The Project Gutenberg EBook of Red Money, by Fergus Hume

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Title: Red Money

Author: Fergus Hume

Release Date: March 14, 2005 [EBook #15356]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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RED MONEY

BY FERGUS HUME

Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," "The Solitary Farm," "The
Peacock of Jewels," "The Red Window," "The Steel Crown," etc.

1911

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. THE DRAMA OF LITTLE THINGS

II. IN THE WOOD

III. AN UNEXPECTED RECOGNITION

IV. SECRETS

V. THE WOMAN AND THE MAN

VI. THE MAN AND THE WOMAN

VII. THE SECRETARY

VIII. AT MIDNIGHT

IX. AFTERWARDS

X. A DIFFICULT POSITION

XI. BLACKMAIL

XII. THE CONSPIRACY

XIII. A FRIEND IN NEED

XIV. MISS GREEBY, DETECTIVE

XV. GUESSWORK

XVI. THE LAST STRAW

XVII. ON THE TRAIL

XVIII. AN AMAZING ACCUSATION

XIX. MOTHER COCKLESHELL

XX. THE DESTINED END

XXI. A FINAL SURPRISE

RED MONEY

CHAPTER I.

THE DRAMA OF LITTLE THINGS.

"Gypsies! How very delightful! I really must have my fortune told. The
dear things know all about the future."

As Mrs. Belgrove spoke she peered through her lorgnette to see if anyone
at the breakfast-table was smiling. The scrutiny was necessary, since
she was the oldest person present, and there did not appear to be any
future for her, save that very certain one connected with a funeral. But
a society lady of sixty, made up to look like one of forty (her maid
could do no more), with an excellent digestion and a constant desire,
like the Athenians of old, for "Something New!" can scarcely be expected
to dwell upon such a disagreeable subject as death. Nevertheless, Mrs.
Belgrove could not disguise from herself that her demise could not be
postponed for many more years, and examined the faces of the other
guests to see if they thought so too. If anyo