Front matter

BY

NATALIE SUMNER LINCOLN

AUTHOR OF “THE TREVOR CASE” AND “THE LOST DESPATCH.”

ILLUSTRATED

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY NEW YORK AND LONDON 1914

Copyright, 1914, by D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

Copyright, 1914, by Smith Publishing House

Printed in the United States of America

“‘My dream! See, the panels are in the shape of a cross!’” [Page 198]

TO THE LATE MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE LEWIS GILLESPIE U. S. ARMY WHOSE KINDLY FRIENDSHIP, GENEROUS ENCOURAGEMENT AND DISCRIMINATING CRITICISM MADE THIS BOOK POSSIBLE IT IS MOST AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. “Where the Best Is Like the Worst” 1

II. After the Ball 14

III. A Mysterious Tragedy 19

IV. The Broken Appointment 24

V. Mute Testimony 36

VI. Circumstantial Evidence 52

VII. A Piece of Oriental Silk 59

VIII. Kismet 71

IX. At the State Department 87

X. The Theft 96

XI. Over the Tea Cups 107

XII. A Council of War 118

XIII. At the White House 131

XIV. The Moth and the Flame 152

XV. “Thornton’s Nest” 171

XVI. A Cry in the Night 188

XVII. The Mystery Deepens 204

XVIII. In the Name of the Law 221

XIX. The Accusation 231

XX. Weaving the Web 245

XXI. An International Intrigue 260

XXII. The Pursuit 269

XXIII. The End of the Quest 273

XXIV. The Final Explanation 293

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING

PAGE

“‘My dream! See, the panels are in the shape of a cross!’” Frontispiece

“But Cynthia remained where she was and peeped over the butler’s shoulder” 18

“He made out a shadowy form just ahead of him and darted forward” 68

“With an exclamation he rose, and walked across the room” 234

THE MAN INSIDE