; when (in the words of Canada's poet) we studied the works of nature, also those little frogs; when, in short, we were extremely young.
For the sake of that age I offer you this book.
Yours always,
E. C. Bentley.
CONTENTS
[PROLOGUE]
[CHAPTER I Knocking the Town Endways]
[CHAPTER II Breakfast]
[CHAPTER III Handcuffs in the Air]
[CHAPTER IV Poking About]
[CHAPTER V Mr. Brunner on the Case]
[CHAPTER VI The Lady in Black]
[CHAPTER VII The Inquest]
[CHAPTER VIII A Hot Scent]
[CHAPTER IX The Wife of Dives]
[CHAPTER X Hitherto Unpublished]
[CHAPTER XI Evil Days]
[CHAPTER XII Eruption]
[CHAPTER XIII Writing a Letter]
[CHAPTER XIV Double Cunning]
[CHAPTER XV The Last Straw]