The trail of the serpentFront matterReading editionChapter navigation56 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…Front matterMISS BRADDON’S NOVELSBook the First.Chapter I · THE GOOD SCHOOLMASTER.Chapter II · GOOD FOR NOTHING.Chapter III · THE USHER WASHES HIS HANDS.Chapter IV · RICHARD MARWOOD LIGHTS HIS PIPE.Chapter V · THE HEALING WATERS.Chapter VI · TWO CORONER’S INQUESTS.Chapter VII · THE DUMB DETECTIVE A PHILANTHROPIST.Chapter VIII · SEVEN LETTERS ON THE DIRTY ALPHABET.Chapter IX · “MAD, GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY.”Book the Second.Chapter I · BLIND PETER.Chapter II · LIKE AND UNLIKE.Chapter III · A GOLDEN SECRET.Chapter IV · JIM LOOKS OVER THE BRINK OF THE TERRIBLE GULF.Chapter V · MIDNIGHT BY THE SLOPPERTON CLOCKS.Chapter VI · THE QUIET FIGURE ON THE HEATH.Chapter VII · THE USHER RESIGNS HIS SITUATION.Book the Third.Chapter I · THE VALUE OF AN OPERA-GLASS.Chapter II · WORKING IN THE DARK.Chapter III · THE WRONG FOOTSTEP.Chapter IV · OCULAR DEMONSTRATION.Chapter V · THE KING OF SPADES.Chapter VI · A GLASS OF WINE.Chapter VII · THE LAST ACT OF LUCRETIA BORGIA.Chapter VIII · BAD DREAMS AND A WORSE WAKING.Chapter IX · A MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.Chapter X · ANIMAL MAGNETISM.Book the Fourth.Chapter I · THE BOY FROM SLOPPERTON.Chapter II · MR. AUGUSTUS DARLEY AND MR. JOSEPH PETERS GO OUT FISHING.Chapter III · THE EMPEROR BIDS ADIEU TO ELBA.Chapter IV · JOY AND HAPPINESS FOR EVERYBODY.Chapter V · THE CHEROKEES TAKE AN OATH.Chapter VI · MR. PETERS RELATES HOW HE THOUGHT HE HAD A CLUE, AND HOW HE LOST IT.Book the Fifth.Chapter I · THE COUNT DE MAROLLES AT HOME.Chapter II · MR. PETERS SEES A GHOST.Chapter III · THE CHEROKEES MARK THEIR MAN.Chapter IV · THE CAPTAIN, THE CHEMIST, AND THE LASCAR.Chapter V · THE NEW MILKMAN IN PARK LANE.Chapter VI · SIGNOR MOSQUETTI RELATES AN ADVENTURE.Chapter VII · THE GOLDEN SECRET IS TOLD, AND THE GOLDEN BOWL IS BROKEN.Chapter VIII · ONE STEP FURTHER ON THE RIGHT TRACK.Chapter IX · CAPTAIN LANSDOWN OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION WHICH APPEARS TO INTEREST HIM.Book the Sixth.Chapter I · FATHER AND SON.Chapter II · RAYMOND DE MAROLLES SHOWS HIMSELF BETTER THAN ALL BOW STREET.Chapter III · THE LEFT-HANDED SMASHER MAKES HIS MARK.Chapter IV · WHAT THEY FIND IN THE ROOM IN WHICH THE MURDER WAS COMMITTED.Chapter V · MR. PETERS DECIDES ON A STRANGE STEP, AND ARRESTS THE DEAD.Chapter VI · THE END OF THE DARK ROAD.Chapter VII · FAREWELL TO ENGLAND.Beginning of this editionNext chapter →MISS BRADDON’S NOVELSAll chapters and sections (56)Opening pagesFront matterOther sectionsMISS BRADDON’S NOVELSBook the First.Chapters123456789Other sectionsBook the Second.Chapters1234567Other sectionsBook the Third.Chapters12345678910Other sectionsBook the Fourth.Chapters123456Other sectionsBook the Fifth.Chapters123456789Other sectionsBook the Sixth.Chapters1234567The story concerns the schemes of the orphan Jabez North to acquire an aristocratic fortune, and the efforts of Richard Marwood, to prove his innocence in the murder of his uncle.MISS BRADDON’S NOVELS →