The Velvet Hand
 

Four new different mysteries to resolve for Madame Storey.


See what happen in each case, both dangerous and difficult.


You will like for sure !


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Summary



THE VIPER

Before her Annual Vacation

Paris in June!

M. Craqui

Rich Americans in Paris

At the Dingy Famous Old Paris Restaurants

One does not Make a Million by Tips Alone

The Cablegrams

On the Great Ship

In New York


THE STEERERS

Sailing Back to Paris

The Captain's Suspicions

Dance after Dance

The Captain’s Dinner

Place Vendôme, in Paris

I Must Go to London

Apprehend Miss Copley

Monsieur Guimet

A Necessary Delay


THE POT OF PANSIES

A Hasty Trip to England

The Embassy

The Shepherd

Scotland Yard

The Pot of Pansies Was Not There

To the Laboratory

Let Her Talk

What a Woman!

On Train

Further Information

Back to the Railway Station

Bristed

A Fine Piece of Work!


THE LEGACY HOUNDS

Village Lawyer

Meeting the Great Madame Storey

Mrs Brager

Founding the Brager Home for Aged Gentlewomen

Who Killed Her?

Obvious Replies to Obvious Questions

Dr. Brill

Still Under Examination

The Proceedings

Did You Get Your Man?

Weaving the Rope

My Mistress Very Handsomely



Scotland Yard



At the door of Scotland Yard, which is not a yard at all as we understand the word, but an immense brick building tucked out of sight between Whitehall and the Thames Embankment, Inspector Battram dismissed his man with some low-voiced instructions.


This individual had not once opened his mouth since he had appeared at our hotel. The inspector then led us to his private office. It was evident, from the attitude of all the underlings in the place, that he was a person of considerable consequence there. You may be sure that we were stared at. But my fears had departed. I now had confidence in the inspector, and was assured that we should be treated fairly.


In his office we found the British matron, our travelling companion of the previous evening. She had evidently just been brought in by another assistant. She was in a state of hard, dry excitement very painful to witness. Both the bun and the superimposed hat were awry. She was talking when we entered, and went right on talking.


"... outrageous! I am Mrs. Hargreaves. Lord Stukeley is my cousin. Never in my life have I been subjected to such an indignity. It's a nice thing if a lady of position must submit to such a thing! Dragged here to Scotland Yard like a common criminal! Somebody shall suffer for this!"


A bored expression came over Inspector Battram's face. I expect he was familiar with her type.


"I am exceedingly sorry to have to trouble a relative of Lord Stukeley's," he said drily, "but you had the misfortune to travel from Banchester to London last night in a carriage where a serious crime was committed."


"And do you dare to say that I did it?" she demanded stridently. "My husband is clerk of the waterworks in Banchester. The Dean of the Chapter is my intimate friend. You shall hear more of this, young man!"


"I do not suggest that you committed the crime," said the inspector patiently, "but it is my duty to ask you certain questions."


"How do you know what carriage I travelled in?"


The inspector turned to me.


"Is this the lady you described to me as having shared your seat?" he asked.


"Yes," I said.


"That's a lie!" cried Mrs. Hargreaves furiously. "I never saw the woman before. Who is this woman anyway? She probably committed the crime herself!"


Mme Storey and I exchanged a glance. This was no proof of the woman's guilt, of course. She had lost her head. It was nothing but the horror that respectable English people have of getting mixed up in anything unpleasant, of getting their names in the papers.


"Can you swear that this lady rode in your carriage?" the inspector asked Mme Storey.


"Oh, yes," said my mistress, with delicate malice. "She had the same clothes on."


"And who is this person?" demanded Mrs. Hargreaves. "Is her word to be preferred over mine? Hm! Very fine, I dare say. Much too grand to be travelling in a third-class carriage. I said to myself as soon as I laid eyes on her —  — "


"Then you have seen her before," the inspector put in quickly.


Mrs. Hargreaves bit her lips and the tears came into her hard eyes — tears of vexation. She was silenced.


"Now tell me what happened during the journey," said the inspector soothingly.


"I can tell you nothing," she said sullenly. "I slept the entire way. I suppose you don't believe that, but it's the truth."


"When did you awaken?"


"Not until the train was pulling into Paddington."


"And who was in the carriage then?"


...

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Mots clés : Paris and London, New York city, captain’s dinner, Scotland Yard’s Laboratory, great ship, sailing, The Velvet Hand, New Madame Storey Mysteries, Hulbert Footner, Mme Storey