CONTENTS
| CHAP. | PAGE | |
| I. | The Christmas Tree | [7] |
| II. | An Anonymous Letter | [16] |
| III. | A Mysterious Visitor | [26] |
| IV. | The Churchyard | [37] |
| V. | Afterwards | [46] |
| VI. | The Case Against Anne | [55] |
| VII. | Oliver Morley | [65] |
| VIII. | The Irony of Fate | [74] |
| IX. | A Strange Discovery | [84] |
| X. | On a Fresh Trail | [96] |
| XI. | Princess Karacsay | [106] |
| XII. | Mrs. Parry's Tea | [118] |
| XIII. | Mrs. Benker Reappears | [129] |
| XIV. | Treasure Trove | [139] |
| XV. | An Awkward Interview | [148] |
| XVI. | The Unexpected Happens | [159] |
| XVII. | Part of the Truth | [169] |
| XVIII. | What Happened Next | [180] |
| XIX. | The Clue Leads to London | [190] |
| XX. | Many a Slip 'Twixt Cup and Lip | [201] |
| XXI. | A Story of the Past | [212] |
| XXII. | Olga's Evidence | [223] |
| XXIII. | Mark Dane | [233] |
| XXIV. | A Rat in a Corner | [245] |
| XXV. | A Catastrophe | [259] |
| XXVI. | The End of the Trouble | [272] |
CHAPTER I
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Two old ladies sat in the corner of the drawing-room. The younger—a colonial cousin of the elder—was listening eagerly to gossip which dealt with English society in general, and Rickwell society in particular. They presumably assisted in the entertainment of the children already gathered tumultuously round the Christmas tree, provided by Mr. Morley; but Mrs. Parry's budget of scandal was too interesting to permit the relaxing of Mrs. McKail's attention.
"Ah yes," said Mrs. Parry, a hatchet-faced dame with a venomous tongue and a retentive memory, "Morley's fond of children, although he has none of his own."
"But those three pretty little girls?" said Mrs. McKail, who was fat, fair, and considerably over forty.
"Triplets," replied the other, sinking her voice. "The only case of triplets I have met with, but not his children. No, Mrs. Morley was a widow with triplets and money. Morley married her for the last, and had to take the first as part of the bargain. I don't deny but what he does his duty by the three."