MYSTERY 242
XXIII IN FULL CRY 253
XXIV AN UNFORTUNATE SLIP 263
XXV MORE STRANGE FACTS 272
XXVI "SOME SENSATIONAL REVELATIONS" 281
XXVII A CONTRETEMPS 291
XXVIII THE FRENCHMAN MAKES A STATEMENT 298
XXIX FURTHER REVELATIONS 307
XXX CONCLUSION 313

HUSHED UP!

PROLOGUE

I

IS MAINLY SCANDALOUS

"And he died mysteriously?"

"The doctors certified that he died from natural causes--heart
failure."

"That is what the world believes, of course. His death was a nation's
loss, and the truth was hushed up. But you, Phil Poland, know it. Upon
the floor was found something--a cigar--eh?"

"Nothing very extraordinary in that, surely? He died while smoking."

"Yes," said the bald-headed man, bending towards the other and
lowering his voice into a harsh whisper. "He died while smoking a
cigar--a cigar that had been poisoned! You know it well enough. What's
the use of trying to affect ignorance--_with me_!"

"Well?" asked Philip Poland after a brief pause, his brows knit darkly
and his face drawn and pale.

"Well, I merely wish to recall that somewhat unpleasant fact, and to
tell you that I know the truth," said the other with slow
deliberation, his eyes fixed upon the man seated opposite him.

"Why recall unpleasant facts?" asked Poland, with a faint attempt to
smile. "I never do."

"A brief memory is always an advantage," remarked Arnold Du Cane, with
a sinister grin.

"Ah! I quite follow you," Poland said, with a hardness of the mouth.
"But I tell you, Arnold, I refuse to lend any hand in this crooked bit
of business you've just put before me. Let's talk of something else."

"Crooked business, indeed! Fancy you, Phil Poland, denouncing it as
crooked!" he laughed. "And I'm a crook, I suppose," and he
thoughtfully caressed his small moustache, which bore traces of having
been artificially darkened.

"I didn't say so."

"But you implied it. Bah! You'll be teaching the Sunday School of this
delightful English village of yours before long, I expect. No doubt
the villagers believe the gentleman at the Elms to be a model of every
virtue, especially when he wears a frock-coat and trots around