Classic Audiobook Collection - The Mystery of the Boule Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson ~ Full Audiobook [mystery]

Episode Date: July 3, 2023

The Mystery of the Boule Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson audiobook. Genre: mystery When a shipping mistake delivers an extraordinary Boule cabinet to the New York home of wealthy collector Philip Vantine, the windfall feels too dazzling to surrender. Vantine summons his friend and attorney, Lester, to help him untangle ownership and negotiate a price, but the cabinet arrives with a shadow: a stranger turns up dead inside Vantine's house, and the circumstances make no simple sense. Soon more men die, each collapse pointing to a rare, fast-working poison, and each new clue seems to circle back to the same ornate piece of furniture and a feared figure from France's criminal underworld. Teaming with the sharp-eyed newspaperman Godfrey, Lester follows a trail of anxious servants, evasive visitors, and conflicting timelines, testing every assumption about motive, opportunity, and method. As society gossip meets meticulous deduction, the cabinet becomes the story's unsettling centerpiece, a beautiful object that may also be a perfectly designed trap. Stevenson's classic detective tale blends atmosphere, ingenious mechanics, and escalating stakes into a puzzle where the most innocent detail could be the key. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 01 (00:13:26) Chapter 02 (00:24:50) Chapter 03 (00:46:25) Chapter 04 (00:58:24) Chapter 05 (01:13:24) Chapter 06 (01:24:20) Chapter 07 (01:35:16) Chapter 08 (01:50:43) Chapter 09 (02:08:22) Chapter 10 (02:25:33) Chapter 11 (02:40:11) Chapter 12 (02:48:21) Chapter 13 (03:05:29) Chapter 14 (03:17:21) Chapter 15 (03:26:26) Chapter 16 (03:42:10) Chapter 17 (04:01:21) Chapter 18 (04:23:05) Chapter 19 (04:33:27) Chapter 20 (04:47:05) Chapter 21 (05:06:04) Chapter 22 (05:27:01) Chapter 23 (05:40:59) Chapter 24 (06:01:28) Chapter 25 (06:18:29) Chapter 26 (06:31:38) Chapter 27 (06:44:08) Chapter 28 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

the mystery of the boole cabinet by burton egbert stevenson a connoisseur's vagary hello i said as i took down the receiver of my desk phone in answer to the call "'Mr. Van Tyn wishes to speak to you, sir,' said the office-boy. "'All right, and I heard the snap of a connection.' "'Is that you, Lester?' asked Philip Van Tine's voice. "'Yes, so you're back again. Got in yesterday. Can you come up to the house and lunch with me to-day?' "'I'd be glad to,' I said, and meant it, for I liked Philip Van Tine. "'I'll look for you, then, about one-thirty.'

"'And that is how it happened that, an hour later, I was walking over towards the Washington Square, just above which on the avenue the old Vantyne mansion stood. It was almost the last survival of the old regime, for the tide of business had long since overflowed from the neighboring streets into the avenue and swept its fashionable folk far up town. Tall office and loft buildings had replaced the brownstone houses, only here and there did some old family hold on, like a sullen and desperate rear guard. defying the advancing enemy.

Philip Van Tyn was one of these. He had been born in the house where he still lived, and declared that he would die there. He had no one but himself to please in the matter, since he was unmarried and lived alone, and he mitigated the increasing roar and dust of the neighborhood by long absences abroad. It was from one of these that he had just returned.

I may as well complete the pencil sketch. Van Tine was about fifty years, years of age, the possessor of a comfortable fortune, something of a connoisseur in art matters, a collector of old furniture, a little eccentric, though now that I have written the word, I find that I must qualify it, for his only eccentricity was that he persisted, in spite of many temptations, in remaining a bachelor. Marriageable women had long since ceased to consider him. Mothers with maturing daughters dismissed him with a significant shake.

of the head. It was from them that he got the reputation of being an eccentric, but his reasons for remaining single in no way concerned his lawyers, a position which our firm had held for many years, and the active work of which had come gradually into my hands. It was not very arduous work, consisting for the most part, of the drawing of leases, the collecting of rents, the reinvestment of funds, and the adjustment of minor differences with tenants, all of which were left to our discretion. But occasionally it was necessary to consult our client on some matter of unusual importance, or to get a signature to some paper, and at such times I always enjoyed the talk which followed

the completion of the business, for Van Tyn was a good talker, with the knowledge of men and of the world gained by much travel and by a detached, humorous, and penetrating habit of mind. He came forward to meet me as I gave his man my hat and stick, and we shook hands heartily. I was glad to see him, and I think he was glad to see me. He was looking in excellent health and browned from the voyage over. It's plain to see that the trip did you good, I said. Yes, he agreed. I never felt more fit, but come along. We can talk at table. There's a little difficulty I want you to untangle for me. I followed him upstairs to his study. where a table laid for two had been placed near a low window.

I had lunch served up here, Van Tyn exclaimed, as we sat down, because this is the only really pleasant room left in the house. If I didn't own that plot of ground next door, this place would be impossible. As it is, I can keep the skyscrapers far enough away to get a little sunshine now and then. I've had to put in an air filter, too, and double windows in the bedrooms to keep out the noise, but I dare say I can manage to hang on. I can understand how you'd hate to move into a new house, I said. Van Tyn made a grimace.

I couldn't endure a new house. I'm used to this one. I can find my way about in it. I know where things are. I've grown up here, you know, and as a man gets older, he values such associations more and more. Besides a new house would mean new fittings, new furniture. He paused and glanced about the room.

Every piece of furniture in it was the work of a master. I suppose you found some new things while you were away, I said. You always do. You're luxe proverbial. Yes, and that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I brought back six or eight pieces. I'll show them to you presently. They're all pretty good, and one is a thing of beauty.

It is more than that. It is an absolutely unique work of art. Only, unfortunately, it isn't mine. It isn't yours? No, and I don't know whose it is. If I did, I'd go buy it. That's what I want you to do for me. It's a bull, cabinet, the most exquisite I ever saw.

Where did it come from, I question, more and more surprised. It came from Paris, and it was addressed to me. The only explanation I can think of is that my shippers at Paris made a mistake, sent me a cabinet belonging to someone else, and sent mine to the other person. You had bought one then? yes and it hasn't turned up but besides this one it's a mere daub my man parks got it through the customs yesterday and there was a bull cabinet on my manifest the mistake wasn't discovered until the whole lot was brought up here and uncrated this morning weren't they uncrated in the customs no i've been bringing things in for a good many years and the customs people know i'm not a thief that's quite a compliment i pointed out they've been tearing things wide open lately. They've had a tip of some sort, I suppose. Come in, he added, answering a tap at the door.

The door opened, and Van Tyn's man came in. A gentleman to see you, sir, he said, and handed Van Tine a card. Van Tine looked at it a little blankly. I don't know him, he said. What does he want? He wants to see you, sir. Very bad, I should say. What about? Well, I couldn't just make out, sir, but it seems to be important. Couldn't make out. What? You'd make out? What? What do you mean, Parks? I think he's a Frenchman, sir. Anyways, he don't know much English. He ain't much of a looker, sir.

I've seen hundreds like him sitting out in front of the cafes along the boulevards, taking all afternoon to drink a buck. Van Tynes seemed struck by a sudden idea, and he looked at the card again. Then he tapped it meditatively on the table. Shall I show him out, sir? asked Parks at last. No, said Van Tyn, after an instant's hesitation. Tell him the wait, and he dropped the card on the table beside his plate. I tell you, Lesser, he went on as Parks withdrew.

When I went downstairs this morning, and saw that cabinet, I could hardly believe my eyes. I thought I knew furniture, but I hadn't any idea of such a cabinet existed. The most beautiful I had ever seen is at the Louvre. It stands in the Sal Louis XIV, to the left as you enter. It belonged to Louis himself, and of course I can't be certain without a careful examination, but I believe that cabinet, beautiful as it is, is merely the counterpart of this one. He paused and looked at me, his eyes bright with the enthusiasm of the connoisseur.

I'm not sure I understand your jargon, I said. What do you mean by counterpart? Bull furniture, he explained, is usually of ebony, inlaid with tortoise shell, and encrusted with aberrists in metal of various kinds. The encrustation had to be very exact. To get it so, the artist clamped together two plates of equal size and thickness, one of metal, the other of tortoise shell, traced his design on the top one, and then cut them both out together.

The result was two combinations, the original, with a tortoise shell ground and metal applications, and the counterpart, applique metal with tortoise shell aberresques. The original was really the one. which the artist designed, and whose effects he studied. The counterpart was merely a resultant accident, with which he was not especially concerned. Understand? Yes, I think so, I said.

It's a good deal as though Michelangelo, when he made one of his sketches, white on black, put a sheet of carbon under his paper, and made a copy at the same time, black-gone-white. Precisely, and it's the original, which has the real artistic value. Of course the counterpart is often beautiful, too, but in a much lower degree. I can understand that, I said.

And now, Lester, Van Tynne went on, his eyes shining more and more, if my supposition is correct, if the Grand Louis was content with the counterpart of this cabinet, for the long gallery at Versailles, who do you suppose owned the original? I saw what he was driving at. You mean one of his mistresses? Yes, and I think I know which one. It belonged to Madame de Montspan. I stared at him in astonishment as he sat back in his chair, smiling across at me.

But I objected, you can't be sure. Of course I'm not sure he agreed quickly, that is to say. I couldn't prove it, but there is some contributory evidence, I think you lawyers call it. Bull and Montespan were in their glory at the same time, and I can imagine that flamboyant creature commissioning the flamboyant. a flamboyant artist to build her just such a cabinet. Really, Van Tyn, I exclaimed, I didn't know you were so romantic. You quite take my breath away.

He flushed a little at the words, and I saw how deeply in earnest he was. The craze of the collector takes him a long way sometimes, he said, but I believe I know what I'm talking about. I'm going to make a careful examination of the cabinet as soon as I can. Perhaps I'll find something. There ought to be a monogram on it somewhere. What I want you to do is to cable my shippers, Armand at Phil's, Rue de Templa, find out who owns this cabinet and buy it for me.

Perhaps the owner won't sell, I suggested. Oh, yes, he will. Anything can be bought for a price. You mean you're going to have this cabinet whatever the cost? I mean just that. But surely there's a limit. No, there isn't. At least you'll tell me where to begin, I said.

I don't know anything of the value of such a lot. things. Well, said Van Tyn, suppose you begin at ten thousand francs. We mustn't seem too eager. It's because I'm so eager I want you to carry it through for me. I can't trust myself. And the other end? There isn't any other end. Of course, strictly speaking, there is, because my money isn't unlimited, but I don't believe you'll have to go over five hundred thousand francs. I gasped. You mean you're willing to give a hundred thousand dollars for this cabinet? Van Tyn nodded. Maybe a little bit more.

If the owner won't accept that, you must let me know before you break off negotiations. I'm a little mad about it, I fancy. All collectors are a little mad, but I want that cabinet and I'm going to have it. I did not reply. I only looked at him, and he laughed as he caught my glance.

I can see you share that opinion, Lester, he said. You fear for me. I don't blame you, but come and see it. He led the way out of the room and down the stairs, but when we reached the lower hall he paused. Perhaps I'd better see my visitor first, he said. You'll find a new picture or two over there in the music room. I'll be with you in a minute. I started on, and he turned through a doorway at the left.

An instant later I heard a sharp exclamation. Then his voice calling me. Lester, come here, he cried. I ran back along the hall into the room which he had entered. He was standing just inside the door. Look there, he said, with a queer catch in his voice, and point it with a trembling hand to a dark object on the floor. I moved aside to see it better,

then my heart gave a sickening throb, for the object on the floor was the body of a man. End of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 of the mystery of the boole cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. The first tragedy. It needed but a glance to tell me that the man was dead. There could be no life in that livid face in those glassy eyes.

Don't touch him, I said, for Van Tyn had started forward. It's too late. I drew him back, and we stood for a moment shaken, as one always is by sudden and unexpected contact with death. Who is he, I asked at last. I don't know, answered Van Tine hoarsely. I never saw him before. Then he strode to the bell and rang it violently.

Parks, he went on sternly, as that worthy appeared at the door. What has been going on in here? Going on, sir, repeated Parks, with a look of amazement, not only at the words, but at the tone in which they were uttered. I'm sure I don't know. What? Then his glance fell upon the huddled body, and he stopped short, his eyes staring, his mouth open.

Well, said his master, sharp. Who is he? What is he doing here?" Why? Why stammered Parks thickly. That's the man who was waiting to see you, sir. You mean he has been killed in this house? demanded Van Tynne. He was certainly alive when he came in, sir, said Parks, recovering something of his self-possession. Maybe he was just looking for a quiet place where he could kill himself. He seemed kind of excited. Of course, agreed Van Tine, with a sigh of relief. That's the explanation. Only I I wish he had chosen someplace else.

I suppose we shall have to call the police, Lester. Yes, I said, and the coroner. Suppose you leave it to me. We'll lock up this room, and nobody must leave the house until the police arrive. Very well assented Van Tine, visibly relieved, I'll see to that. And he hastened away while I went to the phone, called up police headquarters, and told briefly what had happened. Twenty minutes later, there was a ring at the bell.

and Parks opened the door and admit it four men. Why, hello, Simmons, I said, recognizing the first one, the detective sergeant, who had assisted in clearing up the marathon mystery. And back of him was Coroner Goldberger, whom I had met in two previous cases, while the third countenance, looking at me with a quizzical smile, was that of Jim Godfrey, the records star reporter,

The fourth man was a policeman in uniform, who had a word from Simmons, took his station at the door. Yes, said Godfrey, as we shook hands. I happened to be talking to Simmons when the call came in, and I thought I might as well come along. What is it? Just a suicide, I think, and I unlocked the door into the room where the dead man lay. Simmons, Goldberger and Godfrey stepped inside. I followed and closed the door. door. Nothing has been disturbed, I said. No one has touched the body. Simmons nodded and glanced inquiringly about the room. But Godfrey's eyes, I noticed, were on the face of the dead man. Goldberger dropped to his knees beside the body,

looked into the eyes, and touched his fingers to the left wrist. Then he stood erect again and looked down at the body. And as I followed his gaze, I noted its attitude more accurately than I had done in the first shock of discovering it. It was lying on its right side, half on its stomach, with its right arm doubled under it, and its left hand clutching at the floor above its head. The knees were drawn up as though in a convulsion, and the face was horribly contorted,

with a sort of purple tinge under the skin, as though the blood had been suddenly congealed. The eyes were wide open, and their glassy stare added not a little to the apparent terror and suffering of the face. It was not a pleasant sight, and after a moment I turned my eyes away with a shiver of repugnance. The coroner glanced at Simmons. Not much question has to the cause, he said, poison, of course.

Of course not at Simmons. But what kind? asked Godfrey. It will take a post-mortem to tell that, and Goldberger bent for another close look at the distorted face. I'm free to admit the symptoms aren't the usual ones. Godfrey shrugged his shoulders. I should say not, he agreed, and turned away to an inspection of the room. What can you tell us about it, Mr. Lester, Goldberger questioned?

I told all I knew how Parks had announced the man's arrival, how Van Tine and I had come downstairs together, and how Van Tine had called me, and finally how Parks had identified the body as that of the the strange caller. Have you any theory about it, Goldberger asked? Only that the call was merely a pretext that what the man was really looking for was a place where he could kill himself unobserved. How long a time he lapsed after Park announced the man

before you and Mr. Van Tine came downstairs. Half an hour, perhaps. Goldberger nodded. Let's have Parks in, he said. I opened the door and called the Parks, who was sitting on the bottom step of the stairs. Goldberger looked him over carefully as he stepped into the room. But there could be no two opinions about Parks. He had been with Van Tine for eight or ten years,

and the earmarks of a competent and faithful servant were apparent all over him. Do you know this man, Goldberger, asked, with a gesture towards the body? No, sir, said Parks. I never saw him till about an hour ago, when Rogers called me downstairs and said there was a man to see Mr. Van Tyn. Who was Rogers? He's the footman, sir.

He answered the door when the man rang. Well, and then what happened? I took his card up to Mr. Van Tine, sir. Did Mr. Van Tine know him? No, sir. He wanted to know what he wanted. What did he want? I don't know, sir.

He couldn't speak English hardly at all. He was French, I think. Goldberger looked down at the body again and nodded. Go ahead, he said. And he was so excited, Parks added, that he couldn't remember what little English he did know. What made you think he was excited? The way he stuttered and the way his eyes glinted.

That's what makes me think he had just come in here to kill himself, quiet like. I shouldn't be surprised if you found that he had escaped from somewhere. I had a notion to put him out without bothering Mr. Van Tynne. I wish now I had, but I took his card up, and Mr. Van Tynes said for him to wait, so I came downstairs again and showed the man in here, and said Mr. Van Tine would see him presently. And then Rogers and me went back to our lunch, and we sat there eating till the bell rang,

and I came in and found Mr. Van Tine here. Do you mean to say that you and Rogers went away and left this stranger here by himself? The servant's dining-room is right to say, but he was right. at the end of the hall, sir. We left the door open so that we could see right along the hall, clear to the front door. If he'd come out into the hall, we'd have seen him. And he didn't come out into the hall while you were there? No, sir. Did anybody come in? Oh, no, sir. The front door has a snap lock. It can't be open from the outside without a key. So you are perfectly sure that no one either entered or left the house by the front door while you and Rogers were sitting there,

nor by the back door either, sir. To get out the back way, you have to pass through the room where we were. Where were the other servants? The cook was in the kitchen, sir. This is the housemaid's afternoon out. The coroner paused. Godfrey and Simmons had both listened to this interrogation, but neither had been idle. They had walked softly about the room. They had looked through a door, opening into another room beyond, had examined the fastenings of the windows, and had ended by looking minutely over the carpet. What is the room yonder used for? asked Godfrey,

pointing to the connecting door. It's a sort of storeroom just now, sir, said Parks. Mr. Van Tyn is just back from Europe, and we've been unpacking in there some of the things he bought while abroad. I guess that's all, said Goldberger, after a moment. Send in Mr. Van Tine, please. Parks went out, and Van Time came in a moment later. He corroborated exactly the story told by Parks and myself,

but he added one small detail. Here's the man's card, he said, and held out a square of pasteboard. Goldberger took the card, glanced at it, and passed it on the Simmons. That don't tell us much, said the latter, and gave the card the gun. I looked over his shoulder and saw that it contained a single engraved line. Monsieur Theophil de Orrell Except that he's French, as Parks suggested, said Godfrey,

that's evident, too, from the cut of his clothes. Yes, and from the cut of his hair, added Goldberger. You say you didn't know him, Mr. Van Tyn? I never saw him before, to my knowledge, answered Van Tyn. The name is wholly unknown to me. well said goldberger taking possession of the card again and slipping it into his pocket suppose we lift him on to that couch by the window and take a look through his clothes The man was slightly built so that Simmons and Goldberger raised the body between them without difficulty and placed it on the couch.

I saw Godfrey's eyes searching the carpet. What I should like to know, he said after a moment, is this. If this fellow took poison, what did he take it out of? Where's the paper or bottle or whatever it was? Maybe it's in his hand, suggested Simmons, and he lifted the right hand, which hung trailing over the side of the county. Then as he raised it into the light a sharp cry burst from him. Look here he said, and held the hand so that we all could see.

It was swollen and darkly discolored. See there, said Simmons, something bit him, and he pointed to two deep incisions on the back of the hand, just above the knuckles, from which a few drops of blood had oozed and dried. With a little exclamation of surprise and excitement, Godfrey bent for an instant above the incher. hand. Then he turned and looked at us. This man didn't take poison, he said, in a low voice. He was killed. End of Chapter 2.

Chapter 3 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. The Wounded Hand. He was killed, repeated Godfrey with conviction, and at the words we drew together a little with a shiver of repulsion. Death is awesome enough at any time. suicide adds to its horror murder gives it the final touch so we all stood silent staring as though fascinated at the hand which simmons held up to us at those tiny wounds encircled by discolored flesh and with a sinister dash of clotted blood running away from them then goldberger taken a deep breath voiced the thought which had sprung into my own brain why it looks like a snake bite he said his voice sharp with astonishment and indeed it did those two tiny incisions scarcely half an inch apart might well have been made by a serpent's fangs the quick glance which all of us cast about the room was of course as involuntary as the chill which ran up our spines yet godfrey and i yes and simmons had the excuse that once upon a time we had had an encounter with a deadly snake, which none of us was likely ever to forget.

We all smiled a little sheepishly as we caught each other's eyes. No, I don't think it was a snake, said Godfrey, and again bent close above the hand. Smell it, Mr. Goldberger, he added. The coroner put his nose close to the hand and sniffed. Bitter almonds, he said. Which means prussic acid, said Gottfrey, and not snake poison. He fell silent. A moment.

his eyes on the swollen hand. The rest of us stared at it, too, and I suppose all the others were laboring as I was with the effort to find some thread of theory amid this chaos. It might, of course, have been self-inflicted, Godfrey added quite to himself. Goldberger sneered a little, no doubt. He found the incomprehensibility of the problem rather trying to his temper. A man doesn't usually commit suicide by sticking. himself in the hand with a fork, he said. No, agreed, Godfrey blandly, but I would point out that we don't know, as yet, that it is a case of suicide, and I'm sure that whatever it may be, it isn't usual.

Goldberger's sneer deepened. Did any reporter for the record ever find a case that was usual, he queried? It was a shrewd thrust, and one that Godfrey might well have winced under for the record theory was that nothing was news unless it was strange and startling and the inevitable result was that the record reporters endeavored to make everything strange and startling to play up the utre details at the expense of the rest of the story and even i fear to invent such details when none existed god for himself had been accused more than once of a too luxuriant imagination it was perhaps a realisation of this which had persuaded him years before to quit the detective force and take service with the record. What might have been a weakness in the first position was a mighty asset in the latter one, and he had won an immense success. Please understand that I set this down in no spirit of criticism. I had known Godfrey rather intimately ever since the days when we were thrown together

in solving the holiday case, and I admired sincerely, his ready wit, his quick insight, and his unshakable aplomb. He used his imagination in a way which often caused me to reflect that the police would be far more efficient if they possessed a dash of the same quality, and I had noticed that they were usually glad of his assistance, while his former connection with the force and his careful maintenance of their friendships formed at that time gave him an entree to places denied to less fortunate reporters. I had never known him to do a dishonorable thing.

To fight for a cause he thought unjust, to print a fact given him in confidence, or to make a statement which he knew to be untrue. Moreover, the lively sense of humor made him an admirable companion, and it was this quality, perhaps, which enabled him to receive Goldberger's trust with a good-natured smile. We've got our living to make, you know, he said. We make it as honestly as we can. what do you think simmons i think said simmons who if he possessed an imagination never permitted it to be suspected that those little cuts on the hand are merely an accident

they might have been caused in a half a dozen ways maybe he hit his hand on something when he fell maybe he jabbed it on a buckle maybe he had a boil on his hand and lanced it with his knife what killed him then godfrey demanded poison and it's in his stomach we'll find it there how about the odor gotfrey persisted he spilled some of the poison on his hand as he lifted it to his mouth maybe he had those cuts on his hand and the poison inflamed them or maybe he's got some kind of blood disease goldberger nodded his approval and gotfrey smiled as he looked at him it's easy to find an explanation isn't it he queried it's a blame sight easier to find a natural and simple explanation, retorted Goldberger hotly, than it is to find an unnatural and far-fetched one, such as how one man could kill another by scratching him on the hand. I suppose you think this fellow was murdered? That's what you said a minute ago. Perhaps I was a little hasty, Godfrey admitted. I suspected that, whatever his thoughts, he had made up his mind to keep them to himself. I'm not going to theorize until I've got

something to start with. The fact seemed to point to suicide. side, but if he swallowed prussic acid, where's the bottle? He didn't swallow that, too, did he? Maybe we'll find it in his clothes, suggested Simmons. Thus reminded, Goldberger fell to work looking through the dead man's pockets. The clothes were of a cheap material and not very new, so that in life he must have presented an appearance somewhat shabby. There was a purse in the inside coat pocket containing two bills, one for ten dollars,

and one for five. And there were two or three dollars in silver, and four, five centeem pieces, in a small coin purse which he carried in his trousers' pocket. The larger purse had four or five calling cards in one of its compartments, each bearing a different name, none of them his. On the back of one of them,

Van Tyn's address was written in pencil. There were no letters, no papers, no written documents of any kind in the pockets. the remainder of whose contents consisted of such odds and ends as any man might carry about with him a cheap watch a penknife a half-empty packet of french tobacco a sheath of cigarette paper four or five keys on a ring a silk handkerchief and perhaps some other articles which i have forgotten but not a thing to assist in establishing his identity we'll have to cable over to paris remarked simmons he's french all right that silk handkerchief proves it yes and his best girl proves it too put in godfrey his best girl for answer godfrey held up the watch which he had been examining he had opened the case and inside it was a photograph the photograph of a woman with bold dark eyes and full lips and oval face a face so typically french that it was not to be mistaken a lady's maid i should say added godfrey looking at it again rather good-looking at one time but passed her first youth and so compelled perhaps to bestow her affections on a man a little beneath her no doubt compelled also to contribute to his support in order to retain him a woman with many pasts and no future

oh come broke in goldberger impatiently keep your second-hand epigrams for the record what we want are facts godfrey flushed a little at the words and laid down to watch there is one fact which you have apparently overlooked he said quietly but it proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that this fellow didn't drift in here by accident he came here of intention and the intention wasn't to kill himself either how do you know that demanded goldberger incredulously godfrey picked up the purse opened it and took out one of the cards by this he said and held it up you have already seen what is written on the back of it mr van tine's name and the number of this house that proves doesn't it that this fellow came to new york expressly to see mr van tine perhaps you think mr van tine killed him suggested goldberger sarcastically no said godfrey he didn't have time you understand mr van tyne he added smiling at that gentleman who is listening to all this with perplexed countenance we are simply talking now about possibilities you couldn't possibly have killed this fellow because lester has testified that he was with you constantly from the moment this man entered the house until his body was found with the exception of the few seconds which elapsed between the time you entered this room and the time he joined you here, summons by your cry,

so you are out of the running. Thanks, said Van Tine dryly. I suppose then, you think it was Parks, said Goldberger. It may quite possibly have been Parks, agreed Gottfried gravely. Nonsense broke in Van Tine impatiently. Parks is as straight as a string.

He's been with me for eight years. Of course it's nonsense, assented Goldberger. It's nonsense to say that he was killed by anybody. He killed himself. We'll learn the cause when we identify him. Jealousy, maybe, or maybe just hard luck. He doesn't look affluent.

I'll cable to Paris, said Simmons. If he belongs there, we'll soon find out who he is. You'd better call an ambulance, and haven't taken to the morgue, went on Goldberger. Somebody may identify him there. There'll be a crowd tomorrow, for, of course, the papers will be full of this affair. The record, at least, will have a very full account, Godfrey assured him. And I'll call the inquest for the day after, Goldberger continued. I'll send my physician down to make a post-mortem right away.

If there's any poison in this fellow's stomach, we'll find it. Godfrey did not speak, but I knew what was in his mind. He was thinking that, if such poison existed, the vessel which had contained it had not yet been found. The same thought, no doubt, occurred to Simmons. For after ordering the policeman in the hall to call the ambulance, he returned and began a careful search of the room, using his electric torch to illumine every shadowed corner. Godfrey devoted himself to a similar search,

but both were without result. Then Godfrey made a minute inspection of the injured hand, while Goldberger looked on with ill-concealed impatience, and finally he moved toward the door. I think I'll be going, he said, but I'm interested in what your physician will find, Mr. Coroner. He'll find poison all right, asserted Goldberger, with decision. Perhaps he will admit at Godfrey.

Strange things happen in this world. Will you be at home tonight, Lester? Yes, I expect to be, I answered. You still at the marathon? Yes, I said, sweet fourteen. Perhaps I'll drop around to see you. he said, and a moment later we heard the door closed behind him as Parks let him out. Godfrey's a good man, said Goldberger, but he's too romantic.

He looks for a mystery in every crime, whereas most crimes are merely plain, downright brutalities. Take this case. Here's a man kills himself, and Godfrey wants us to believe that death resulted from a scratch on the hand. While there's no poison on earth would kill a man as quick as that, for he must have dropped dead before he could get out of the room to summon help if it was prusic acid he swallowed it remember he wasn't in this room more than fifteen or twenty minutes and he was quite dead when mr bantin found him men usually don't die as easily as all that not from a scratch on the hand they don't die easily at all it's astonishing how much it takes to kill a man how the spirit or whatever you choose to call it clings to life how do you explain the address on the card mr goldberger i asked my theory is that this fellow really had some business with mr van tine probably he wanted to borrow some money or ask for help and then while he was waiting he suddenly gave the thing up and killed himself the address is no bearing whatever that i can see on the question of suicide and i'll say this mr lester if this isn't suicide it's the strangest case i ever had anything to do with yes i agree if it isn't suicide we come to a blank wall right away that's it and goldberg nodded emphatically here's the ambulance he added as the bell rang

the bearers entered with a stretcher placed the body on it and carried it away goldberger paused to gather up the articles he had taken from the dead man's pockets you gentlemen will have to give your testimony at the inquest he said so will parks and rogers it will be day after to-morrow probably at ten o'clock but i'll notify you of the hour very well i said we'll be there and goldberger bade us good-bye and left the house and now i added to van tyne i must be getting back to the office they'll be asking the police to look for me next man alive and i glanced at my watch it's after four o'clock too late for the office said van tine better come upstairs and have a drink besides i want to talk with you at least i'll let them know i'm still alive i said and i called up the office and allayed any anxiety that may have been felt there concerning me i must admit that it did not seem acute i feel the need of a bracer after all this excitement van time remarked as he opened the cellaret help yourself i dare say you're used to this sort of thing finding dead men lying around i queried with a smile no it's not so common as you seem to think tell me lester and he looked at me earnestly do you think that poor devil came in here just to get a chance to kill himself quietly no i don't i said then what did he come in for i think goldberger's theory a pretty good one that he had heard of you as a generous fellow and came in here to ask help and while he was waiting suddenly gave it up and killed himself van tine completed i hesitated i was astonished to find at the back of my mind a growing doubt see here lester van tine demanded if he didn't kill himself what happened to him

Heaven only knows I answered in despair. I've been asking myself the same question without finding a reasonable answer to it. As I said the Goldberger, it's a blank wall, but if anybody can see through it, Jim Godfrey can. Van Tyn seemed deeply perturbed. He took a turn or two, up and down the room, then stopped in front of me and looked me earnestly in the eye. Tell me, Lester, he said, do you believe that theory of Godfries, that they're that insignificant wound on the hand caused death? It seems absurd, doesn't it?

But Godfrey is sort of a genius at divining such things. Then you do believe it? I asked myself the same question before I answered. Yes, I do, I said finally. Fantine walked up and down the room again. His eyes on the floor, his brows contracted. Lester, he said at last, I have a queer feeling that the business, which brought this man here in some way,

concerned the bull cabinet I was telling you about. Perhaps it belonged to him. Hardly I protested, recalling his shabby appearance. At any rate, I remembered as I was looking at his card that some such thought occurred to me. It was for that reason I told Parks to ask him to wait. It's possible, of course, I admitted, but that wouldn't explain his excitement. And that reminds me, I added. I haven't sent off that cable. Any time to-night. night will do, it will be delivered in the morning. But you haven't seen the cabinet yet. Come down and look at it. He led the way down the stair. Parks met us in the lower hall. There's a delegation of reporters outside, sir, he said. They say they've got to see you.

Fantine made a movement of impatience. Tell them, he said, that I positively refuse to see them or allow my servants to see them. Let them get their information from the police. Very well, sir, said Parks, and turned away, grinning. Fantine passed on through the ante-room, in which we had found the body of the unfortunate Frenchman, and into the room beyond. Five or six pieces of furniture, evidently just unpacked, stood there. But ignorant, as I am of such things, he did not have to point out to me the bull cabinet. It dominated the room, much as Madame de Montspan, no doubt dominated the court of Versailles. I looked at it for some moments, for it was certainly a beautiful piece of work,

with a wealth of inlay and incrustation little short of marvelous. But I may as well say here that I never really appreciated it. The florid style of the 14th and 15th, Louis, is not at all to my taste, and I am too little of a connoisseur to admire a beauty which has no personal appeal for me. So I'm afraid that Van Tyn found me a little cold. certainly there was nothing cold about the way he regarded it his eyes gleamed with a strange fire as he looked at it he ran his fingers over the inlay with a touch almost reverent he pulled out for me the little drawer with much the same air that another friend of mine takes down his kilmarnock burns from his book-shelves he pointed out to me the grace of its curves in the same tone that one uses to discuss the masterpiece of a great artist and then finding no echo to his enthusiasm, he suddenly stopped.

You don't seem to care for it, he said, looking at me. That's my fault, and not the fault of the cabinet, I pointed out. I'm not educated up to it. I'm too little of an artist, perhaps. He was flushed, as a man might be, should another make a disparaging remark about his wife, and he led the way from the room at once. Remember, Lester, he said, a little sternly, paused. with his hand on the front door, there is to be no foolishness about securing that cabinet

for me. Don't you let it get away? I'm in deadly earnest. I won't let it get away, I promised, perhaps. It is just as well I'm not over-enthusiastic about it. Let me know as soon as you have any news, he said, and opened the door for me. I had intended walking home, but as I turned up the avenue, I met sweeping down it a flood of girls, just released from the workshops of the neighborhood. I struggled against it for a few moments, then gave it up, hailed a cab, and settled back against the cushions with a sigh of relief. I was glad to be out of Van Tyn's house. Something there oppressed me and left me ill at ease. Was Van Tynne quite normal, I wondered? Could any man be normal, who was willing to pay a hundred thousand dollars for a piece of furniture?

especially a man who could not afford such extravagance. I knew the size of Van Tyn's fortune. It was large, but a hundred thousand dollars represented more than a year's income. And then I smiled to myself. Of course, Van Tine had been merely jesting when he named that limit. The cabinet could be bought for a tenth of it at the most. And still smiling, I left the cab, paid the driver, and mounted to my rooms. end of chapter three chapter four of the mystery of the boole cabinet by burton egbert stevenson the thunderbolt

it was about eight o'clock that evening that gotfrey tapped at my door and when i let him in i could tell by the way his eyes were shining that he had had some news i can't stay long he said i've got to get down to the office and put the finishing touches on that story but nevertheless he took the cigar i proffered him and sank into the chair opposite my own i knew godfrey so i waited patiently until the cigar was going nicely then well i asked it's like old times isn't it lester and he smiled across at me how many conferences have we had in this room how many of your cigars have i made away with not half enough recently i said you haven't been here for months i'm sure to drift back sooner or later because you seem to have a knack of getting in on the interesting cases and i want to say this lester that of all i ever had not one is promised better than this one does if it only keeps up but one mustn't expect too much you've been working on it of course i haven't been idle and just now i'm feeling rather pleased with myself the coroner's physician finished his post-mortem half an hour or so ago well i said again the stomach was absolutely normal it showed no trace of poison of any kind he stretched himself lay back in his chair and sent a smoke-ring circling toward the ceiling and watched it smiling absently rather a facer for her friend goldberger he added after a minute what's the matter with goldberger he seemed rather peed with you this afternoon no wonder he's grady's man and we're after grady grady isn't fit to head the detective bureau he got the job through his pull with taminy he's stupid and i suspect he's crooked the record says he has got to go so of course he will go i commented smiling

he certainly will assented godfrey seriously and that before long but meanwhile it's a little difficult for me because his people don't know which way to jump once he's out everything will be serene again i wasn't interested in grady so i came back to the case in hand look here godfrey i said if it wasn't poison what was it but it was poison inserted at the hand he nodded goldberger says there's no poison known which could be used that way and which would act so quickly goldberger is right in that agreed godfrey but there's a poison unknown that will because it did it wasn't a snake bite oh no snake poison wouldn't kill a man that quickly not even a fair de lance that fellow practically dropped where he was struck then what was it godfrey was sitting erect again he was not smiling now his face was very stern that's what i'm going to find out lester he said that is the problem i've set myself to solve and it's a pretty one there's one thing certain that fellow was killed by some agency outside himself itself. In some way, a drop or two of poison was introduced into his blood by an instrument, something like a hypodermic needle, and that poison was so powerful that almost instantly it caused paralysis of the heart. After all, that isn't so remarkable as it might seem. The blood

in the veins of the hand would be carried back to the heart in four or five seconds. But you've already said there's no poison so powerful as all that. i said we didn't know of any i wouldn't be so sure that katherine medici didn't what is katherine medici to do with it nothing except that what has been done may always be done again those old stories are no doubt exaggerated but it seems fairly certain that the queen of navarre was killed with a pair of poisoned gloves the duke de anjou with the scent of a poisoned rose and the prince d prokane with the smoke of a poisoned lamp. This case isn't as extraordinary as those. No, I agreed and fell silent, shivering a little, for there is something horrible and revolting about the poisoner.

After all, and on Godfrey at last, there is one thing that neither you nor I nor any reasonable man can believe, and that is that this Frenchman came from heaven knows where, from Paris, perhaps, with Fantine's address in his pocket, and hunted up the house and made his wife. way into it simply to kill himself there. He had some other object, and he met his death while trying to accomplish it. Have you found out who he is? No, he's not registered at any of the hotels. The French Council never heard of him. He belongs to none of the French societies. He's not

known in the French quarter. He seems to have dropped in from the clouds. We've cabled our Paris office to look him up. We may hear from there tonight, but even if we discover the identity of the to feel, Diorel, it won't help us any. Why not, I demand it, because it is evident that that isn't his name. Go ahead and tell me, Godfrey, I said, as he looked at me, smiling, I don't see it. Why, it's plain enough. He had five cards in his pocket, no two alike. The sixth, selected probably at random, he had sent up the Van Time. I saw it then, of course, and I felt a good deal, as the Spanish savants must have felt, when Columbus stood the egg on end. Godfrey smiled again at my expression.

The real D.O.R.L., whoever he may turn out to be, may be able to help us, he added. If he can't, we may learn something from the Paris Police. The dead man's, Bertolone measurements, have been cabled over to them. Even that won't help if he's never been arrested, and of course we can't get at motives until we find out something about him. But Godfrey, I said, suppose you knew who he was and what he wanted with Van Tyn. Suppose you could make a guess at who killed him and why. How was it done? That's what stumps me.

How was it done? Ah, agreed Godfrey. That's it. How was it done? I told you it was a pretty case, Lester, but wait till we hear from Paris. That reminds me, I said, sitting up suddenly. I've got the cable to Paris myself on some business for Mr. Van Tynes. time. Not connected with this affair. Oh, no, his shippers over there sent him a piece of furniture

that doesn't belong to him. He asked me to straighten the matter out. I rang for the hall boy, asked for a cable blank, and sent off a message to Armand and son, telling him of the mistake and asking them the cable, the name of the owner of the cabinet, now in Mr. Van Tyn's possession. Godfrey sat smoking reflectively while I was thus engaged, staring at him. straight before him, with eyes that saw nothing. But as I sat down again and took up my pipe, ready to continue the conversation, he gave himself a sort of shake, put on his hat, and got to his feet. I must be moving along, he said. There's no use sitting here, theorizing, until we have some sort of foundation to build on. Goldberger was right in one thing, I remarked.

He pointed out, after you left, that most crimes are not romances, but mere brutality. perhaps this one. The ringing of my telephone stopped me. Hello, I said, taking down the receiver. Is that you, Mr. Lester, asked a voice? Yes, this is Parks, and I suddenly realized that his voice was unfamiliar because it was hoarse and quivering with emotion. Could you come down to the house right away, sir?

Why, yes, I said wonderingly. If it's important, does Mr. Van Tyn need me? We all need you, said the voice, and broke into a a dry sob. For God's sake, come quick, Mr. Lester. All right, I said, without further parley, for evidently, he had lost his self-control. Something has happened down at Van Tynes, I added to Godfrey as I hung up the receiver. Park seems to be scared to death. He wants me to come down right away, and I reached for my hat and coat. Shall I come, too, asked Godfrey. Even under the stress of the moment, I could not but

smile at the question and at the tone in which it was uttered. perhaps you'd better i agreed it sounded pretty serious we went down together in the elevator and three minutes later we had hailed a taxi and were speeding eastward toward the avenue it had started the drizzle and the asphalt shone like a black mirror dancing with the lights along either side the streets were almost empty for the theatre crowd had passed and as we reached the avenue and turned downtown the driver pushed up his spark and we hurtled along toward fourteenth street at a speed which made me think of traffic regulations but no policeman interfered and five minutes later we drew up before the van tying place parks must have been on the front steps looking for me for he came running down them almost before the car had stopped i caught a glimpse of his face under the street lights as i thrust a bill into the driver's hand and it fairly startled me is it you mr lester he gasped good god but i'm glad you're here i caught him by the arm steady man i said don't let yourself go to pieces now what has happened he seemed to take a sort of desperate grip of himself i'll show you sir he said and ran up the steps along the hall to the door of the empty room where we had found the frenchman's body in there sir he sobbed in there and clung to the wall as i opened the door and stepped inside the room was ablaze with light and for an instant my eyes were so dazzled that i could distinguish nothing dimly i saw godfrey spring forward and dropped to his knees

then my eyes cleared and i saw on the very spot where di aurel had died another body or was it the same brought back that the tragedy of the afternoon might in some mysterious way be re-inacted i remember bending over and peering into the face It was the face of Philip Van Tine. A minute must have passed as I stood there dazed and shaken. I was conscious in a way that Godfrey was examining him. Then I heard his voice. He's dead. Then there was an instant's silence. Lester, look here, cried Godfrey's voice, sharp, insistent.

For God's sakes, look here. Godfrey was kneeling there, holding something toward me. Look here, he cried again. It was the dead man's hand he was holding, the right hand, a swollen and discolored hand, and on the back of it, just above the knuckles, were two tiny wounds from which a few drops of blood had trickled. And as I stared at this ghastly sight, scarce able to believe my eyes, I heard a choking voice behind me, saying over and over again, It was that woman done it! It was that woman done it! Damn her! It was that woman done it!

end of chapter four chapter five of the mystery of the boole cabinet by burton egbert stevenson grady takes a hand i have no very clear remembrance of what happened after that the shock was so great that i had just strength enough to totter to a chair and drop into it and sit there staring vaguely at the dark splotch on the carpet i told myself that i was the victim of a dreadful nightmare that all this was the result of overwrought nerves and that i should wake presently no doubt i had been working too hard i needed a vacation well i would take it and all the time I knew that it was not a nightmare, but grim reality, that Philip Van Tine was dead, killed by a woman, who had told me that, and then I remembered the sobbing voice. Two or three persons came into the room, Parks and the other servants, I suppose. I heard Godfrey's voice giving orders,

and finally someone held a glass to my lips and commanded me to drink. I did so mechanically, coughed, sputtered, was conscious of a grateful warmth and drank eagerly again, and then I saw Gopfrey standing over me. Feel better, he asked. I nodded. I don't wonder it knocked you out, he went on. I'm feeling shaky myself.

I had them call Van Tynes physician, but he can't do anything. He's dead then, I murmured, my eyes on that dark and crumpled object which had been Philip Van Tine. Yes, just like the other. Then I remembered, and I caught his arm and drew him down to me. Godfrey, I whispered. Whose voice was it, or did I dream it? Something about a woman?

You didn't dream it? It was Rogers. He's almost hysterical. We'll get the story as soon as he quiets down. Someone called him from the door, and he turned away, leaving me staring blankly at nothing. So there had been a woman in Van Tyn's life. Perhaps that was why he had never married. what ugly skeleton was to be dragged from its closet.

But if a woman killed Van Tyn, the same woman also killed D'Orel. Where was her hiding place? From what ambush did she strike? I glanced about the room as a tremor of horror seized me. I arose shaking from the chair and groped my way toward the door.

Godfrey heard me coming, swung around, and with one glance at my face came to me and caught me by the arms. what is it lester he asked i can't stand it here i gasped it's too horrible don't think about it come out here and have another drink he led me into the hall and a second glass of brandy gave me back something of my self-control i was ashamed of my weakness but when i glanced at godfrey i saw how white his face was better take a drink yourself i said i heard the decanter rattle on the glass i don't know when i've been so shaken he said setting the glass down empty. It was so gruesome, so unexpected, and then Rogers carrying on like a madman. Ah, here's the doctor, he added, as the front door opened and Parks showed a man in. I knew Dr. Hughes, of course, returned his nod, and followed him and Godfrey into the ante-room.

But I had not yet sufficiently recovered to do more than sit and stare at him as he knelt beside the body and assured himself that life had fled. Then I heard Godfrey telling him all we knew, while Hughes listened with incredulous face. But it's observed, you know, he protested, when Godfrey had finished. Things like this don't happen here in New York, in Florence, perhaps, in the Middle Ages,

but not here in the 20th century. I can scarcely believe my own senses, Godfrey agreed, but I saw the Frenchman lying here this afternoon, and now here is Van Trey. time. On the same spot, as nearly as I can tell, and killed in the same way, killed in precisely the same way. Hughes turned back to the body again and looked long and earnestly at the injured hand. What sort of instrument made this wound, would you say, Mr. Godfrey, he questioned at last?

A sharp instrument with two prongs. My theory is that the prongs are hollow, like a hypodermic needle, and leave a drop or two of poison at the bottom of the wound. You see a vein has been cut? Yes, Hughes assented. It would scarcely be possible to pierce the hand here without striking a vein. One of the prongs would be sure to do it. That's the reason there are two of them, I fancy. But you are, of course, aware, that no poison exists,

which would act so quickly, Hughes inquired. Godfrey looked at him strangely. You yourself mentioned Florence a moment ago, he said, You meant, I suppose, that such a poison did at one time exist there? Something of the sort, perhaps, agreed Hughes. The words were purely instinctive, but I suppose some such thought was running through my head.

Well, the poison that existed in Florence five centuries ago exists here today. There's the proof of it, and Godfrey pointed to the body. Hughes drew a deep breath of wonder and horror. But what sort of devilish instrument is it, he cried, his nerves giving way for an instant his voice mounting shrilly above all who wields it he stared about the room as though half expecting to see some mighty and remorseless arm poised ready to strike then he shook himself together i beg pardon he said mopping the sweat from his face but i'm not used to this sort of thing and i'm frightened yes i really believe i'm frightened and he laughed a little unsteady laugh so am i said godfrey so is lester so is everybody you needn't be ashamed of it what frightens me when on hughes evidently studying his own symptoms is the mystery of it there is something supernatural about it something i can't understand

how does it happen that each of the victims is struck on the right hand why not the left hand why the hand at all godfrey answered with a despairing shrug that's what we got to find out he said we shall have to call in the police suggested hughes maybe they can solve it godfrey smiled a little skeptical smile quickly suppressed at least they will have to be given the chance he agreed shall i attend to it yes said hughes and you would be better to do it right away the sooner they get here the better very well assented gotfrey and left the room hughes sat down heavily on the couch near the window and mopped his face again with a shaking hand death he was accustomed to but death met decently in bed and resulting from some understood cause death in this horrible and mysterious form shook him he could not understand it and his failure to understand appalled him he was a physician it was his business to understand and yet here was a death in a form as mysterious to him as to the veriest layman it compelled him to pause and take stock of himself always a disconcerting process to the best of us that was a trying half-hour hugh sat on the couch breathing heavily staring at the floor perhaps passing his own ignorance and review, perhaps wondering if he had always been right in describing this or that. As for me, I was thinking of my dead friend.

I remembered Philip Van Tyn, as I had always known him, a kindly witty Christian gentleman. I could see his pleasant eyes looking at me in friendship as they had looked a few hours before. I could hear his voice, could feel the clasp of his hand, that such a man should be killed like this, struck down by a mysterious assassin, armed with a poison weapon. A woman. Always my mind came back to that, a woman. Poison was a woman's weapon. But who was she? How had she escaped? Where had she concealed herself? How was she able to strike so surely? Above all, why should she have chosen Philip Van Tyn of all men for her victim? Philip Van Tine, who had never injured any woman? And then I paused.

for I realized that I knew nothing of Van Tyn, except what he had chosen to tell me. Parks would know, and then I shrank from the thought. Must we probe that secret? Must we compel a man to betray his master? My face was burning. No, we could not do that. That would be abominable. The door opened and Godfrey came in.

This time he was not alone. Simmons and Goldberger followed him, and their faces showed that they were as shaken and non-plused, as I. There was a third man with them, whom I did not know, but I soon found out that it was Freylin Hoysen, the coroner's physician. They all looked at the body, and Freylin Hoysen knelt beside it and examined the injured hand. Then he sat down by Dr. Hughes, and they were soon deep in a low, toned conversation, whose subject I could guess. I could also guess what Simmons and Godfrey were talking about in the farther corner. But I could not guess why Goldberger,

instead of getting to work, should be walking up and down, pulling impatiently at his mustache, and glancing at his watch now and then. He seemed to be waiting for someone, but not until 20 minutes later did I suspect who it was. Then the door opened again, to admit a short, heavy-set man, with florid face, stubby black mustache, and little close-set eyes. preter naturally bright he glanced about the room nodded to goldberger and then looked inquiringly at me this is mr lester commissioner grady said goldberger and i realized that the chief of the detective bureau had come up from headquarters to take personal charge of the case mr lester is mr van tine's attorney the coroner added in explanation glad to know you mr lester said grady shortly and now i guess we're ready to begin when on the coroner not quite said grady grimly we'll excuse all reporters first and he looked across at godfrey his face darkening i felt my own face flushing and started to protest but godfrey silenced me with a little gesture it's all right lester he said Mr. Grady is quite within his rights. I'll withdraw until he sends for me.

You'll have a long wait then, retorted Grady, with a sarcastic laugh. The longer I wait, the worse it will be for you, Mr. Grady, said Godfrey quietly, opened the door, and closed it behind him. Grady stared after him for a moment in crimson amazement, then mastering himself with an effort, he turned to the coroner. All right, Goldberger, he said, and sat down to watch the proceedings. The very few minutes sufficed for Hughes and Frelandhausen and I to tell all we knew of this tragedy, and of the one which had preceded it. Grady seemed already acquainted with the details of D'Orell's death,

for he listened without interrupting, only nodding from time to time. "'You've got a list of the servants here, of course, Simmons,' he said, when we had finished the story. "'Yes, sir,' and Simmons handed it to him. "'Hm., said Grady. As he glanced over it, five of us. them, know anything about them. They've all been with Mr. Van Tyn a long time, sir, replied Simmons. So far as I've been able to judge, they're all right. Which one of them found Van Tine's body? Parks, I think, I said. He'll see who called me. Better have him in,

said Grady, and doubled up the list and slipped it into his pocket. Parks came in, looking decidedly shaky, but answered Grady's questions clearly and concisely. He first told of the events of the afternoon, and then pass on to the evening. Mr. Van Tyn had dinner at home, sir, he said. It was served, I think, at seven o'clock. He must have finished a little after seven-thirty. I didn't see him, for I was straightening things around up in his room and putting his clothes away, but he told Rogers.

Never mind what he told Rogers, broke in, Grady, just tell us what you know. Very well, sir, said Parks submissively. I had a lot of work to do. We just got back from Europe yesterday, you know, and I kept on putting things in their places and straightening around, and it must have been half-past eight when I heard Rogers yelling for me. I thought the house was on fire, and I came down in a hurry. Rogers was standing out there in the hall, looking like he'd seen a ghost.

He'd kind of gasped and pointed to this room, and I looked in and saw Mr. Van Tine laying there. His voice choked at the words, but he madame. managed to go on after a moment. Then I telephoned for Mr. Lester, he added, and that's all I know. Very well, said Grady. That's all for the present. Send Rogers in. Rogers' face, as he entered the room, gave me a kind of shock, for it was that of a man on the verge of hysteria. He was a man of about fifty with iron-gray hair and a smooth, shaven face, ordinarily ruddy with health. But now his face was livid. His cheeks lined and shrunken.

his eyes bloodshot and staring. He reeled rather than walked into the room, one hand clutching at his throat as though he were choking. Get him a chair, said Grady, and Simmons brought one forward and remained standing beside it. Now, my man, Brady continued, you'll have to brace up. What's the matter with you anyhow? Didn't you ever see a dead man before? It ain't that, gasped Rogers. It ain't that, though I never saw a murdered man before.

What? demanded Grady sharply. Didn't you see that fellow this afternoon? That was difference, Rogers moaned. I didn't know him. Besides, I thought he'd killed himself. We all thought so. And you don't think Van Tine did? I know he didn't.

And Roger's voice rose to a shrill scream. It was that woman done it. Damn her. She'd done it. I knowed she was up to some crooked work when I let her in. End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. The woman in the case.

It was coming now the secret, however soared, however ugly, was to be unveiled. I saw Grady's face set in hard lines. I could hear the stir of interest with which the others leaned forward. Grady took a flask from his pocket and opened it. Take a drink of this, he said, and placed it in Roger's hand. I could hear the mouth of the flask clattering against his teeth as he put it eagerly to his mouth and took three or four long swallows. Thank you, sir, he said, more steadily, and handed the flask back to its owner. A little color crept into his face, but I fancied there was a new look in his eyes, for, as the horror faded, fear took its place.

Grady screwed the cap on the flask with great deliberation and returned it to his pocket, And all the time Rogers was watching him furtively, wiping his mouth mechanically with a trembling hand. "'Now, Rogers,' Grady began, "'I want you to take your time and tell us in detail everything that happened here to-night. "'You say a woman did it? "'Well, we want to hear all about that woman. "'Now go ahead, and remember, there's no hurry.'

"'Well, sir,' began Roger slowly, as though carefully considering his words, Mr. Van Tyn came out from dinner about half-past seven, maybe a little later than that, and told me to light all the lights in here and in the next room. You see they are gas and electric both, sir, and I lighted them all. He had gone into the music room on the other side of the hall, so I went over there and told him the lights were all lit. He was looking at a new picture he bought, but he left it right away and come out into the hall. I don't want to be disturbed, Rogers, he said, and come in here and shut the door after him.

It was maybe twenty minutes after that that the doorbell rung, and when I opened the door, there was a woman standing on the steps. He stopped and swallowed once or twice as though his throat was dry, and I saw that his fingers were twitching nervously. Did you know her? questioned Grady. Rogers loosened his collar with a convulsive movement. No, sir, I'd never seen her before, he answered hoarsely. Describe her.

Rogers closed his eyes as though in an effort of recollection. She wore a heavy veil, sir, so I couldn't see her very well. But the first thing I noticed was her eyes. They were so bright they seemed to burn right through me. Her face looked white behind her veil, and I could see how red her lips were. I didn't like her look, sir, from the first. How was she dressed? in a dark gown, sir, cut so skimpy, that I knowed she was French before she spoke.

Ah, said Grady, she was French, was she? Yes, sir, though she could speak some English, she asked for Mr. Van Tyn. I told her Mr. Van Tine was busy, and then she said something very fast about how she must see him, and all the time she kept edging in and in till the first thing I knowed she was inside the door, and then she just pulled the door out of my hand and shut it. I ask you, sir, is that the way a lady would behave? No, said Grady, I dare say not, but go ahead and take your time. Rogers had regained his self-confidence, and he went ahead almost glibly.

See here, madam, says I. We've had enough trouble here today with Frenchese, and if you don't go out quietly, while I'll have to put you out. I must see Mr. Van Tyn, she says, very fast. I must see Mr. Van Tyn. It is most necessary that I see Mr. Van Tine. Then I'll have to put you out, says I, and took hold of her arm. And at that she screamed and jerked herself away, and I grabbed her again,

and just then Mr. Van Tine opened the door there and came out into the hall. What's all this, Rogers, he says. Who is this party? Before I could answer, that Wildcat had rushed over to him and begun to reel off a string of French so fast that I wondered how she got her breath. And Mr. Van Tyn looked at her kind of surprised at first, and then he got more interested,

and finally he asked her in here and shut the door, and that was the last I saw of them. You mean you didn't let the woman out, demanded Grady? Yes, sir, that's just what I mean. I thought if Mr. Van Tine wanted to talk with her well and good, that was his business, not mine. So I went back to the pantry to help the cook with a silver, expecting to hear the bell every minute.

but the bell didn't ring and after maybe half an hour i came out into the hall again to see if the woman had gone and i walked past the door of this room but didn't hear nothing and then i went on to the front door and was surprised to find it wasn't latched maybe you hadn't latched it suggested grady it has a snap-lock sir when that woman slammed it shut i heard it catch you sure of that quite sure sir what did you do then i closed the door sir, and then came back along the hall. I felt uneasy some way. I stood outside the door there listening, but I couldn't hear nothing, and then I tapped, but there wasn't no answer, so I tapped louder, with my heart somehow working right up into my mouth, and still there wasn't no answer, so I just opened the door and looked in, and the first thing I see was him. Roger stopped suddenly and caught at his throat again. I'll be all right in a minute, sir, he gasped. It takes me this way sometimes.

No hurry, Grady assured him, and then, when his breath was coming easier, what did you do then? I was so scared. I couldn't scarcely stand, sir, but I managed to get to the foot of the stairs and yell for parks, and he'd come running down, and that's all I remember, sir. The woman wasn't here? No, sir. Did you look through the rooms?

No, sir. When I found the front door open I knowed she'd gone out. She hadn't shut the door, because she was afraid I'd hear her. That sounds probable, agreed Grady, but what makes you think she killed Van Tyn? Well, sir, answered Roger slowly. I guess I oughtn't to have said that, but finding the door open that way, and then coming on, Mr. Van Tine, sort of upset me. I didn't know just what I was saying.

You don't think so now, then? questioned Grady sharply. I don't know what to think, sir. You say you never saw this woman before? Never, sir. Had she ever been here before? I don't think so, sir. The first thing she asked was as this is where Mr. Vantyne lived.

Grady nodded. Very good, Rogers, he said. I'll be offering you a place on the forest next. Would you know this woman if you saw her again? Rogers hesitated. I wouldn't like to say, sure, sir, he answered at last. I might, and I might not. Red lips and a white face and bright eyes aren't much to go on,

Grady pointed out. Can't you give us a closer description? I'm afraid not, sir. I just got a general impression, like, of her face through her veil. You say you didn't search these rooms? No, sir, I didn't come inside the door. Why not? I was afraid to, sir.

Afraid to? Yes, sir. I'm afraid to be here now. Did Parks come in? No, sir. I guess he felt the same way I did. Then how did you know Van Tyn was dead? Why didn't you try to help him?

One look was enough to tell me, that wasn't no use, said Rogers, and glanced with visible horror at the crumpled form on the floor. Grady looked at him keenly for a moment, but there seemed to be no reason to doubt his story. Then the detective looked about the room. There's one thing I don't understand, he said, and that is why Van Tyn should want all these lights. What was he doing in here? I couldn't be sure, sir, but I suppose he was looking at the furniture he bought over from Europe. He was a collector, you know, sir. There are five or six pieces in the next

room. Without a word, Grady arose and passed into the room adjoining. We after him, only Rogers remained seated where he was. I remember glancing back over my shoulder, and noting how he huddled forward in his chair as though crushed by a great weight the instant our backs were turned. But I forgot Rogers in contemplation of the scene before me. The inner room was ablaze with light, and the furniture stood haphazard about it, just as I had seen it earlier in the day. Only one thing had been moved. That was the bull-cabinet.

It had been carried to the center of the room, and placed in the full glare of the light from the chandelier. It stood there blazing, with arrogant beauty, a thing apart. Who helped Van Tyn place it there, I wonder? Neither Rogers nor Parks had mentioned doing so. I turned back to the outer room. Rogers was sitting crouched forward in his chair, his hands over his eyes, and I could feel him jerk with nervousness as I touched him on the shoulder.

"'Oh, it's you, Mr. Lester,' he gasped. "'Pardon me, sir. I'm not at all myself, sir.' "'I can see that,' I said soothingly, and no wonder. I just wanted to ask you, "'Did you help move any of the furniture in the room yonder?' "'Help move it, sir?' "'Yes, help change the position of any of it since this afternoon.'

"'No, sir.' I haven't touched any of it, sir. That's all right, then, I said, and turned back into the inner room. Van Tyn had said that he intended examining the cabinet in detail at the first opportunity. I remembered how his eyes had gleamed as he looked at it, how his hand had trembled as he caressed the aberrists. No doubt he was making that examination when he heard a woman's cry and had gone out into the hall to see what the matter was.

Then he and the woman had entered the woman. the ante-room together. He had closed the door, and then— Like a lightning flash, a thought leaped into my brain, a reason, an explanation, wild, improbable, absurd, but still an explanation. I choked back the cry which rose to my lips. I gripped my hands behind me in a desperate attempt to hold myself in check, and, fascinated, as by a deadly serpent, I stood staring at the cabinet. For there I felt, cert. lay the clue to the mystery. End of Chapter 6.

Chapter 7 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Rogers gets a shock. Grady, Simmons, and Goldberger examined the room minutely, for they seem to feel that the secret of the tragedy lay somewhere within its four walls. but I watched them only absently, for I had lost interest in the procedure. I was perfectly sure that they would find nothing in any way bearing upon the mystery.

I heard Grady comment upon the fact that there was no door except the one opening into the empty room and saw them examine the window catches. Nobody could raise these windows without alarming the house, Grady said, and pointing to a tiny wire running along the woodwork, there is a burglar alarm. Simmons assented, and finally the trio returned to the ante-room. We'd like to look over the rest of the house, Grady said the Rogers, who was sitting erect again, looking more like himself, and the four men went out into the hall together. I remained behind with Hughes and Frayland Hoysen. They had lifted the body to the couch, and were making a careful examination of it.

Heavy at heart, I sat down nearby and watched them. that Philip Van Tyn should have been killed by enthusiasm for the hobby, which had given him so much pleasure, seemed the very irony of fate. Yet such I believe to be the case. To be sure, there were various incidents which seemed to conflict with such a theory, and the theory itself seemed wild to the point of absurdity. But at least it was a ray of light in what had been utter darkness. I turned it over and over in my mind,

trying to fit into it the happenings of the day. I must confess with very poor success. Frayland Hoysen's voice brought me out of my reverie. The two cases are precisely alike, he was saying. The symptoms are identical. And I am certain we shall find paralysis of the heart and spinal cord in this case, just as I did in the other. Both men were killed by the same poison.

Can you make a guess as to the nature of the poison, Hughes inquired? some variant of hydrocyonic acid i fancy the odor indicates that but it must be about fifty times as deadly as hydrocyanic acid is they wandered away in a discussion of possible variants so technical and be sprinkled with uptruse words and formula that i could not follow them frailinhoysen of course had all this sort of thing at his fingers ends post-mortems were his everyday occupation and no doubt he had been furbishing himself up since the last one in preparation for the inquest where he would naturally wish to shine i could see that he enjoyed displaying his knowledge before hughes who although a family practitioner of high-standings with an income greater than frelind heisen's many times over had no such expert knowledge of toxicology as a coroner's physician would naturally possess the two detectives and the coroner came back while the discussion was still in progress and listened in silence to fraylenhoisen's statement of the case grady's mahogany face told absolutely nothing of what was passing in his brain but simmons was plainly bewildered it was evident from his look that nothing had been found to shed any light on the mystery and now that a suicide theory had fallen to pieces he was completely at sea so i suspected was grady

was grady but he was too self-composed to betray it the coroner drew the two physicians aside and talked to them for a few moments in a low tone then he turned to fraylenhoisen thinks there is no necessity for a post-mortem he said the symptoms are in every way identical with those of the other man who was killed here this afternoon there can be no question that both of them died from the same cause he is ready to make his return to that effect very well assented grady the body can be turned over to the relatives then there aren't any relatives i said at least no near ones fantine was the last of this branch of the family i happen to know that our firm has been named as his executors in his will so if there is no objection i'll take charge of things very well mr lester said grady again and then he looked at me do you know the provisions of the will he asked i do in light of those provisions do you know of any one who would have an interest in van tine's death i think i may tell you the provisions i said after a moment with the exception of a few legacies to his servants his whole fortune is left to the metropolitan museum of art you have been his attorney for some time we have been his legal advisers for many years have you ever learned that he had an enemy no i answered instantly so far as i know he had not an enemy on earth he was never married i believe no was he ever to your knowledge involved with a woman no i said again i was astounded when i heard roger's story so you can give us no hint as to this woman's identity i only wish i could i said with fervor thank you mr lester and grady turned to simmons i don't see that there is anything more we can do here he added there is one thing though mr lester i would have to ask you to do that is to keep all the servants here until after the inquest

if you think there is any doubt of your ability to do that we can of course put them under arrest well that isn't necessary i broke in i will be responsible for their appearance at the inquest i'll have to postpone it a day said goldberg I want Ferlenheisen to make some tests tomorrow. Besides, we've got to identify Diorrel, and these gentlemen seem to have their work cut out for them in finding this woman. Grady looked at Goldberger in a way, which indicated that he thought he was talking too much, and the coroner stopped abruptly.

A moment later, all four men left the house. Dr. Hughes lingered for her last word. The undertaker had better be called at once, he said, it won't do to delay too long i knew what he meant already the face of the dead man was showing certain ugly discolourations i can send him around on my way home he added and i thanked him for assuming this unpleasant duty as the door closed behind him i heard a step on the stair and turned to see godfrey calmly descending i came in a few minutes ago he explained in an answer to my look and have been glancing around upstairs nothing there How did our friend Grady get along? Fairly well, but if he guesses anything, his face didn't show it. His face never shows anything, because there's nothing to show.

He has cultivated that Sybiline look until people think he's a wonder, but he's simply a stupid ignoramus. Oh, come, Godfrey, I protested your prejudice. He went right to the point. Do you know Roger's story? About the woman, certainly. Rogers told it to me before Grady arrived. Well, I commented, you didn't lose any time.

I never do, he assented blandly, and now I'm going to prove to you that Grady is merely a stupid ignoramus. He has heard all the evidence, but does he know who that woman was? Of course not, I said, and then I looked at him. Do you mean that you do? Then I am an ignoramus, too. My dear Lester, protested Godfrey, you are not a detective. That's not your business, but it is Grady's.

at least it is supposed to be and the safety of this city as a place of residence depends more or less upon the truth of that assumption on the strength of it he has been made deputy police commissioner in charge of the detective bureau then you mean that you do know who she was i'm pretty sure i do that is what i came back to prove where's rogers i'll ring for him i said and did so and presently he appeared did you ring sir he asked he was still miserably nervous but much more self-controlled than he had been earlier in the evening yes i said mr godfrey wishes to speak to you it seemed to me that rogers turned visibly paler there was certainly fear in the glance he turned upon my companion but godfrey smiled reassuringly we'd better give him his instructions about the reporters first thing hadn't we lester he inquired which reporters i queried all the others of course they will be storming this house rogers before long you will meet them at the door you will refuse to admit one of them you will tell them that there is nothing to be learned here and that they must go to the police tell them that commissioner grady himself is in charge of the case and will no doubt be glad to talk to them is that right lester yes ulysses i agreed smiling and now continued godfrey watching rogers keenly i have a photograph here that i want you to look at did you ever see that person before and he handed a print to rogers the latter hesitated an instant and then took the print with a trembling hand stark fear was in his eyes again then slowly he raised a print to the light glanced at it catch him lester godfrey cried and sprang forward for rogers clutching wildly at his collar, spun half around, and fell with a crash.

Godfrey's arm broke the fall somewhat, but as for me, I was too dazed to move. Get some water quick, Godfrey commanded sharply, as Parks came running up. Rogers has been taken ill. And then as Sparks sped down the hall again, I saw Godfrey loosen the collar of the unconscious man and begin to chafe his temples fiercely. I hope it isn't apoplexy, he muttered. I oughtn't have shocked him like that. At the words, I remembered, and stooping picked up the photograph which had fluttered from

Roger's nerveless fingers. And then I, too, uttered, a smothered exclamation, as I gazed at the dark eyes, the full lips, the oval face, the face which the Arel had carried in his watch. End of Chapter 7. Chapter 8 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Precautions. But it wasn't apoplexy.

It was Parks who reassured us when he came hurrying back a minute later with a glass of water in one hand and a small file in the other. He has these spells, he said. It's a kind of vertigo. Give him a whiff of this. He uncorked the file. and handed it to godfrey and i caught the penetrating fumes of ammonia a moment later rogers gasped convulsively he'll be all right pretty soon remarked parks with ready optimism though i never saw him quite so bad we can't leave him lying here on the floor said godfrey there's a couch seat in the music-room park suggested and the three of us bore the still unconscious man to it then godfrey and i sat down and waited while he gasped his way back to light

Though he can't really tell us much, Alprey observed, in fact, I doubt if he'd be willing to tell anything, but his face, when he looked at the picture, told us all we need to know. Thus reminded, I took the photograph out of the pocket into which I had slipped it and looked at it again. Where did you get it, I asked. The police photographer made some copies. This is one of them. But what made you suspect that the two women were the same?

i don't just know answered godfrey reflectively they were both french and rogers spoke of the red lips somehow it seemed probable mr grady will find some things he doesn't know in to-morrow's record but then he usually does this time i'm going to rub it in hello he added our friend is coming around i looked at rogers and saw that his eyes were open they were staring at us as though wondering who we were godfrey passed an arm under his head and held the glass of water to his lips take a swallow of this he said and rogers obeyed mechanically still staring at him over the rim of the glass how do you feel pretty weak rogers answered almost in a whisper did i have a fit something like that said godfrey cheerfully but don't worry he'll soon be all right again what sent me off asked rogers and stared up at him then his face turned purrously but don't worry he'll soon be all right again what sent me off asked rogers and stared up at him then his face turned purged purple, and I thought he was going off again. But after a moment's heavy breathing he lay quiet. I remember now, he said, let me see that picture again. I passed it to him. His hand was trembling, so he could hardly take it, but I saw he was struggling desperately to control himself, and he managed to hold the picture up before his eyes and look at it with apparent unconcern.

Do you know her, Godfrey asked? To my infinite amazement, Roger shook his head. never saw her before he muttered when i first looked at her i thought i knew her but it ain't the same woman do you mean to say godfrey demanded sternly that this is not the woman who called him mr van tine to-night again rogers shook his head oh no he protested it's not the same woman at all this one is younger godfrey made no reply but he sat down and looked at rogers and rogers lay and gazed at the picture and gradually his face softened as though he had no reply but he sat down and looked at rogers and rogers lay and gazed at the picture and gradually his face softened as though at some tender memory come rogers i urged at last you'd better tell us all you know if this is the woman don't hesitate to say so i told you all i know mr lester said rogers but he did not meet my eyes and i'm feeling pretty bad i think i'd better be getting to bed yes that's best agreed gothrey promptly parks will help you and he held out his hand for the photograph rogers relinquished it with evident reluctance He opened his lips as though to ask a question, then closed them again, and got slowly to his feet, Parks aiding him. Good night, gentlemen, he said weakly, and shuffled away, leaning heavily on Parks' shoulder.

Well, said I, looking at Godfrey, what do you think of that? He's lying, of course. We've got to find out why he's lying, and bring it home to him. But it's getting late. I must get down to the office. One word, Lester, be sure Rogers doesn't give you the slip. i'll have him looked after i promised but i fancy he'll be afraid to run away beside it is possible he's telling the truth i don't believe any woman had anything to do with either death godfrey turned as he was starting away and stopped to look at me who did then he asked nobody you mean they both suicided in that abnormal way no it wasn't suicide they were killed but not by a human being at least not directly i felt that i was floundering hopelessly and stopped i can't tell you now godfrey i pleaded i haven't had time to think it out you've got enough for one day yes he smiled i've got enough for one day and now good-bye perhaps i'll look in on you about midnight on my way home if i get through by them you-you've got enough for one day-and now good-bye perhaps i'll look in on you about midnight on my way home if i get through by them I sighed.

Godfrey's energy became a little wearing sometimes. I was already longing for bed, and there remained so much to be done. But he, after a day, which I knew had been a hard one, and with a many-colum story still to write, was apparently as fresh and eager as ever. All right, I agreed. If you see a light come up. If there isn't any light, I'll be in bed,

and I'll kill you if you wake me. conditions except that he laughed as I opened the door for him. Parks joined me as I turned back into the house. I got Rogers to bed, sir, he said. He'll be all right in the morning, but he's a queer duck. How long have you known him, Parks? He's been with Mr. Van Tyn about five years. I don't know much about him.

He's a silent kind of fellow, keeping to his self a good deal, and sort of brooding over things. But he did his work all right, except once in a while when he keeled over like he did tonight. Parks, I said suddenly, I'm going to ask you a question. You know that Mr. Van Tynne was a friend of mine, and I thought a great

deal of him. Now, what with this story, Roger tells, and one or two other things, there is talk of a woman. Is there any foundation for talk of that kind? No, sir, said Parks emphatically. I've been Mr. Van Tine's

valet for eight years and more, and in all that time, he has never been mixed up with a woman in any shape or form. I always fancied he'd love the lady who died. I don't know what made me think so, but anyhow, since I've known him, he's never looked at a woman, not that way. Thank you, Parks, I said, with a sigh of relief.

I've been through so much today, but I felt I couldn't endure that. And now? Beg pardon, sir, said a voice at my elbow. We have everything ready, sir. I turned with a start to see a little clean-shaped, man standing there, rubbing his hands softly together, and gazing blandly up at me. The undertaker's assistant, sir, explained Parks, seeing my look of astonishment,

he came while you and Mr. Godfrey were in the music room. Dr. Hughes sent him. Yes, sir, added the little man, and we have the corpse ready for the coffin. Very nice it looks too, though it was a hard job. Was it poison, killed him, sir? Yes, I answered, with a feeling of nausea. was poison. Very powerful poison, too, I should say, sir. We didn't get here none too soon. Where shall we put the body, sir? Why not leave it where it is, I asked impatiently. Very good, sir, said the man, and presently he and his assistant took themselves off to my intense relief. And now, Parks I began, there is something I want to say to you. Let us go somewhere and sit down. Suppose we go up to the study, sir. You're looking to

regularly done up. If you will permit me to say so, sir, shall I get you something? A brandy and soda, I assented, and bring one for yourself. Very good, sir, and a few minutes later we were sitting opposite each other in the room where Van Tyn had offered me similar refreshment not many hours before. I looked at Parks as he sat there and turned over in my mind what I had to say to him. I liked the man, and I felt he could be trusted. At any rate, I had to take the risk. I had to take the risk. Now, Parks, I began again, setting down my glass. What I have to say to you is very serious, and I want you to keep it to yourself. I know that you were devoted to Mr. Van Tine.

I may as well tell you that he has remembered you in his will, and I am sure you are willing to do anything in your power to help solve the mystery of his death. That I am, sir, Parks agreed warmly. I was very fond of him, sir. Nobody will miss him more than I will. I realized that the tragedy meant far more to Parks than it did even to me, for he had lost not only a friend, but a means of livelihood, and I looked at him with heightened sympathy. I know how you feel, I said, and I'm counting on you to help me. I have a sort of an idea of how his death came about. Only the vaguest possible idea, I added hastily, as his eyes widened with interest, altogether too vague to put into words. But I can say this

much, the mystery, whatever it is, is in the ante-room where the bodies were found, or in the next room to it where the furniture is. Now I'm going to lock up those rooms, and I want you to see that nobody enters them without your knowledge. Not very likely that anybody will want to enter them, sir, and Parks laughed, a grim little laugh. I'm not so sure of that, I dissented, speaking very seriously. In fact, I'm of the opinion that there is somebody who, wants to enter those rooms very badly. I don't know who he is, and I don't know what he is after, but I'm going to make it your business to keep him out, and to capture him if you catch him trying to get in.

"'Trust me for that, sir,' said Parks promptly. "'What is it you want me to do?' "'I want you to put a cot in the hallway outside the door of the ante-room, and sleep there to-night. Tomorrow I will decide what further precautions are necessary.' "'Very good, sir,' said Parks. "'I'll get the cot up at once.' there is one more thing i went on i have given the coroner my personal assurance that none of the servants will leave the house until after the inquest i suppose i can rely on them oh yes sir i'll see they understand how important it is rogers especially i added looking at him i understand sir said parks quietly very well and now let us go down and lock up those rooms they were still ablaze with light but the place with light but the publicers very well and now let us go down and lock up those rooms

they were still ablaze with light but both of us faltered a little i think on the threshold of the ante-room for in the middle of the floor stood a stretcher and on it was an object covered with a sheet its outlines horribly suggestive but i took myself in hand and entered parks followed me and closed the door the ante-room had two windows and the room beyond which was a corner one had three all of them were locked but a pane of glass seemed to me an absurdly fragile barrier against any one who really wished to enter aren't there some wooden shutters for these windows i asked yes sir they were taken down yesterday and put in the basement shall i get them i think you'd better i said will you need any help no sir they're not heavy if you'll wait here you can snap the bolts in the place when i lift them up from the outside very well i agreed and parks hurried away i entered the inner room and stopped before the bull cabinet there was a certain air of arrogance about it as it stood there in that blaze of light its in lay a glow with a thousand subtle reflections a flaunting air the air of a courtesan conscious of her beauty and pleased to attract attention just the air with which madame de montesband must have sauntered down the mirror gallery at versailles ablaze with jewels her skirts rustling her figure swaying suggestively something threatening to something sinister and deadly there was a rattle at the window and i saw parks lifting one of the shutters into place i threw up the sash and pressed the heavy bolts carefully into their sockets then closed the sash and locked it the two other windows were secured in their turn and with the last look about the room i turned out the lights the anteroom windows were soon shuttered in the same way and with a sigh of relief i told myself that no entrance to the house could be had from that direction

with parks outside the only door the rooms ought to be safe from invasion then before extinguishing the lights i approached that silent figure on the stretcher lifted the sheet and looked for the last time upon the face of my dead friend it was no longer staring and terrible but calm and peaceful as in sleep almost smiling with wet eyes and contracted throat i covered the face again turned out the lights and left the room parks met me in the hall carrying a cot which he placed close across the doorway there he said nobody will get into that room without my knowing it No, I agreed, and then a sudden thought occurred to me. Parks, I said, is it true that there is a burglar alarm on all the windows? Yes, sir, it rings a bell in Mr. Van Tynes' bedroom and another in mine, and sends in a call to the police. Is it working?

Yes, sir. Mr. Van Tine himself tested it this evening just before dinner. Then why didn't it work when I opened those windows just now, I demanded? Parks laughed. because i threw off the switch sir he explained when i came out to get the shutters the switch is in a little iron box on the wall just back of the stairs sir it is one of my duties to turn it on every night before i go to bed i breathed a sigh of relief is it on again now it certainly is sir after what you told me i'd not be likely to forget it you'd better have a weapon handy too i suggested i have a revolver sir that's good and don't hesitate you'd be a weapon handy too i suggested i have a revolver sir that's good and don't hesitate you'd be a weapon handy too i'd be a revolver sir that's good and don't hesitate to be a revolver you'd be a to use it. I'm going home. I'm dead tired. Shall I call a cab, sir? No, the walk will do me good. I'll see you tomorrow. Parks helped me into my coat and opened the door for me.

Glancing back after a moment, I saw that he was standing on the steps gazing after me. I could understand his reluctance to go back into that death-haunted house, and I found myself breathing deeply with the relief of getting out of it. End of Chapter 8. chapter nine of the mystery of the boole cabinet by burton egbert stevenson this librivox recording is in the public domain guesses at the riddle the walk-up town did me good the rain had ceased and the air felt clean and fresh as though it had been washed i took deep breaths of it and the feeling of fatigue and depression which had weighed upon me gradually vanished i was in no hurry when i had been washed when i had been washed and i was in no hurry when i was in a hurry when i had been washed and depression and depression which had weighed upon me gradually vanished i was in no hurry when out of my way a little indeed, to walk out into Madison Square and look back at the towering mass of the flat-iron building, creamy and delicate, has carved ivory under the rays of the moon,

and it was long past Middite when I finally turned in at the marathon. Higgins, the janitor, was just closing the outer doors, and he joined me in the elevator a moment later. There's a gentleman waiting to see you, sir, he said, as the car started upward. Mr. Godfrey, sir, he came in about ten minutes ago. He said you were expecting him, so I led him into your rooms. That was right, I said, and reflected again upon Godfrey's exhaustless energy. I found him lolling in an easy chair, and he looked up with a smile at my entrance. Higgins said you hadn't come in yet, he explained, so I thought I'd wait a few minutes on the off chance that you mightn't be too tired to talk. If you are say so, and I'll

be moving along. I'm not too tired, I said, hanging up my coat. I feel a good deal better than I did an hour ago. I saw that you were about all in. How do you keep it up, Godfrey, I asked, sitting down opposite him. You don't seem tired at all. I am tired, though, he said, a little, but I've got a fool brain that won't let my body go to sleep so long as there is work to be done. Then as soon as everything is finished, the brain lets go, and the body sleeps like a log. now i knew i couldn't go to sleep properly to-night until i heard the very interesting theory you are going to confide to me besides i have a thing or two to tell you go ahead i said we had a cable from our paris office just before i left it seems that monsieur theophilio di orl plays the fiddle in the orchestra of the caf de paris he played as usual to-night so that it is manifestly impossible that he is manifestly impossible that he is aftly impossible that he is a fiddle in the orchestra of the caf de paris he played as usual to-night so that he played as a He should be also lying in the New York morgue.

Moreover, none of his friends, so far as he knows, is in America. No doubt he may be able to identify the photograph of the dead man, and we've already started one on the way, but we can't hear from it for six or eight days. But my guess was right. The fellow's name isn't DiOreal. You say you have a photograph? Yes, I had some taken of the body this afternoon. Here's one of them.

Keep it you may have a use for. I took the card, and as I gazed at the face depicted upon it, I realized that the distorted countenance I had seen in the afternoon had given me no idea of the man's appearance. Now the eyes were closed, and the features composed and peaceful, but even death failed to give them any dignity. It was a weak and dissipated face, the face of a hanger-on of cafes, as Parks had said, or of a loiterer along the boulevards, of a man who were to be a man who were in a man who were without ambition and capable of any depth of meanness and deceit. At least that is how I read it.

He's evidently low class, said Godfrey, watching me, one of those parasites, without work and without income, so common in Paris, shop girls and ladies' maids have a weakness for them. I think you are right, I agreed, but at the same time, if he was of that type, I don't see what business he could have had with Philip Van Pynne. Neither do I. but there are a lot of other things i don't see either we're all in the dark lester have you thought of that absolutely in the dark yes i have thought of it i said slowly no doubt we can establish this fellow's identity in time sooner than we think perhaps for most of the morning papers will run his picture and if he is known here in new york at all it will be recognized by some one when we find out who he is we can probably guess at the nature of his business with van tynes and if he is we can probably guess at the nature of his business with van tahn We can find out who the woman was who called the sea Van Tine the night. That is just a case of grilling Rogers.

Then we can run her down and get her secret out of her. We can find why Rogers is trying to shield her. All that is comparatively simple. But when we have done it all, when we have all these facts in hand, I'm afraid we shall find that they are utterly unimportant. Unimportant, I echoed, but surely. unimportant because we don't want to know these things. What we want to know is how Philip Van Tyn and this unknown Frenchman were killed, and that is just the one thing which I am convinced

neither the man nor the woman nor Rogers nor anybody else we have come across in this case can tell us. There's a personality behind all this that we haven't even suspected yet, and which I am free to confess, I don't know how to get at. It puzzles me. It'd rather frightens me. It's like a threatening shadow which one can't get hold of. There was a moment's silence, then I decided that time had come for me to speak. Godfrey, I said, what I'm about to tell you is told in confidence, and must be held in confidence until I give you permission to use it. Do you agree? Go on, he said, his eyes on my face. Well, I believe I know how these two men were killed.

listen. And I told him in detail the story of the Boole cabinet. I repeated Van Tyn's theory of its first ownership. I named the price which he was ready to pay for it. I described the difference between an original and a counterpart. And dwelt upon Van Tine's assertion that this was an original of unique and unquestionable artistry. Long before I had finished, Gottfrey was out of his chair and pacing up and down the room. His face flushed, his eyes glowing. Beautiful, he murmured, from time to time. Immense, what a case it will make, Lester, he cried, stopping before my chair and beaming down

upon me as I finished the story. Unique, too, that's the beauty of it, as unique as its adorable bull cabinet. Then you see it, too, I questioned, a little disappointed that my theory should seem so evident. See it? And he dropped into his chair again. A man would be blind not to see it. But all the same, Lester, I give you credit for putting the facts together. So many of us, Grady, for instance, aren't able to do that,

or to see which facts are essential and which are negligible. Now the fact that Van Tyn had accidentally come into possession of a bull cabinet would probably seem negligible to Grady, whereas it is one of the big essential facts in this whole case, and it was you who saw it. You saw it, too, I pointed out, as soon as I mentioned it. Yes, but you mentioned it in a way which made its importance manifest. I couldn't help seeing it, and I believe that we have both arrived at practically the same conclusions. Here they are, and he checked them off on his fingers.

The cabinet contains a secret drawer that is inevitable, if it really belonged to Madame de Montespan. Any cabinet made for her would be certain to have a secret drawer. she would require it just as she would require lace on her underwear or jeweled buttons on her gloves. That drawer, since it was, perhaps, to contain such priceless documents as the love-letters of a king, or even more so, if the love-letters were from another man, must be adequately guarded, and therefore a mechanism was devised to stab the person attempting to open it and inject into the wound a poison so powerful as to cause instant death. Am I right so far?

Wonderfully right, I nodded. I had not put it so clearly even to myself. Go ahead. We come to the conclusion, then, continued Godfrey, that the business of this unknown Frenchman with Fantine in some way concerned this cabinet. Fantine himself thought so I broke in. He told me afterwards that it was because he thought so,

he consented to see him. Good. That will seem to indicate that we are on the right track. The Frenchman's business, then, had something to do with his cabinet and with his secret drawer. Left to himself,

he discovered the cabinet in the room adjoining the ante-room and attempted to open the drawer and was killed. Yes, I agreed. And now, how about Van Tyn? Van Tine's death isn't so simply explained. Presumably,

the unknown woman also called on business, relating to the cabinet. She also wanted to open the secret drawer in order to secure its contents. That seems fairly certain from her connection with the first caller. You still think it was her photograph he carried in his watch? I'm sure of it, but how did it happen that it was Van Tynne who was killed? Did the woman, warned by the fate of the man, deliberately set Van Tine to open the drawer in order that she might run no risk, or was she also ignorant of the mechanism? Above all, did she succeed in getting away with the contents of the drawer? What was the contents of the drawer, I demanded?

Ah, if we only knew. Perhaps the woman had nothing to do with it. Van Tyn himself told me that he was going to make a careful examination of the cabinet. No doubt, that is exactly what he was doing when the woman's arrival interrupted him. He might have let her out of the house himself, and then returning to the cabinet, stumbled upon the secret drawer after she had gone. Yes, that is quite possible, too. At any rate, you agree with me that both men were killed in some such way as I have described.

Absolutely, I think there can be no doubt of it. There are objections, and rather weighty ones. The theory explains the two deaths. It explains the similarity of the wounds. It explains how both should be on the right hand, just above the knuckles. It explains why both bodies were first. found in the same place, since both men, started to summon help. But in the first place, if the Frenchman got the drawer open, who closed it?

Perhaps it closed itself when he let go of it. And closed again after Van Tyn opened it? Yes, it would take a very clever mechanism to do that. But at least it's possible. Oh, yes, it's possible, and we must remember that the poisoners of those days were very ingenious. That was the heyday of La Vasse, of Marquis de Villers, of Exel, and Heaven knows how many other experts, who followed Catherine Dmiti to France. So that's all quite possible. But there is one thing that isn't possible, and that is that a poison which, if it is administered as we think it is,

must be a liquid, could remain in that cabinet fresh and ready for use for more than three hundred years. It would have dried up centuries ago. Nor would the mechanism stay in order so long. It must be both complicated and delicate. Therefore, it would have to be oiled and overhauled from time to time. If it is worked by a spring, and I don't see how else it can be worked, the spring would have to be renewed and wound up. Well, I asked as he paused. Well, it is evident that the drawer contained something more recent than the love-letters of Louis It must have been put in working order quite recently, but by whom and for what purpose. That is the mystery we have to solve, and it's a mighty pretty one.

And here's another objection, he added. That Frenchman knew about the secret drawer, because, according to our theory, he opened it and got killed. Why didn't he also know about the poison? That was an objection, truly, and the more I thought of it, the more serious it seemed. It may be, said Godfrey, Atlanta. that D. Orrell was going it alone, that he had broken with the gang. The gang? Of course there's a gang. This thing has taken careful planning and concerted effort,

and the leader of the gang is a genius. I wonder if you understand how great a genius. Think. He knows the secret of the drawer of Madame de Montespan's cabinet. But above all, he knows the secret of the poison, the poison of the Medici. Do you know what that means, Lester? What does it mean, I asked, for Godfrey was getting ahead of me? It means he's a great criminal, a really great criminal, one of the elect, from whom crime has no secrets. Observe. He alone knows the secret of the poison. One of his men breaks away from him, and pays for his mutiny with his life.

He is the brain, the others are merely the instruments. Then you don't believe it was by accident that the cabinet was sent to Van Tyn? By accident, not for an instant. It was part of a plot and a splendid plot. Can you explain that to me, too, I queried a little ironically, for I confess it seemed to me that Godfrey was permitting his imagination to run away with him. He smiled good-naturedly at my tone.

Of course, this is all mere romancing, he admitted. I am the first to acknowledge that. I was merely following out our theory to what seemed its logical conclusion. but perhaps we're on the wrong track altogether perhaps the orrel or whatever his name is just blundered in like a moth into a candle flame as for the plot well i can only guess at it but suppose you and i had pulled off some big robbery he stopped suddenly and his face went white and then red what is it godfrey i cried for his look frightened me he lay back in his chair his hands pressed over his eyes i could see how they were trembling how his old body was trembling wait he said hoarsely wait then he sat upright his face tense with anxiety lester he cried his voice shrill with fear the cabinet it isn't guarded yes it is i said at least i thought of that and i told him of the precautions i had taken to keep it safe he heard me out with a sigh of relief that's better he said parks wouldn't stand much show i'm afraid if worse came the worst but i think the cabinet is safe for to-night

and before another night lester we will have a look for ourselves a look yes for the secret drawer i stared at him fascinated shrinking and we shall find it he added the orrell and van tyne found it i muttered thickly well and they're both dead it won't kill us we will go about it armored lester that poison fang may strike don't i cried and cowered back into my chair i can't do it godfrey god knows i'm no coward but not that you shall watch me do it he said that would be even worse but i'll be ready lester there will be no danger come man why it's the chance of a lifetime to rifle the secret drawer of Madame de Montespan. Yes, he added, his eyes glowing, and to match ourselves against the greatest criminal of modern times. His true laugh told how excited he was. And do you know what we shall find in that drawer, Lester? But no, it is only a guess, the wildest sort of a guess, but if it's right, if it is right. He sprang from his chair biting his lips, his whole frame quivering, but he was calmer in a moment. Anyway,

you will help me lester you will come there was a wizardry in his manner not to be resisted besides to rifle the secret drawer of madame de montesband to match oneself against the greatest criminal of modern times what an adventure Yes, I answered, with a quick intaking of the breath. I'll come. He clapped me on the shoulder, his face beaming. I knew you would. Tomorrow night, then. I'll call for you here at seven o'clock. We'll have dinner together, and then, hey, for the great secret.

Agreed? Agreed, I said. He caught up coat and hat and started for the door. There are things to do, he said. That armor to prepare. The plan of campaign to consider, you know. good night then till this evening the door closed behind him and his footsteps died away down the hall i looked at my watch it was nearly two o'clock dizzily i went to bed but my sleep was broken by a fearful dream a dream of a serpent with blazing eyes and dripping fangs poised to strike end of chapter nine chapter ten of the mystery of the boole cabinet by burton egbert stevenson this librivox recording is in the public domain

preparations my first thought when i awoke next morning was for parks for godfrey's manner had impressed me with a feeling that parks was in much more serious danger than either he or i suspected it was with a lively sense of relief therefore that I heard Parks' voice answer my call on the phone. This is Mr. Lester, I said. Is everything all right? Everything serene, sir, he answered. It would take a mighty smooth burglar to get in here now, sir. How is that, I asked. Reporters are camped all around the house, sir. They seem to think somebody else will be killed here today. He laughed as he spoke the words, but I was far from thinking the idea, an amusing one. I hope not, I said quickly, and don't let any of the reporters in, nor talk to them, tell

them they must go to the police for their information. If they get too annoying, let me know, and I'll have an officer sent around. Very good, sir. And Parks? Yes, sir. Don't let anybody in the house, no matter what he wants, unless Mr. Grady or Mr. Simmons or Mr. Goldberger accompanies him. Don't let anybody in you don't know.

If there's any trouble, call me up. I want you to be careful about this. I understand, sir. How is Rogers, I asked. Much better, sir. He wanted to get up, but I told him he might as well stay in bed, and I'd look after things.

I thought that was the best place for him, sir. It is, I agreed. Keep him there as long as you can. I'll come in during the day, if possible. In any event, Mr. Godfrey and I will be there this evening. Call me at the office if you need me for anything. Very good, Sarah said Parks again, and I hung up. I glanced through Godfrey's account of the affair while I ate my breakfast, and noted with amusement the sly digs taken at Commissioner Grady. Under the

photograph of the unknown woman was the legend Mr. Van Tyn's mysterious caller. In parentheses, Grady, please notice. And it was intimated that when Grady wanted any real information about an especially puzzling case he had to go to the record to get it. This, however, was merely by the way, for the story of a double tragedy fully illustrated was flung across many columns and was plainly considered the great news feature of the day. I glanced at two or three other papers on my way downtown. All of them featured the tragedy with a riot of pictures, pictures of the R.L. and of Van Tyn, of Grady, very large, of Simmons, of Goldberger, of Freylinhoisen,

of the Van Tine House, diagrams of the ante-room, showing the position in which the bodies were found, anatomical charts showing the exact nature of the wounds, pictures of the noted poisoners of history with a highly colored list of their achievements. But when it came to the story of the tragedy itself, their accounts were far less detailed and intimate than that in the record. They were indeed, for the most part, mere ferragos of theories, guesses, blood-curling suggestions, and mysterious hints of important information confided to the reporters, but withheld from the public until the criminal had been run to earth. That this would soon be accomplished, not a single paper doubted, for had not Grady,

the Mighty Grady, taken personal charge of the case, here followed a glowing history of Grady's career. It was evident enough that all these reporters had been compelled to go to Grady for their information, and I could fancy them damning him between their teeth as they penned these pangyrics. I could also fancy their city editors, damning, as they compared these incoherent imaginings

with the admirable and closely written story in the record, and I suspected that it was the realization of the record's triumph which had caused a descent to the phelix of reporters upon the Van Tyn place. I went over the whole affair with Mr. Royce as soon as he reached the office and spent the rest of the day arranging the papers relating to Van Tine's affairs and getting them ready to probate. Parks called me up once or twice for instructions as to various details, and Van Tyn's nearest relative, the third or fourth cousin,

wired from somewhere in the west that he was starting for New York at once. And then, toward the middle of the afternoon, came the cablegram from Paris, which I had almost forgotten to expect. Royce and Leicester, New York. Regret mistake and shipment exceedingly, our representative will call to explain, Armand at Phil's. So there was an end of the romance Godfrey had woven, in which I had been almost ready to believe.

The romance of design of a carefully laid plot and all that, it had been merely accident after all, and I smiled a little sarcastically up myself for my credulity. No doubt my own romance of a secret drawer and a poisoned mechanism would prove equally fabulous. In my overwrought state of mine the night before, it had seemed reasonable enough, but here in the cold light of day it seemed preposterous.

how Grady and Goldberger would have laughed at it. I put the whole thing impatiently away from me and turned the other work, but I found I could not conquer a certain deep-seated nervousness, so at last I locked my desk, told the boy I would not be back, and took a cab for a long drive through the park. The fresh air, the smell of the trees,

the sight of the children playing along the paths, did me good, and I was able to greet Godfrey with a smile when he called for me at seven o'clock. i've engaged the table at a little place around the corner he said it is managed by a friend of mine and i think you'll like it i did indeed the dinner was so good that it demanded undivided attention and not until the coffee was on the table and the cigars lighted did we speak of the business which had brought us together anything new i asked as we pushed back our chairs know nothing of any importance the man at the morgue has not been identified In the first place, the Paris police have never taken his Bertillon measurements. Then he's not a criminal. He has never been arrested, Godfrey qualified. More peculiar is the fact that he hasn't been recognized here.

Two million people, probably, saw his photograph in the papers this morning. Some of them thought they knew him and went round to the morgue to see his body. But nothing came of it. The police have no report of any such man missing. That is peculiar, isn't it, I commented. It's very peculiar. It means one of two things. Either the fellow's friends are keeping dark purposely,

or he didn't have any friends here in New York, at least. But even then, one would think that whoever rented him a room would wonder what had become of him and would make some inquiries. Perhaps he hadn't rented a room, I suggested. Perhaps he had just reached New York and went directly to Van Tynes. Godfrey's face lighted up. From the steamer, of course, I ought to have guessed as much from the cut of his hair. He hasn't been out of France more than ten days or so.

Excuse me a moment. He hurried away, and five minutes passed before he came back. I phoned the office to send some men around to the boats, which came in yesterday. If he was a passenger, some one of the stewards would recognize his photograph. There were three boats he might have come on, the Adriatic, the cecile from cherbourg and la turrain from harve there is nothing else that i know of he added thoughtfully except that fraylenheisen thinks he has discovered the nature of the poison he said it is some very powerful variant of prussic acid yes i said i heard him say something of the sort last night i had to talk with him this afternoon about it and he was quite learned godfrey went on this is a great chance for him to get before the public and he's making the most of it i gathered from what he said that ordinary prussic acid which is deadly enough heaven knows contains only two per cent of the poison while the strongest solution yet obtained contains only four per cent frelindheisen

says that whoever concocted this particular poison had evidently discovered a new way of doing it or rediscovered an old way, so that it is at least 50% effective. In other words, if you can get a fraction of a drop of it in a man's blood, you kill him by paralysis quicker than if you put a bullet through his heart.

Nothing can save a man then, I questioned. Nothing on earth. I don't say that if somebody had an axe handy and chopped off your arm at the shoulder an instant after you were struck on the hand, you mightn't have a chance to live, but it would take mighty quick work, and even then it would be nip and tough. Frailin-hoisen thinks it's a new discovery. I don't.

I think someone has dug up the old Medici formula. Maybe it was placed in the secret drawer, so that there would never be any lack of ammunition for the mechanism. Godfrey, I said, are you still bent on fooling with that, then? more than ever I'm going to find that secret drawer, and if the fang strike, well, I'm ready for them. See here what I've made today. He drew from his pocket something that looked like a steel gauntlet, such as one sees on suits of old armor. He slipped it over his right hand. You see it covers the back of the hand completely, he said, halfway down the first joint of the

fingers. It's made of the toughest steel and would turn a bullet. And do you see how it is pressed in the middle, Lester? Yes, I said. I was wondering why you had it made in that shape. I want to get a sample of that poison. My theory is that when the fang strike the hand, the shock drives out a drop or two of the poison.

I don't want those drops to get away. I want them to roll into this depression, and I shall very carefully bottle them. Think what they are, Lester, the poison of the Medici. I sat for a moment looking at him half in amusement, half in sorrow.

It seemed a pity that his theory must come tumbling down. It was so picturesque, and he was so interested and enthusiastic over it, and it would make such a good story. He caught my glance and put the gauntlet back into his pocket. Well, what is it? he asked quietly. For answer, I got out the cablegram and passed it across to him. He read it with brows contracted. That seems to put a puncture in our little romance, doesn't it? I asked at last.

he nodded thoughtfully yes it does and he read the message again word by word armand's man hasn't called yet no i didn't get the message till about three o'clock i suppose he'll be around to-morrow you will have to turn the cabinet over to him of course why yes it belongs to him at least it doesn't belong to van tine he slipped the message into its envelope and handed it back to me i could see that he was perplexed and upset well in spite of this he said finally i am still interested in that cabinet lester and i wish you would keep possession of it as long as you can at least i wouldn't give it up until he delivered you the other cabinet which van tyne really bought oh i'll make him do that i agreed quickly that will no doubt take a few days longer than that if van tine's cabinet is in paris gophery raised a finger to the waiter asked for the check and paid it and now let us go down and let us go down and have a look at this one, he said, as we intended doing. You will think me foolish, Lester, but even that cablegram hasn't shaken my belief in the existence of that secret drawer.

And all the rest, I asked. Yes, he answered slowly and all the rest. He said nothing more until we stopped before the Van Tine house, but I could see, from his puckered brows, how desperately he was trying to untangle this quirk in the mystery. The siege seems to have been lifted, I remarked as we alighted. The siege?

Parks telephoned me that your esteemed contemporaries had the place surrounded. I told him the hold of fort. Poor boys, he commented smiling to think that all they know is what Grady is able to tell them. Then he stopped before the house

and made a careful survey of it. Which room is the cabinet inn, he asked. The ante-room is there at the left, where those two shuttered windows are. The cabinet is in the corner room. There is one window on this side and two on the other. Wait till I take a look at them, he said, and vaulting the low railing,

he walked quickly along the front of the house and around the corner. He was gone only a minute. They're all right, he said, in a tone of relief. Of course they're all right, you didn't suppose. If that cabinet contains what I thought it did, Lester, yes, he added a little savagely as he saw my look, and what I still think it does, it wouldn't be safe in the strongest vault of the National City Bank, and he motioned for me to ring the bell.

I did so in silence. Park answered it almost instantly, and I can tell from the way his face changed how glad he was to see me. Well, Parks, I said, as we stepped inside. Everything is all right, I hope. Yes, sir, he answered, but it gets on the nerves a little, sir. I heard a movement behind me as I gave Parks my coat and turned to see Rogers sitting on the cot. Hello, I said. So you're able to be up, are you?

Yes, sir, he answered without looking at me. I thought I'd come down and keep Parks company. Park smiled a little sheepishly. I asked him to, Mr. Lester, he said. I got so lonesome and jumpy here by myself that I just had to have somebody to talk to, especially after the burglar alarm rang. The burglar alarm repeated Godfrey quickly. What do you mean? We got a burglar alarm on the window, sir. It is usually turned off in the daytime,

but I thought I'd better leave it on today, and it rang about the middle of the afternoon. I thought at first that one of the other servants had raised a window, but none of them had. Something went wrong with it, I guess. Did you take a look at the windows, I asked? Yes, sir. A policeman came to see.

what was the matter and we went around and examined the windows but they were all locked it made me feel kind of scary for a while does the alarm work now no sir the policeman said there must be a short circuit somewhere and that he'd notify the people who put it in but nobody has come around yet to fix it we'd better take a look at the windows ourselves said godfrey you stay here parks we can find them all right i don't want you to leave that door unguarded for a single instant instant. We went from window to window, and Godfrey examined each of them with a minuteness that astonished me, for I had no idea of what he expected to find, but we completed the circuit of the ground floor without his apparently discovering anything out of the way. Let's take a look at the basement, he said, and led the way downstairs with a readiness which told me that he had been over the house before. In the kitchen, we came a palma-cook and housemaid, sitting close together and talking in frightened whispers.

They watched us apprehensively, and I stopped to reassure them, while Godfrey proceeded with his search. Then I heard him calling me. I found him in a kind of lumber room, standing before its single small window, his electric torch in his hand. Look here, he said, his voice quivering with excitement, and threw a circle of light on the jam of the window at the spot where the upper and lower sashes met. What is it? I asked, after a moment. I don't see anything wrong. You don't? You don't see that this house was to be entered tonight? Then what does this mean? With his fingernail, he turned up the end of a small insulated wire, and then I saw that the wire had been cut.

end of chapter ten chapter eleven of the mystery of the bull cabinet by burton egbert stevenson this librivox recording is in the public domain the burning eyes for an instant i did not grasp the full significance of that severed wire then i understood yes said godfrey dryly that romance of mine is looking up again somebody was preparing for quite an invasion of that house tonight. Somebody, of course, interested in that cabinet. He wasn't losing any time, I ventured. He knew he hadn't any to lose. When you put those wooden shutters up, you warned him that you suspected his game. He knew, if the alarm was on, it would ring when he cut the wire, but he also knew that the chances were 100 to 1 against the cut being discovered, or the alarm put in working order before tomorrow. Why can't we ambush him, I suggested, it. We might try, but it will be a mighty risky undertaking, Lester.

One risky undertaking is enough for tonight, I said, with a sigh, for my belief in the existence of the secret drawer, and the poison and all the rest of it had come back with a rush. I felt almost apologetic toward Godfrey, forever doubting him. We'd better wait and see if we survive the first one before we arrange for any more. All right, Godfrey laughed, but I'll fixed his break. He got out his penknife, loosened two or three of the staples, which held the wire in place, drew it out, scraped back the insulation, and twisted the ends tightly together. There he added, that's done. If the invader tamper's with the window again, he will set off the alarm, but I don't believe he'll touch it. I fancy he already knows

his little game is discovered. How would he know it, I demanded incredulously? If he is keeping an eye on this window, as he naturally would do, he has seen my light. Perhaps he's watching us now. I glanced at the dark square of the window with a little shiver. This business was getting on my nerves again, but Godfrey turned the way with a shrug of the shoulders. Now for the cabinet, he said, and led the way back upstairs. Rogers was still sitting dejectedly on the cot, and, looking at him more closely, I could see that he was white and shaken. His trouble, whatever its nature, plainly lay heavy on his mind. Have you anything to tell us this evening, Rogers, I asked kindly,

but he only shook his head. I've told you everything I know, sir, he answered in a low voice. I'm not going to worry you, Rogers, I went on, but I want you to think it over. You can rely upon me to help you, if I can. He looked up quickly, but caught himself, and turned his eyes away. Thank you, sir, was all he said. And now I added briskly,

I'll have to ask you to get up. Move the cot away from the door, Parks. Parks obeyed me with astonished face. You're not going in there, sir, he protested as I turned the knob. Yes, we are, I said, and opened the door. Is, is? No, sir, broke in Parks' understanding. The undertakers brought the coffin and put him in it,

and moved them over to the drawing-room this afternoon, sir. I'm glad of that. I want all the lights lit. Parks, just as they were last night. Parks reached inside the door and switched on the electrics. Then he went away, came back in a moment with a taper, and proceeded to light the gas lights. A moment later, the lights in the inner room were also blazing.

There you are, sir, said Parks, and retreated to the door. Will you need me? Not now, but wait in the hall outside. We may need you. I had a notion to tell him to have an axe handy, but I saw Godfrey smile. smiling. "'Very good, sir,' said Parks, evidently relieved, and went out and closed the door. I led the way into the inner room. "'Well, there it is,' I said, and nodded toward the bull cabinet, standing in the full glare

of the light, every inlay and incrustation, glittering like the eyes of a basilisk. "'It isn't too late to give it up, Godfrey.' "'Oh, yes, it is,' he said, coolly removing his coat. It was too late the moment you told me that story. Why, Lester, if I gave it up, I should never sleep again. And if you don't, you may never wake again, I pointed out. He laughed lightly. What a dismal prophet you are.

Drop a chair and watch me. He pulled back his shirt-sleeves and placed his electric torch on the floor beside the cabinet. Then he paused with folded arms to contemplate this masterpiece of Monsieur Boulle. It's a beauty, he said. said at last, and then drew out the little drawers, one after another, looked them over, and placed them carefully on a chair. Now he added, let us see if there's any space that isn't accounted for. He took from his pocket a folding rule of ivory, opened it, and began a series of measurements so searching and intricate that half an hour passed without a word being spoken.

Then he pulled up another chair and sat down beside me. I seemed to be pretty much up a against it, he said, no doubt, just as the designer of the cabinet would wish me to be. The whole bottom of the desk is enclosed, and those three little drawers take up only a small part of the space. Then the back of the cabinet seems to be double. At least there's a space of three inches I can't account for. So there's room for a dozen secret drawers, if Montespan required so many. And now define the combination. He adjusted the steel gauntlet carefully. He adjusted the steel gauntlet carefully to his right hand, and sat down on the floor before the cabinet. I'll begin at the bottom, he said, if there's any spot I miss, tell me of it.

He ran his fingers up and down the graceful legs, carefully feeling every inequality of the elaborate bronze ornamentation. Particularly did his fingers linger on every boss in point, striving to push it in or move it up or down, but they were all immovable. Then he He examined the bottom of the table minutely, using his torch to illumine every crevice, but again without result. Another half-hour passed so, and when at last he came out from under the table, his face was dripping with sweat. It's trying work, he said, sitting down again and mopping his face.

But isn't it a beauty, Lester? The more I look at it, the more wonderful it seems. I told Philip Vantyne I wasn't up to it, and I'm not, I said. nor i but i can appreciate it to the extent of my capacity it's the louis fourteenth ideal of beauty splendor carried to the nth degree look at the aberresques along the front can you imagine anything more graceful and the engraving nothing cut and dried about that it was done by a buron in the hands of a master perhaps by boole himself i don't wonder van tyne was rather mad about it but we haven't found that drawer yet and he drew his chair close to the cabinet i'd point out one thing to you godfrey i said if you go on poking about with the fingers of both hands as you've been doing you were just as apt to get struck on the left hand as on the right that's true he agreed stop me if i forget there were three little drawers in the front of the table and these godfrey had removed he inserted his hand into the space from which he had taken them and examined it carefully then inch by inch he ran his fingers over the bosses and aberrests with which the sides and top of the table were encrusted it seemed to me that if the secret drawer were anywhere it must be somewhere in this part of the cabinet

and i watched him with breathless interest once i thought he had found the drawer for a piece of inlay at the side of the table seemed to give a little under the pressure of his fingers but no hidden spring was touched no drawer sprang open no poisoned fangs descended well said gotfrey sitting back in his chair at last and wipe in his face again there's so much done if there is any secret drawer in the lower part of the cabinet it is mighty cleverly concealed now will try the upper part the upper part of the cabinet consisted of a series of drawers rising one above the other and terminated by a triangular pediment its tympanum ornamented with some beautiful little bronzes the drawers themselves were concealed by two doors opening in the center and covered with the most intricate design of aberrested incrustations if there is a second drawer here said godfrey it is somewhere in the back where there seems to be a hollow space but to discover the combination he ran his fingers over the inlay and then struck by a sudden thought tested each of the little figures along the tympanum but they were all set solidly in place there's one thing sure he said the combination whatever it is of such a nature that it could not be discovered accidentally by a person leaning on the cabinet for instance it isn't a question of merely touching a spring it is probably a question of releasing a series of levers which must be worked in a certain order or the drawer won't open i'm afraid we are up against it i can't pretend i'm sorry i said with a sigh of relief as far as i'm concerned i'm perfectly willing that the drawer should go undiscovered while i'm not retorted goffrey curtly and he sat regarding the cabinet with puckered brows then he rose and began tapping at the back

i don't know what it was for i was conscious of no noise but some mysterious attraction drew my eyes to the window at the farther side of the room near the top of the wooden shuttered which Parks and I had put in place was a small semi-circular opening to allow the passage of a little light, perhaps, and peering through this opening were two eyes, two burning eyes. They were fixed upon Godfrey, with such feverish intentness,

that they did not see my glance, and I lowered my head instantly. Godfrey, I said in a shaking voice, don't look up, don't move your head, but there is someone peering through the hole in the shutter opposite us. godfrey did not answer for quite a minute but kept calmly on with his examination of the cavity did he see you look at him he asked at last no he was looking at you with his eyes almost staring out of his head i never saw such eyes did you see anything of his face no the hole was too small i fancy i saw the fingers of one hand which he had thrust through to steady himself

how high is the hole near the top of the window godfrey came back to his chair a moment later sat down in it and passed his handkerchief slowly over his face then he leaned forward apparently to examine the legs of the cabinet i saw him he said or rather i saw his eyes rather fierce aren't they they're a tiger's eyes i said with conviction well there's no use going ahead with this while he's out there even if we found the drawer we'd both be dead an instant later you mean he'd kill us he would shoot us instantly imagine what a sensation that would make lester parks here's two pistol shots rushes in finds us lying here dead grady would have a convulsion and we should both be famous for a few days i'll seek fame in some other way i said dryly what are you going to do about it we've got to try to capture him and if we do well we shall have the fame all right but it's a good deal like trying to pick up a scorpion we're pretty sure to get hurt if that fellow out there is who i think he is he's about the most dangerous man on earth he went on tapping the surface of the cabinet as for me i would have given anything for another look at those gleaming eyes they seemed to be burning into me hot flashes were shooting up and down my back why can't i go out as though i were going after something i suggested then parks and i could charge around the corner and get him he wouldn't get him he'd get you you wouldn't have a chance on earth if there's a window upstairs over that one you might drop something out on him or borrow parks's pistol and shoot him that would be pretty cowardly wouldn't it i suggested mildly my dear lester godfrey protested when you attack a poisonous snake you don't do it with bare hands do you I couldn't help it. I glanced again at the window. He's gone, I cried.

Gottfrey was at the window in two steps. Look at that, he said, and then tell me he isn't a genius. I followed the direction of his pointing finger and saw that, just opposite the opening in the shutter, a little hole had been cut in the window pane. That fellow foresees everything, said Godfrey with enthusiasm. He probably cut that hole as soon as it was dark. he must have guessed we were going to examine the cabinet to-night and he wanted not only to see but to hear he heard everything we said lester let's go after him i cried and without waiting for an answer i sprang across the ante-room and snatched open the door which led into the hall parks and rogers were sitting on the couch just outside and i never saw two men more thoroughly frightened for god's sake mr lester gasped rogers and stopped his hand at his throat is it mr godfrey cried parks there's a man outside got your pistol parks yes sir and he took it from his pocket i snatched it from him opened the front door leaped the railing and stole along the house to the corner

then taking my courage in both hands i charged around it there was no one in sight but from somewhere near at hand came a burst of mocking laughter end of chapter eleven Chapter 12 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Godfrey is frightened. I was still staring about me, that mocking laughter in my ears, when Godfrey joined me. He got away, of course, he said coolly. Yes, and I heard him laugh, I cried. Godfrey looked at me quickly.

Come, Lester, he said soothingly. Don't let your nerves run away with you. it wasn't my nerves i protested a little hotly i heard it quite plainly he can't be far away too far for us to catch him godfrey retorted and torch in hand proceeded to examine the window-sill and the ground beneath it There is where he stood, he added, and the marks on the sill were evident enough. Of course he had his line of retreat blocked out, and he flashed his torch back and forth across the grass, but the turf was close so that no trace of footsteps was visible. We went slowly back to the house, and Godfrey sat down again to a contemplation of the cabinet. It's too much for me, he said at last.

The only way I can find that drawer I'm afraid is with an axe, but I don't want to smash the thing the pieces. I should say not. It would be like smashing the Venus de Milo. Hardly so bad as that. But we won't smash it yet a while. I'm going to look up the subject of secret drawers. Perhaps I'll stumble upon something that will help me.

And then, of course, I said disconsolently, it is quite possible that there isn't any such drawer at all. But Godfrey shook his head decidedly. I don't agree with you there, Lester. I'll wager that fellow who was looking in at us could find it in a minute. He seemed mighty frightened, least you should. He had reason to be, Godfrey rejoined grimly. I'll have another try at it tomorrow.

One thing we've got to take care of, and that is that our friend of the burning eyes doesn't get a chance at it first. Those shutters are pretty strong, I pointed out, and Parks is no fool. Yes, agreed Godfrey, the shutters are pretty strong. They might keep him out for ten. minutes, scarcely longer than that. As for Parks, he wouldn't last ten seconds. You don't seem to understand the extraordinary character of this fellow.

During your period of exaltation last night, I reminded him. You referred to him as the greatest criminal of modern times. Well, smiled Gottfried, perhaps that was a little exaggerated. Suppose we say one of the greatest, great enough, surely, to walk all around us, if we weren't on guard. I think I would better drop a word to Simmons, and get him to send down a couple of men to watch the house. With them outside and parks on the inside, it ought to be fairly safe.

I should think so, I said, one would imagine, you are getting ready to repel an army. Who is this fellow, anyway, Godfrey? You seem to be half afraid of him. I'm wholly afraid of him, if he's who I think he is. But it's a mere guess, as yet, Lester. Wait a day or two. I'll call up Simmons. He went to the phone while I sat down again and looked at the cabinet in a kind of stupefication.

What was the intrigue of which it seemed to be the center? Who was this man that Godfrey should consider him so formidable? Why should he have chosen Philip Van Tyn for a victim? Godfrey came back while I was still groping blindly amid this maze of mystery. It's all right, he said. Simmons is sending two of his best men to watch the house. He stood for a moment gazing down at the cabinet. I'm coming back tomorrow to have another try at it, he added.

I have left the gauntlet there on the chair, so if you feel like having a try yourself, Lester. Heaven forbid I protested, but perhaps I would better tell Parks to let you in. I hope I won't find you a corpse here, Godfrey. So do I, but I don't believe you will. Yes, tell Parks to let me in whenever I come around. and now about rogers what about him i rather thought i might want to grill him to-night but perhaps i would better wait till i get a little more to go on he paused for a moment's thought yes i'll wait he said finally i don't want to run any risk of failing

We went out into the hall together, and I told Parks to admit Gottfrey whenever he wished to enter. Rogers was still sitting on the cot, looking so crushed and sorrowful that I could not help pitying him. I began to think that, if he were left to himself a day or two longer, he would tell us all we wish to know without any grilling. I confided this idea to Godfrey as we went down the front steps. Perhaps you're right, he agreed. I don't believe the fellow is really crooked. Something has happened to him, something in connection with that woman, and he has never got over it. Well, we shall have to find out what it was.

Hello, here are Simmons men, he added, as two policemen stopped before the house. Is this Mr. Godfrey, one of them asked? Yes, said Godfrey. Mr. Simmons told us to report to you, sir, if you were here. What we want you to do, said Godfrey, is to watch the house, watch it from all sides, patrol clear around it, and see that no one. approaches it. Very well, sir, and the men touched their helmets, and one of them went around to the back of the

house, while the other remained in front. Perhaps if they concealed themselves, I suggested, the fellow might venture back and be nabbed. But Godfrey shook his head. I don't want him to venture back, he said. I want to scare him off. I want him to see we're thoroughly on guard. He hailed a passing cab and paused, with one foot on the step. I've already told you, Lester, he added, over his shoulder, that I'm afraid of him.

Perhaps you thought I was joking, but I wasn't. I was never more serious in my life. The record office, he added to the cabby, and jingled away, leaving me staring after him. As I turned homeward, I could not but ponder over this remarkable and mysterious being with whom Godfrey was so impressed. Never before had I known him to hesitate to match himself with any adversary. but now it seemed to me he shunned the contest or at least feared it feared that he might be outwitted and outplayed how great a compliment that was to the mysterious unknown only i could guess and then i shivered a little as i recalled that mocking and ironic laughter and i quickened my step with a glance over my shoulder for if godfrey was afraid how much more reason had i to be it was with a sense of relief of which i was a little ashamed that i reached my apartment at the marathon and locked the door

Just before I turned in for the night I heard from Godfrey again. For my telephone rang, and it was his voice that answered. I just wanted to tell you, Lester he said, that your guess was right. The mysterious Frenchman came over, unlaught to rain, landing at noon yesterday. He came in steerage, and the stewards know nothing about him. What time was it he got the Van Tynes? About two, I should say. So he probably went directly there from the boat, as you thought.

that accounts for nobody knowing him the steamship company is holding a bag belonging to him i'll get them to open it to-morrow and perhaps we shall find out who he was but godfrey i broke in how about this other fellow the man with the burning eyes he's getting on the nerves don't let him do that lester he laughed we're in no danger so long as we're not around that cabinet that's the storm center i can't tell you more than that good-night and he hung up without waiting for me to answer end of chapter twelve chapter thirteen of the mystery of the bull cabinet by burton egbert stevenson this lebravox recording is in the public domain a distinguished caller It was shortly after I reached the office next morning that the office boy came in and handed me a card with an awed and reverent air, so at variance with his usual demeanor that I glanced at the square of pasteboard in some astonishment. Then I confess an awed and reverent feeling crept over me also, for the card bore the name of Serino Hornblower.

That name is quite unknown outside the legal profession of the three great citizens. of the East, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. For Serino, Ornblower, has never held a public office, has never made a public speech, has never responded to a toast, has never served on a public committee, has never, so far as I know, conducted a case in court or addressed the jury. He has never, in a word, figured in the newspapers, in any way, and yet his income would make that of any other lawyer in the country look like third-year. For Serino Hornblower is the confidential attorney of most of our best families. He has held that position for years, and it has said that no case placed unreservedly in his

hands ever resulted in a public scandal. He accepts clients with great care. He has steadfastly refused the business of Pittsburgh millionaires, for enumerative, as it was certain to be. But he seems to take a sort of personal pride in keeping in detail. the reputation of the old families, even when their scions embark in the most outrageous escapades. If you are descended from the pilgrims or the batroons, Mr. Hornblower will ask no further

recommendation. His reputation for tact and delicacy is tremendous, and yet those who have found himself opposed to him have never been long in realizing that there was a most redoubtable mailed fist under the velvet glove. Altogether, a remarkable man. man whose memoirs would make absorbing reading, could he be persuaded to write them, which is quite beyond the bounds of possibility. I had never met him either professionally or personally, and it was with some eagerness that I told the office boy to show him in at once.

Serino Hornblower did not look the part. His reputation led one to expect a sort of cross between Uriah Heap and Sherlock Holmes, but there was nothing secretive, or insinuating about his appearance. He was a bluff and hearty man of middle age, rather heavy set, fresh-faced and clean-shaven, and with very bright blue eyes, evidently a man with a good digestion and a comfortable conscience. Had I met him on Broadway,

I should have taken him for a ripe and finished comedian. There was about him an air which somehow reminded me of Joseph Jefferson. Perhaps it was his bright blue eyes. It may have been this very very good. appearance of Bluff sincerity and honest downrightness which accounted for his success. We shook hands, and he sat down and plunged at once, without an instant's hesitation into the business which had brought him. Looking back at it, understanding, as I do now, the delicate nature of the business,

I admire more and more the bluff readiness, though the more I think of it, the more I am convinced that he had thought out definitely beforehand precisely what he was. was going to say. The man who can carry through a carefully premeditated scene with an air of complete unpremeditation has an immense advantage. Mr. Lester he began, I understand, that you are the administrator of the estate of the late Philip Van Pyn. Our firm is, I corrected, but you personally have been intending to his business? Yes. He was a collector of old furniture, I believe. Yes. and on his last trip to Europe, from which he returned only a few days ago, he purchased from Armand and son of Paris a bull cabinet.

I could not repress a start of astonishment. Are you acting for Armand's son, I queried? Not at all. I'm acting for a lady whom, for the present, we will call Madame X. The thought flashed through my mind that Madame X and the mysterious Frenchwoman might be one and the same person. Then I put aside the idea as absurd. Serino hornblower would never accept such a client.

Mr. Van Tyn did buy such a cabinet, I said. And it is in your possession. There is at his residence a bull cabinet which was shipped from Paris, but only a few hours before his death. Mr. Van Tine assured me that it was not the one he had purchased. You mean that a mistake has been made in the shipment? That is what we supposed, and a cablegram from our mom and son, has since confirmed it.

Mr. Hornbowr pondered this for a moment. Where is the cabinet, which Mr. Van Tynne did by, he asked at last? I have no idea. Perhaps it is still in Paris, but I am expecting the representative of Iramon's to call very soon to straighten things out. Again my companion fell silent and sat rubbing his chin absently. It is very strange, he said finally. If the cabinet was still at Paris, one would think it would have been discovered before my client

made inquiry about it. There are good many things which are strange about this whole manner, I supplemented. Would you have any objection to my client seeing this cabinet, Mr. Lester? It was my turn to hesitate. Mr. Hornblower, I said, finally, I will be frank with you. There's a certain mystery surrounding this cabinet which we have not been able to solve. I suppose you have read of the mysterious. deaths of Mr. Van Tyn and of an unknown Frenchman both in the same room at the

Van Tine House, and both apparently from the same cause? He nodded. Do you mean that this cabinet is connected with them in any way? He asked quickly. We believe so, though as yet we have been able to prove absolutely nothing, but we are guarding the cabinet very closely. I should not object to your client seeing it, but I could not permit her to touch it, not at least without knowing why she wished to do so you will remember that you have told me nothing of why she is interested in it i am quite ready to tell you the story mr lester he said it is only fair that i should do so after you have heard it if you agree we will take madame x to see the cabinet

Very well, I assented. He settled back in his chair, and his face became more grave. My client, he began, is a member of a prominent American family, a most prominent family. Three years ago, she married a French nobleman. You can perhaps guess her name, but I should prefer that neither of us utter it. I nodded my agreement. This nobleman has been both prodigal and unfaithful. He has scattered my client's fortune with both hands. He has flaunted his mistress's in her face. He has even tried to compel her to receive one of them. I am free to confess that I consider her a fool not to have left him long ago. At last her trustee interfered, for her father had been wise enough to place a portion

of her fortune in trust. They paid her husband's debts, placed them on an allowance, and notified his creditors that his debts would not be paid again. I had by this time, of course, guessed the name of his client, since these details had long been a matter of public notoriety, and I need hardly say listen to the story with a hyphen interest. The allowance is a princely one, Mr. Hornblower continued, but it does not suffice Monsieur X. No allowance would suffice him.

The more money he had, the more ways he would find of spending it. So he has become a thief. he has taken to selling the objects of art with which his residences are filled and which are really the property of my client since they were purchased with her money about two weeks ago my client returned to paris from a stay at her chateau in normandy to find that he had almost denuded the town-house tapestries pictures sculptors everything had been sold among other things which he has taken was a bull cabinet which had been used by my client has her private writing-desk. The cabinet was a most valuable one, but it is not its monetary value, which makes my client so anxious to recover it.

He paused an instant and cleared his throat, and I realized that he was coming to the really delicate part of the story. Monsieur X has had the decency. He went on more slowly, too, as he thought, retain his wife's private papers. He caused the contents of the various drawers to be dumped out upon a chair.

But there was one drawer of which he knew nothing, a secret drawer known only to my client. That drawer contained a packet of letters, which my client is most anxious to regain. Of their nature I will say nothing, indeed. I know very little about them, for, after all, that is none of my business. But she has given me to understand

that their recovery is essential to her peace of mind. I nodded again. There was really no need that he should say more. Only I reflected, a faithless husband has no reason to complain if his wife repays him in the same coin. My client went to work at once to regain the cabinet, continued Mr. Hornblower, plainly relieved that the thinnest ice had been crossed. She found that it had been sold to Armand's son. Hastening to their office, she learned that it had been resold by them to Mr. Van Tyn,

and sent forward to him here. So she came over on the first boat, ostensibly, to visit her family, but really to ask Mr. Van Tynes' permission to open the drawer and take out the letters. His death interfered with this, and in despair she came to me. I need hardly add that no member of her family knows anything about this matter, and it is especially important that her husband should never even suspect it. On her behalf, I apply to you, as Mr. Van Tyn's executor, to restore these letters. to their owner.

I sat for a moment, turning this extraordinary story over in my mind, and trying to make it fit in with the occurrences of the past two days, but it would not fit, at least, it would not fit with my theory as to the cause of these occurrences. For surely, Madame X. Would scarcely guard the secret of that drawer with poison. Does anyone besides your client know of the existence of these letters, I asked at last? I think not, answered Mr. Hornet.

borne blower, smiling dryly, they are not of a nature which my client would care to communicate to anyone. In fact, Mr. Lester, as you have doubtless suspected, they are compromising letters. We must get them back at any cost. As a matter of fact, I pointed out, there are always at least two people who know the existence of every letter, the person who writes it, and the person who receives it. I had thought of that, but the person who wrote these letters is dead. dead, I repeated.

He was killed in a duel some months ago, explained Mr. Hornblower gravely. By Monsieur X, I asked quickly. By Monsieur X, said Mr. Hornblower, and sat regarding me his lips pursed as an indication, perhaps, that he would say no more. But there was no necessity that he should. I knew enough of French law and of French habits of thought to realize that if those letters ever came into the possession of Monsieur X, The game would be entirely in his hands.

His wife would be absolutely at his mercy, and the thought flashed through my mind that perhaps in some way he had learned of the existence of the letters and was trying desperately to get them. That thought was enough to swing the balance in his wife's favor. I am sure I said that Mr. Van Tynne would instantly have consented to your client opening the drawer and taking out the letters, and, as his executor, I also consent,

for whoever may own the cabinet the letters are the property of madame x all this providing of course that this should prove to be the right cabinet but i must warn you mr hornblower that i believe two men have already been killed trying to open that drawer and I told him, while he sat there, staring in profound amazement of my theory in regard to the death of Philip Van Tynne and of the unknown Frenchman. I am inclined to think I concluded that Bantine blundered upon the drawer while examining the cabinet, but there is no doubt that the other man knew of the drawer, and also, presumably, of its contents. Well, exclaimed my companion, I have listened to many astonishing stories in my life, but never one equal to this, and you know nothing of this Frenchman?

Nothing except that he came from Harve on La Terrain last Thursday, and drove from the dock directly to Van Tynes' house. My client also came on La Terrain, but that, no doubt, was a mere coincidence. That may be, I agreed, but it is scarcely a coincidence that both he and your client were after the contents of that drawer. You mean? I mean that, the mysterious Frenchman, may very possibly be able to be able to be. have been an emissary of Monsieur X.

Madame may have betrayed the secret to him in an unguarded moment. Mr. Hornblower rose abruptly. He was evidently much disturbed. You may be right, he agreed. I will communicate with my client at once. I take it that she has your permission to see the cabinet, and if it proves to be the right one, that she may open the drawer and remove the letters.

If she cares to take the risk I assented, very well, I will call you as soon as, I have seen her, he said. In any event, I thank you for your courtesy, and he left the office. He must have driven straight to her family residence on the avenue, or perhaps she was awaiting him at his office. At any rate, he called me up inside the half-hour. My client would like to see the cabinet at once, he said. She is in a very nervous condition, especially since she has learned that someone else has tried to open the drawer. When will it be convenient for you to go with us.

I can go at once, I said. Then we will drive around for you. We should be there in fifteen or twenty minutes. Very well, I said, I'll be ready. I shall, of course, want to take a witness with me. That is quite proper, assented Mr. Hornblower. We can have no objection to that. In twenty minutes, then.

I got the record office as soon as I could, but Godfrey was not there. He did not come on, usually, someone said, until the middle of the afternoon. I rang his rooms, but there was no reply. Finally I called up the Van Tine House. Parks, I said. I am bringing up some people to look at that cabinet. It might be just as well to get that cot out of the way

and have all the lights going. The lights are already going, sir, he said. Already going? What do you mean? Mr. Godfrey has been here for quite a while, sir, fooling with that cabinet thing. He has. and then I reflected that I ought to have guessed his whereabouts. Tell him, Parks, that I am bringing some people up to see the cabinet,

and that I should like him to stay there and be a witness of the proceedings. Very well, sir, assented, Parks. Everything quiet? Oh, yes, sir. There was two policemen outside all night, and Rogers and me inside. Mr. Hornbowr's carriage is below, sir, announced the office boy, opening the door. All right, I said, we are coming. right up, Parks, goodbye, and I hung up and slipped into my coat.

Then as I took down my hat, the sudden thought struck me. If the unknown Frenchman was indeed an emissary of Monsieur X, madame might be acquainted with him. It was a long shot, but worth trying. I stepped to my desk, took out the photograph, which Godfrey had given me, and slipped it into my pocket. Then I hurried out to the elevator. End of Chapter 13.

Chapter 14 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. The Veiled Lady There were three persons in the carriage, Mr. Hornblower, sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat. Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled. But there was about them the indefinable distinction of Mistress and made. It would be difficult to tell precisely in what the distinction consisted, but it was there.

Mr. Hornblower glanced behind me as I entered. You spoke of a witness, he said. He is at the Van Tyn House, I explained, sat down beside him. This is Mr. Lester, he said, and the veiled lady opposite him, whom I had known at once to be the mistress, inclined her head a little. Those were the only words spoken. The carriage rolled out to Broadway and then turned northward, making such progress as was possible along that crowded thoroughfare.

I glanced from time to time at the women opposite, and was struck by the contrast in their behavior. One sat quite still, her hands in her lap, her head bent, admirably self-contained. The other was restless and uneasy, unable to control the nervous twitching of the fingers.

I wondered why the maid should seem more upset than her mistress, and decided finally that her uneasiness was merely lack of breeding. But the contrast interested me. At Tenth Street, the carriage turned westward again, skirting Washington Square, turned into the avenue, and stopped before the van-tying house. Mr. Hornblower assisted the women to a light, and I led the way up the steps. but as we reached the top and came upon the funeral wreath on the door, the veiled ladies stopped with a little exclamation. I did not know, she said quickly, perhaps after all, we would better wait, I did not realize.

There are no relatives to be hurt, madame, I interrupted. As for the dead man, what can it matter to him? And I rang the bell. Parks opened the door, and, nodding to him, I led the way along the hall into the ante-room. Godfrey was awaiting us there, and I saw the flame of interest which leaped into his eyes as Mr. Hornblower and the two veiled women entered. This is my witness, I said to the former, Mr. Godfrey, Mr. Hornblower.

Godfrey bowed, and Hornblower regarded him with a good-humored smile. If I were not sure of Mr. Godfrey's discretion, he said, I should object, but I have tested it before this and know that it can be relied upon. there is only one person to whom i yield precedence in the matter of discretion rejoined godfrey smiling back at him and that is mr hornblower he is in a class quite by himself thank you said the lawyer and bowed gravely during this interchange of compliments the woman i had decided was the maid had sat down as though her legs were unable to sustain her and was nervously clasping and unclasping her hands even her mistress showed signs of impatience the cabinet is in here i said and led the way into the inner room the two men and the veiled lady at my heels it stood in the middle of the floor just as it had stood since the night of the tragedy and all the lights were going as i entered i noticed godfrey's gauntlet lying on a chair is it the right one madame i asked she gazed at it a moment her hands pressed against her breast yes she answered with a gasp that was almost a sob i confess i was astonished i had never thought it could be the right one even now i did not see how it could possibly be the right one you are sure i queried incredulously do you think i could be mistaken in such a matter sir i assure you that this cabinet at one time belonged to me

you permit me she added and took a step toward it one moment madame i interposed i must warn you that in touching that cabinet you are running a great risk a great risk she echoed looking at me a very great risk as i have pointed out to mr hornblower i have reason to believe that two men met death while trying to open that secret drawer i believe mr hornblower did tell me something of the sort she murmured but of course that is all a mistake then the drawer is not guarded by poison i questioned by poison she repeated blankly and carried her handkerchief to her lips i do not understand i knew that my theory was collapsing utterly hopelessly i dared not look at godfrey is there not connected with the drawer i asked a mechanism which as the drawer is opened plunges two poison fangs into the hand which opens it no mr lester she answered astonishment in her voice I assure you there's no such mechanism. I clutched at a last straw, and a sorry one it was. The mechanism may have been placed there since the cabinet passed from your possession, I suggested.

That is perhaps possible, she agreed, though I saw that she was unconvinced. At any rate, madame, I said, I would ask that, in opening the drawer, you wear this gauntlet, and I picked up Gottfried's gauntlet from the chair on which it lay. It is needless that you should take any risk, however slight. Permit me, and I slipped the gauntlet over her right hand. As I did so I glanced at Godfrey. He was staring at the veiled lady with such a look of stupefaction that I nearly choked with delight.

It had not often been my luck to see Jim Godfrey mystified, and he was certainly mystified now. The veiled lady regarded the steel glove with a little laugh. I am now free to open the drawer, she asked. Yes, madame. She moved toward the cabinet, Godfrey and I, close behind her. At last, the secret which had defied us was to be revealed, and with its revelation would come the end of the picturesque and romantic theory

we had been building up so laboriously. Instinctively I glanced toward the shuttered window, but the semicircle of light was unobstured. The veiled lady bent above the table and disposed the fingers of her right hand, to fit the metal inlay, midway of the left side. It's a little awkward, she said. I've always been accustomed to using the left hand. You will notice that I am pressing on three points.

But to open the drawer, one must press these points in a certain order. First this one, then this one, and then this one. There was a sharp click, and at the side of the table, a piece of the metal inlay fell forward. That is the handle, said the veil. old lady, and without an instant's hesitation, while my heart stood still, she grasped it and drew out a shallow drawer. Ah, and casting aside the ridiculous gauntlet, she caught up the packet of papers which lay

within. Then, with an effort, she controlled herself, slipped off the ribbon, which held the packet together, and spread out before my eyes ten or twelve envelopes. You will see that they are only letters, Mr. Lester, she said in a low voice, and I assure you that they belong to me i believe you madame i said and with a sigh of relief that was almost a sob she rebounded the packet and slipped it into the bosom of her gown there's one thing i added which madame can perhaps do for me i shall be most happy she breathed as i have told mr hornblower i continued two men died in this room the day before yesterday or rather it was in the room beyond that they died but we believe it was here that they received the wounds which caused death it seems that we were wrong in this undoubtedly she agreed there has never been any such weird mechanism as you described connected with that drawer mr lester at least not since i've had it there is a legend you know that the cabinet was made from madame de montespan she was talking more freely now evidently a great load had been lifted from her perhaps i did not guess how great

mr van tine suspected as much i said he was a connoisseur of furniture and there was something about this cabinet which told him it had belonged to the montespan he was examining it at the time he died what the other man was doing we do not know but if we could identify him it might help us you have not identified him we know nothing whatever about him except that he was presumably a frenchman and that he arrived on la terrains two days ago that is the boat upon which i came over it has occurred to me madame that you may have seen him that he may even be known to you what was his name the card he sent in to mr Van Tyn bore the name of Theophil Diorrel. She shook her head. I have never before heard that name, Mr. Lester. We believe it to have been an assumed name, I said, but perhaps you'll recognize this photograph,

and I drew it from my pocket and handed it to her. She took it, looked at it, and again shook her head. Then she looked at it again, turning aside and raising her veil in order to see it better. There seems to be something familiar about the face she, said at last, as though I might have seen the man somewhere. On the boat, perhaps, I suggested, but I knew very well. It was not on the boat, since the man had crossed in steerage.

No, it was not on the boat. I did not leave my stateroom on the boat, but I am quite sure that I have seen him, and yet I can't say where. Perhaps I said in a low voice he may have been one of the friends of your husband. I saw her hand tremble under the blow, but I was a little of the blow. but it had to be struck, and she was brave. The same thought occurred to me, Mr. Lester, she answered, but I know very few of my husband's friends. Certainly not this one.

And yet, perhaps my maid can help us. Photograph in hand, she stepped through the doorway into the outer room. The maid was sitting on the chair where we had left her. Her hands clenched tightly together in her lap, as though it was only by some violent effort she could maintain her self-control. Julie, said the veiled lady in rapid French, I half hear the photograph of a man who was killed in this room most mysteriously a few days ago.

These gentlemen wished to identify him. The face seems to me somehow familiar, but I cannot place it, look at it. Julie put forth a shaking hand, took the photograph and glanced at it. Then, with a long sigh, slid limply to the floor before either Godfrey or eye could catch her.

As she fell her veil, catching on the chair back, was torn away, and, looking down at her, a great emotion burst within me, for I recognized a mysterious woman whose photograph, Dear Rell, had carried in his watch-case. End of Chapter 14. Chapter 15 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libre Vox recording is in the public domain. The Secret of the Unknown Frenchman. For a moment I stood spellbound, staring down at that jaded and passion-stained countenance.

Then Godfrey sprang forward and lifted the unconscious woman to the couch. Bring some water, he said, and as he turned and looked at me, I saw that his face was glowing with excitement. I rushed to the door and snatched it open. Rogers was standing in the hall outside, and I sent him hurrying for the water. and turned back into the room. Godfrey was chafing the girl's hands, and the veiled lady was bending over her, fumbling at the hooks of her bodice. Evidently she could not see them, for, with a sudden movement, she put back her veil. My heart warmed to her at that act of

sacrifice, and after a single glance at her, I turned away my eyes. I saw Godfrey's start of recognition as he looked down at her, then he too looked aside. He's the water, sir, said Rogers, and handed me glass and pitcher. The next instant his eyes fell upon the woman on the couch. He stood staring, his face turning slowly purple, then clutching at his throat, he half turned and fell, just as I had seen him do once before. Hornblower, who were staring at the unconscious woman and mopping his face feverishly, spun around at the crash.

Well, I'll be damned, he said, in a hoarse voice, as he saw Rogers extended on the floor at his feet. What's the matter with his house anyway? So great was the tension on my nerves that I could scarcely restrain a shout of laughter. I turned it into a shout for Parks, but his face, when he appeared on the threshold, was too much for me,

and I sank into a chair laughing hysterically. For God's sakes, Parks began. It's all right, Godfrey broke in sharply. Rogers has had another fit, get the ammonia park staggered away and mr hornblower sat down weakly i don't see the joke he growled glaring at me his face crimson get a grip of yourself lester said godfrey savagely seized the pitcher from my hand and hurried with it to madame i did get a grip on myself and when parks came back a moment later with the ammonia was able to hold up rogers's head while parks applied the file to his nostrils give me a whiff of it to parks i said unsteadily and in an instant my eyes were streaming but i had escaped hysteria straightened rogers out and let him lie there i gasped and sat dizzily down on the floor but i dared not look at hornblower i felt that another glance at his dazed countenance would send me off again madame meanwhile had dashed some water into the face of the unconscious julie much to the detriment of her complexion

watched her a moment then stood erect and lowered her veil she will soon be all right again she said and truly enough at the end of a few seconds the girl opened her eyes and looked dazedly about her then a violent trembling seized her what is it julie asked her mistress taking her hand you knew this man a hoarse sob was the only answer you must tell me when on madame quietly but firmly perhaps a crime has been committed you must tell me everything you may rely upon the discretion of these gentlemen you knew this man the girl nodded and closed her eyes put the hot tears brimmed from them and ran down over her cheeks in paris the girl nodded again he was your lover a third nod and a fresh flood of tears i remember now said madame suddenly i saw him with her once what was he doing in this house she went on more sternly tell us madame will never forgive me sobbed the girl and i began to think that she was more concerned for herself than for her lover the same thought occurred to her mistress too no doubt for her voice hardened try me she said understand well you must tell if not here than before an officer of the police oh no no screamed julie sitting suddenly erect never that i could not bear that madame would not be so cruel tell us now said the veiled lady inexorably very well madame cried the girl dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief and speaking in a mixture of french and english which i shall not attempt to transcribe i will tell i will tell everything after all i was not to blame it was that creature i did not love him but i feared him he possessed a power over me he could make me do anything he even beat me and i still went back to him

what was his name asked the veiled lady george d'urier he lived in the rue de la huachette just off rue st jacques on the top floor under the gutters he was bad bad he lived off women i met him six months ago he knew how to fascinate one i thought he loved me then he began to borrow money from me until he had taken all that i had saved then my rings every one she held up her hands to show their bareness then she stopped and glanced at her mistress continue said the latter tell what you have to tell i knew that madame also she stopped again i walked over to the window and stood staring at the wooden shutter strangely moved well why not she demanded fiercely and i felt that she was addressing my turn back why not shall a woman not be loved shall a woman endure what madame endured that will do julie broke in the veiled lady her voice cold as ice tell your story i knew of the secret drawer i had seen madame open it and i knew what it contained but i was faithful to madame i loved her i was glad that she had found some one madame will remember her despair her horror when she entered her room to find the cabinet gone taken away sold by that i who too was in despair i desired with my whole soul to help madame that night i had a rendezvous with him and she nodded toward the photograph which lay upon the floor i told him her mistress stood as though turned to stone i could guess her anguish and humiliation he questioned me he learned everything the drawer how it was opened all but i did not suspect what was in his mind

not for an instance did i suspect but on the boat i saw him and then i knew well he has got what he deserved she shivered and pressed her hands against her eyes i think that is all madame she added hoarsely it is all of that story said godfrey in a crisp voice but there's another another echoed the veiled lady looking at him ask her madame for what purpose she called at this house night before last and saw philip van tyne in this room and saw philip van tine in this room room. I did not shriek the girl, her face ablaze. It is a lie. She does not need to tell when on Gondfrey inexorably. Any fool could guess. She came for the letters. She had resolved herself to blackmail you, madame. It's a lie, shrieked the girl again. I came hoping to save her, too. A storm of angry sobbing choked her. I could see how the veiled lady was trembling. I placed the chair for her, and she sank into it with a murmur of them. thanks besides we have a witness to her visit added godfrey shall i call the police madame no no and the girl sat upright again her face ghastly i will tell i will tell all give me but a moment

she sat there struggling for self-control her streaked and grotesque countenance contorted with emotion then i saw her eyes widened and glancing around i saw that rogers had dragged himself to a sitting posture and was steadier and was still in her eyes widened and glancing around i saw that rogers had dragged himself to a sitting posture and was stead in a staring at her, his face livid. The sight of him seemed to madden her. It was you, she shrieked, and shook her clenched fist at him. It was you who told, coward, coward. But Godfrey, his face very grim, laid a heavy hand upon her arm. Be still, he cried. He told us nothing. He tried to shield you, though why he should wish to do so. Rogers broke in, with a hallow and ghastly laugh. It was natural enough, sir, he said hoarsely. she's my wife. End of chapter 15.

Chapter 16 of the mystery of the bull cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Philip Van Tyn's caller. It was a soared story that Rogers gasped out to us, and, as it concerns this tale only incidentally, I shall pass over it as briefly as may be. Eight or ten years before, the fair Julie, at least she was fairer then than now, had come to New York to enter the employ of the family whose mistress had decided that life without a French maid was unendurable. Rogers had met her, had been fascinated by her black eyes and red lips, had, in the end, proposed honorable marriage, quite unnecessarily, no doubt, had been accepted, and for some months.

had led an eventful existence as the husband of the siren. Then one morning he awakened to find her gone. He had, of course, entrusted his savings to her that had been one of the conditions of the marriage, and the savings were gone also. Julie, it seems, had been overcome with longing for the Paris asphalt. No doubt, too, she had found herself on weed by the lack of romance in married life with Rogers,

and she had flown back to France. Rogers had thought of following, but appalled at the difficulty of finding her in Paris, not knowing what he should do if he did find her, he had finally given it up and had settled gloomily down to live upon his memories. Some sort of affection for her had kept alive within him, and when he opened the door of the Van Tynes' house

and found her standing on the steps he was as wax in her hands. Julie had listened to all this indifferently, even disdainfully, without denying anything, nor seeking to excuse herself. Perhaps the idea that she needed excuse did not occur to her, and when the story was finished, she was quite herself again, even a little proud, I think, of holding the center of the stage in the role of siren.

It was almost a rejuvenation. in essence, and there was gratitude in the gaze she turned on Rogers. "'This is all true, I suppose,' asked the veiled lady. "'All quite true, madame,' answered Julie with a shrug. "'I was younger then, and the love of excitement was too strong for me. I am older now, and have more sense. Besides, I am no longer sought after as I was. And so,' said madame, with irony,

you are now, no doubt, willing to return to your husband. I have been considering it, madame, replied Julie, with astounding simplicity, ever since I saw him here the other evening, and learned that he still cared for me, one must have a harbor in one's old age. I glanced at Rogers and was astonished to see that he was regarding the woman with affectionate admiration. Evidently the harbor was waiting, should Julie choose to anchor there. i have hesitated she added only because of madame where would madame get another maid such as i no one but i can arrange your hair no one but i can prepare her bath we will discuss it said the veiled lady when we are alone and now perhaps you will be so good as to tell us of your previous visit here very well madame and julie settled into a more comfortable posture

it was one day on the boat as i was looking down at the passengers of the third class that i perceived george monsieur du re strolling about i was bulver what you call upset with amazement and then he looked up and our eyes met and he came beneath me and commanded that i meet him that evening it was then that i learned his plan it was to secure those letters for himself and to dispose of them to whom asked godfrey to the person to the person that would pay the greatest price for them most certainly answered julie surprised that it should have been thought necessary to ask such a question they were to be offered first to madame at ten thousand francs each should she refuse they were then to be offered to monsieur le duc he would surely desire to possess them the veiled lady shivered a little and her hand instinctively sought her bosom to assure herself that the precious packet was safe that night continued julie in my cabin i tossed and tossed trying to discover a way to prevent this for i had seen long since that m durray no longer cared for me i knew that it was upon some other woman that money would be spent i decided that at the first moment i would hasten to this house i would explain the matter to monsieur van tine i would persuade him to restore to me the letters with which i would fly to madame i knew also that i could rely on her gratitude added the girl after all one must provide for oneself she paused and glanced around the room smiling at the interest in our faces you have at least one virtue that of frankness said the veiled lady continue it was not until evening that i found an opportunity to leave madame julie went on i hastened here i rang the bell but i confess i should have failed i should not have secured an entrance if it had not been that it was my husband who opened the door to me

even after i was inside the door he refused to permit me to see his master but as we were debating together when sir van tine himself came into the hall and i ran to him and begged that he hear me. It was then that he invited me to enter this room. She paused again, and a little shiver of expectancy ran through me. At last we were to learn how Philip Van Tyn had met his death. I sat down, continued Julie. I told him the story from the very beginning. He listened with much interest.

But when I proposed that he should restore to me the letters, he hesitated. He walked up and down the room. trying to decide, then he took me through that door into the room beyond. The cabinet was standing in the center of the floor, and all the lights were blazing. Is that the cabinet, he asked me, and when I said that most assuredly it was, he seemed surprised. It is an easy thing to prove, I said, and I went to the cabinet, and pressed on the three springs, as I had seen Madame do. The little handle at the side fell out, but suddenly he stopped me. yes it is the cabinet he said i see that and no doubt the drawer contains the letters as you say but those letters do not belong to you they belong to your mistress i cannot permit you to take them away for after all i do not know you you may intend to make some bad use of them

i protested that such a suspicion was most unjust that my character was of the best that i was devoted to my mistress and desired to protect her he listened but he was not convinced in the end he brought me back into this room i could have cried with rage return to your mistress he said and inform her that i shall be most happy to return the letters to her but it must be in her own hands that i place them the letters are here whenever it pleases her to claim them i saw that it was of no use to argue further he was of adamant so i left the house he himself opening the door for me and that is all i know madame there was a moment's silence then i heard gotfrey draw deep breath I could see that, like myself, he was convinced that the girl was telling the truth. Of course he suggested gently. As soon as you reached home, you related to your mistress what had occurred. Julie grew a little crimson. No, monsieur, she said, I told her nothing.

I should have thought you would have wished to prove your devotion when on Godfrey, in his sweetest tone. I feared that, without the letters, she would misunderstand my motives, said Julie sullenly. And then, of course, without the letters, there would be no reward, Godfrey supplemented. Julie did not reply, but she looked very uncomfortable. The veiled lady rose. Have you any further questions to ask her, she said? No, madame, said Godfrey. The story is complete.

Julie resumed her veil, shooting at Godfrey a glance, anything but friendly. The veiled lady turned to me and held out her hand. I thank you, Mr. Lester, for your kindness, she said. come, Julie, and she moved toward the door, which Rogers hastened to open. Mr. Hornblower nodded, and passed out after them, and Godfrey and I were left alone together. We both sat down, and for a moment neither of us spoke. Well, said Godfrey at last, well, what a story it would make, and I can't use it. It's a bitter reflection, Lester.

It would certainly shake the pillars of society, I agreed. I'm rather shaken myself. So am I. I was all at sea for a while. I was dumb with astonishment when I heard you and that veiled lady talking about the secret drawer. I could see you laughing at me. I don't know the whole story yet. How did she happen to come to you? I told him of Hornblower's visit, of the story he told me, and of the arrangement we had made. Godfrey nodded thoughtfully when I had finished. The story is straight, of course, he said, Hornblower, would be a story. not be engaged in anything tricky. Besides, I recognize the lady, I suppose you did, too. Yes, I have seen pictures of her, and I admired her for putting back her veil. So did I. She has changed since the day of her wedding, Lester. She was a smooth-faced girl then. Three years of life with her Duke had left their mark on her. He fell silent, staring thoughtfully at the carpet. Then he shook himself, and the maid's story was most interesting.

he added, nevertheless, there are still a number of things which are not quite clear to me. There's one thing I don't understand myself, I said. I hadn't any idea this was the right cabinet. I didn't see how it could be. That's it exactly. How did it happen when the veiled lady went around to Armand's son in Paris, that she was directed to Philip Van Tyn. According to his own story, he did not purchase this cabinet. He had never seen it before. it was presumably shipped him by mistake. Armand and son cabled you that it was a mistake, and yet they cite Van Tine as the purchaser. There is something twisted somewhere, Lester. Just where I'll try to find out. Which reminds me that Armand's representative hasn't been around yet.

No doubt he can straighten the matter out. It won't do any harm to hear his story anyway, Godfrey agreed. Now, let us have a look at that drawer. It was still. It was still. It was standing open as we had left it, and Godfrey pushed it back into place, called my attention to the cunning way, in which its outline was concealed by the inlay about it. Then he worked the spring, the handle fell into place, and he drew the drawer out again as far as it would come, and examined it carefully. The fellow who devised that was a genius, he said, admiringly, pushing it back into place. I wonder what its contents have been from the days of Madame de the span down to the present. Love letters mostly, I suppose, since they are the things which

need concealment most. Don't you wish this drawer could tell its secrets, Lester? There is one I wish it would tell if it knows it, I said. I wish it would tell who killed Philip Van Tyn. I suppose you will agree with me that our pretty theory has got a knockout blow this time. It looks that way, doesn't it? There's no poisoned mechanism about that drawer that sure, I added. No, it never has been, Godfrey agreed. And that leaves us all at sea, doesn't it? It leaves the whole affair more mysterious than ever. I can't understand it, and I sat down in my bewilderment and rubbed my head. I really felt for an instant as though I had gone mentally blind. There's one thing, sure, I added, the killing whatever its cause was

done out there in the ante-room, not in here. What makes you think that? We believe that, we believe that Dore came here to get Vantyne's permission to open this drawer and get the letters, no doubt representing himself as the agent of their owner. I think it's a pretty good guess, said Godfrey pensively. Our theory was that, after being shown into the ante-room, he discovered the cabinet, tried to open the drawer, and was killed in the attempt. But it is evident enough now that there is nothing about that drawer to hurt anyone. Yes, that's evident, I think, Godfrey agreed. If he had opened the drawer then, he would have taken the letters since there was nothing to prevent him. Since they were not taken, it follows, doesn't it, that he was killed

before he had a chance at the drawer. Perhaps he never saw the cabinet. He must have been killed out there in the ante-room a few minutes after Parks left. And how about Van Tine, Godfrey asked. I don't know, I said helplessly. He didn't want the letters. If he opened the drawer at all, it was merely out of curiosity to see how it worked. Only, of course, the same agency that killed Durey killed him. Yes, and now that I think of it, it's certain he didn't open the drawer either. How do you know it's certain? If he had opened the drawer, I pointed out, and had been killed in the act of opening it, it would have been found open. I thought that perhaps it closed of itself, but you see it does not. You have to push it shut, and then snap the handle up into place.

that's true godfrey assented and it sounds pretty conclusive if it is true of van tine it is also true of dray the inference is then that neither of them opened the drawer well what follows i don't know i said helplessly nothing seems to follow there is an alternative godfrey suggested what is it i demanded the hand that killed the ray and van tine may also have closed the drawer said godfrey and looked at me and left the letters in it i questioned surely not he glanced at the shuttered window and i understood to whom he thought that hand belonged besides i protested how would he get in how would he get away what was he after if he left the letters behind then i rose wearily i must be getting back to the office i said this is saturday and we close at two are you coming no he answered if you don't mind i'll sit here a while longer and think things over, Lester, perhaps I'll blunder onto the truth yet. End of Chapter 16. Chapter 17 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain.

Enter Monsieur Armand. I got back to the office to find that Monsieur Félex Armand of Armand at Phil's had called and found and, finding me out, had left his card with a penciled memorandum that he would call again Monday morning. There was another caller who had awaited my return, a tall angular man with a long mustache who introduced himself as Simon W. Morgan of Osage City, Iowa. Poor Philip Van Tyn's nearest living relatives, sir, he added, I came as soon as possible. It was very good of you, I said.

The funeral will be at ten o'clock tomorrow morning from the house. You had a telegram from me? Yes, I answered. He hitched about in his chair uneasily for a moment. I knew what he wanted to say, but saw no reason to help him. He left the will, I suppose, he asked at last. Oh, yes, we have arranged to probate it Monday. You can examine it then, if you wish.

Have you examined it? i am familiar with its provisions it was drawn here in the office he was pulling furiously at his mustache cousin philip was a very wealthy man i understand he managed to say comparatively wealthy he had securities worth about a million and a quarter besides a number of pieces of real property and of course the house he lived in he owned a very valuable collection of art objects pictures furniture tapestries and such as a number of pieces of real property and of course the house he lived in he owned a very valuable collection of art objects pictures furniture tapestries and such things but what they are worth will probably never be known why not he asked because he left them all to the metropolitan museum of art outside of a few legacies to old servants he left his whole fortune to the same institution i had put it rather brutally no doubt but i was anxious to end the interview mr morgan's face grew very red he did he ejaculated ha well i have heard that he was rather crazy he was as sane as any man i ever knew i retorted dryly and then i remembered the doubts which had assailed me that last day when van tyne was fingering the bull cabinet but i kept those doubts to myself ah we'll have to see about that said my visitor threateningly by all means mr morgan i assented heartily if you have any doubt about it you should certainly look into it and now if you'll pardon me i have many things to do as we close early to-day he got to his feet and went slowly out and that was the last i ever saw of him i suppose he consulted an attorney learned the hopeless nature of his case and took the first train back to o's side

city. He did not even wait for the funeral. Few people indeed put themselves out for it. There was a sprinkling of old family friends, representatives of the museum, and of various charities in which Van Tyn had been interested. A few friends of his own, and that was all. He had dropped out of the world with scarcely a ripple. Of all, who had known him, I dare say, Parks felt his departure most. For Van Tine had been, in a sense, a solitary man, not many men nodded oftener during a walk up the avenue, and yet not many dined oftener alone, for there was about him a certain self-detachment which discouraged intimacy. He was a man, like many another, with acquaintances in every country

on the globe and friends and none. All this I thought over a little sadly as I sat at home that night, and not without some self-questioning as to my own place in the world. Most of us, I think, are a little saddened when we realize our unimportance. Most of us, no doubt, would be a little shocked. Could we return a day or two after our death, and see how merrily the world wags on? I would be missed. I knew scarcely more than Van Tide. It was not a pleasant thought, for it seemed to argue some deficiency in myself. then too the mystery of antyne's death had a depressing effect upon me so long as there seemed some theory to build on so long as there was a ray of light ahead i had hoped that the tragedy would be explained and expiated but now my theory had crumbled the pieces i was left in utter darkness from which there seemed no way out never before in the face of any mystery had i felt so blind and helpless and the feeling took such a grip upon me that it kept me awake for a long time after i got to bed

it seemed in some mysterious way that i was contenting with a power greater than myself a power threatening and awful which could crush me with a twist of the wrist van tine's will was probated next morning he had directed that his collection of art objects be removed to the museum and that the house and such portions of its content as the museum did not care for be sold for the museum's benefit i had already notified sir caspar prudone clark of the terms of the will and the museum's attorney was present when it was read he stated that he had been requested to ask me to remain in charge of things for a week or two until arrangements for the removal could be made it would also be necessary to make an inventory of van tines collection and the assistant director of the museum was to get this under way at once i acquiesced in all these arrangements but i was feeling decidedly blue when i started back to the office van tine's collection had always seemed to me somehow a part of himself more especially a part of the house in which it had been assembled it would lose much of its beauty and significance ticketed and arranged stiffly along the walls of a museum and then the thought came to me that it would be a splendid thing for new york if this old house and its contents could be kept intact as an object lesson to the nervous and hurrying younger generation of the easier and more finished manner of life of the older one.

Something after the fashion of that beautiful old, Planting Mortus Mansion in Antwerp, is a rebuke to those present-day publishers who reckon literature a commodity along with soap and cheese. That, of course, it would be impossible to do. the last barrier to the commercial invasion of the avenue would be removed that heroic rear guard of the old order of things would be destroyed in a year or two a monster of steel and stone would rise on the spot where three generations of van tines had lived their lives and the collection so unified and coherent to which the last van tine had devoted his life would be merged and lost in the vast collection of the museum it was a say at ending gentlemen to see you said the office boy as i sat down at my desk and a moment later m felix armand was shown into me i have only to close my eyes to call again before me that striking personality for felix armand was one of the most extraordinary men i ever had the pleasure of meeting ruddy-faced bright-eyed with a dark full beard and waving hair almost yet black hair that crinkled about his ears in a way that i can describe by no other words than fascinating he gave the impression of tremendous strength and virility there was about him too an air of culture not to be mistaken

the air of a man who had travelled much seen much mixed with many people high and low the air of a man at home anywhere in any society it was impossible for me by mere words to convey an adequate idea of his vivid personality but i confess that from the first moment i was both impressed and charmed by him and i am still impressed more perhaps than at first now that i know the whole story but you shall hear i speak english very badly he said as he sat down if you speak french not half so well as you speak english i laughed i can tell that from your first sentence in that event i will do the best i can he said smiling and you must pardon my blunders first mr lester on behalf of armand at phil's i must ask your pardon for this mistake so inexcusable it was a mistake then i asked one most embarrassing to us we cannot find for it an explanation believe me mr lester it is not our habit to make mistakes we have a reputation of which we are very proud but the cabinet which was purchased by mr van tyne remained in our warehouse and this other one was boxed and shipped to him we are investigating most rigidly then mr van tine's cabinet is still in paris no mr lester the air was discovered some days ago and the cabinet belonging to mr van tine was shipped to me here it should arrive next wednesday on la provence i shall myself receive it and deliver it to mr van tine mr van tine is dead i said you did not know he sat staring at me for a moment as though unable to comprehend did i understand that you said mr van tine is dead he said-and-tine is dead he sat staring at me for a moment as though unable to comprehend

did i understand that you said mr van tyne is dead he stammered i told him briefly as much as i knew of the tragedy while he sat regarding me with an air of stupefaction it is curious you saw nothing of it in the papers i added they were full of it i have been visiting friends in quebec he explained it was there that the message from our house found me commanding me to hasten here i started at once and reached this city saturday i drove here directly from the station but was so unfortunate as to miss you i am sorry to have caused you so much trouble i said but my dear mr lester he protested it is for us to take trouble a blunder of this sort we feel has a disgrace my father who is of the old school is most upset concerning it but this death of mr van tyne it is a great blow to me i have met him many times he was a real connoisseur and we have lost one of our most valued patrons you say that he was found dead in a room at his house yes and death resulted from a small wound on the house yes and death resulted from a small wound on the hand into which some very powerful poison had been injected that is most curious in what manner was such a wound made that we don't know i had a theory yes he questioned his eyes gleaming with interest a few hours previously another man had been found in the same room killed in the same way another man a stranger who had been found in the same room killed in the same way another man a stranger who had been found in the same room killed in the same way another man a stranger who had called to see mr van tyne my theory was that both this stranger and mr van tine had been killed while trying to open a secret drawer in the bull cabinet

do you know anything of the history of that cabinet monsieur armand we believe it to have been made for madame de montespan by monsieur bull himself he answered it is the original of one now in the lou which is known to have belonged to the grand Louis. That was Mr. Van Tyn's belief, I said. Why he should have arrived at that conclusion I do not know. Mr. Van Tine was a connoisseur, said Monsieur Amman quietly. There are certain indications which no connoisseur could mistake. It was his guess at the history of the cabinet, I explained, which gave me the basis for my theory. A cabinet belonging to Madame de Montespan would, of course, have a secret drawer. and since it was made in the days of the brinvilliers and lava sin, what more natural than it should be guarded by a poisoned mechanism.

What more natural indeed breathed my companion when I fancied that he looked at me with a new interest in his eyes. It is good reasoning, Mr. Lester. It seemed to explain its situation for which no other explanation has been found, I said, and it had also the merit of picturesqueness. It is unique, he agreed eagerly, his eyes burning like two coals of fire, so intense was his interest.

I have been from boyhood, he added, noticing my glance, a lover of tales of mystery. They have for me a fascination. I cannot explain there is something in my blood, something that responds to them. I feel sometimes

that I would have made a great detective, or a great criminal, instead of which I am merely a dealer in Currios. You can now understand how I am fascinated by a story so Utre as this. Perhaps you can assist us, I suggested, for that theory of mine has been completely disproved. Disproved in what way he demanded. The secret drawer has been found. Comment, he cried, his voice sharp with surprise. Found?

The secret drawer has been found. The secret drawer has been found. Yes, and there was no poison mechanism guarding it. He breathed deeply for an instant, then pulled himself together with a little laugh. Really, he said, I must not indulge myself in this way. It is a kind of intoxication. But you say the drawer was found,

and that there was no poison. Was the drawer empty? No, there was a packet of letters in it. Delicious love letters of a certainty. billy-deus from the great louis to the montespan perhaps no unfortunately they were of a much more recent date they had been restored to their owner i hope that you agree with me that that was the right thing to do he sat for a moment regarding me narrowly and i had an uneasy feeling that since he undoubtedly knew of whom the cabinet had been purchased he was reconstructing the story more completely than i would have wished him to do since the letters have been returned he said at last a little drily it is useless to discuss the matter but no doubt i should approve if all the circumstances were known to me especially if it was to assist a lady it was i said and i saw from his face that he understood then you did well he said has no other explanation been found for the death of mr van tyne and of this stranger

i think not the coroner will hold his inquest to-morrow he has deferred it in the hope that some new evidence would be discovered and none has been discovered i have heard of none you do not even know who the stranger was oh yes we have discovered that he was a worth of the stranger was-he was-oh yes we have discovered that he was a worth was fellow named Du Rey. A Frenchman? Yes, living in an attic in the Rue de Chay at Paris. Monsieur Armand had been gazing at me intently, but now his look relaxed, and I fancied that he drew a deep breath as a man might do when relieved of a burden. At the back of my brain a vague and shadowy suspicion began the form. A suspicion that perhaps, Monsieur Armand, knew more of a bit of a

this affair than he had yet acknowledged. You did not by any chance know him, I asked carelessly. No, I think not, but there is one thing I do not understand, Mr. Lester, and you will pardon me if I am indiscreet, but I do not understand what this de Ray, as you call him, was doing in the house of Mr. Van Pynne. He was trying to get possession of the letters, I said. Oh, so it was that, and my companion nodded. and in trying to get those letters he was killed yes but what none of us understand m armand is how he was killed who or what killed him how is the poison administered can you suggest an explanation

he sat for a moment staring thoughtfully out of the window it is a nice problem he said a most interesting one i will think it over mr lester perhaps i may be able to make a suggestion i do not know but in any event i shall be a very interesting one i will think it over mr lester perhaps i may be able to make a suggestion i do not know but in any event i shall be a very event i shall be a very thing see you again Wednesday. If it is agreeable to you, we can meet at the House of Mr. Van Tyn and exchange the cabinets. At what time? I do not know with exactness. There may be some delay in getting the cabinet from the ship. Perhaps it would be better if I called for you. Very well, I assented. Permit me to express again my apologies that such a mistake should have been made by us, really, we are most careful, but even we sometimes suffer from careless servants. It desolates me to think I cannot offer these apologies to Mr. Van Tynne in person. Till Wednesday, then, Mr. Lester.

Till Wednesday I echoed, and watched his erect and perfectly garbed figure until it vanished through the doorway. A fascinating man, I told myself, as I turned back to my desk, and one who I should like to know more intimately. a man with a hobby for the mysteries of crime, with which I could fully sympathize, and I smiled as I thought of the burning interest with which he had listened to the story of the double tragedy. How naively he had confessed this thought that he would have made a great detective or a great criminal, and here he was only a dealer in Curio's.

Well, I had had the same thought more than once, and here I was a merely not too successful, successful lawyer. Decidedly, Monsieur Armand and myself had much in common. End of Chapter 17. Chapter 18 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton, Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. I part with the Bull Cabinet. The coroner's inquest was held next day, and my surmise proved to be correct. The police had discovered practically no new evidence, none certainly, which shed any light on the way in which Dorey and Philip Van Tynne had met death. Each of the witnesses told his story, much as I have told it here, and it was evident that the jury was bewildered by the seemingly

inextricable tangle of circumstances. To my relief, Dorey's identity was established without any help for me. The bag which he had left on the pier had been opened at the request of the police, and a card case found with his address on it. Why he had sent in to Van Tyn a card not his own, and what his business was with Van Tyn had been were details concerning which the police could offer no theory, and which I did not feel called upon to explain, since neither in any way made clearer the mystery of his death. An amusing incident of the inquest was the attempt made by Goldberger

to hekel Godfrey evidently at Grady's suggestion. On the morning after the tragedy, Goldberg began sweetly, you printed in the record a photograph which you claimed to be that of the woman who had called upon Mr. Van Pynne the night before, and who was, presumably, the last person to see him alive, Where did you get that photograph?" It was a copy of one which the Ray carried in his watch-case, answered Godfrey. Since then, pursued Goldberger.

You have made no further reference to that feature of the case. I presume you found out that you were mistaken. On the contrary, I proved that I was correct. Goldberger's face reddened, and his look was not pleasant. Prove is rather a strong word, isn't it? he asked. It is the right word. What was the woman's connection with the band of Ray? She had been his mistress.

You say that very confidently, said Goldberger, his lips curling. After all, it is merely a guess, isn't it? I have reason to say it confidently, retorted Godfrey quietly, since the woman confessed as much in my presence. Again, Goldberger reddened. I suppose she also confessed that it was really she who called upon Mr. Van Tine, he sneered. She not only confessed that, said Godfrey, still more quietly,

but she told in detail what occurred during that visit. The confession was made to yourself alone, of course, queried Goldberger, in a tone deliberately insulting. Godfrey flushed a little at the words, but he managed to retain his self-control. Not at all, he said. It was made in the presence of Mr. Lester, and of another distinguished lawyer whose name I am not at liberty to reveal. Goldberger swallowed hard as though he had received the slap in the face. I dare say he felt

as though he had. This woman is in New York, he asked. I believe so. What is her name and address? I am not at liberty to answer. Goldberger glared at him. You will answer, he thundered, or I'll commit you for contempt. Godfrey was quite himself again. Very well, he said, smiling. I have not the slightest objection. But I would think it over if I were you. Mr. Lester will assure you

that the woman was in no way connected with the death either of Derey or of Mr. Van Tine. Goldberger did think it over. He realized the danger of trying to punish a paper so powerful has the record, and he finally decided to accept Godfrey's statement has a mitigation of his refusal to answer. That is only one of the details which Commissioner Grady has missed,

Godfrey added pleasantly. That will do, Goldberger broke in, and Gottfrey left the stand. I was recalled to confirm his story. I also, of course, refused to give the woman's name, explaining the Goldberger that I had learned it professionally, and that I was certain she had been guilty of no crime. and that to reveal it would seriously embarrass an entirely innocent woman. With that statement, the coroner was compelled to appear satisfied.

Grady did not go on the stand. He was not even at the inquest. In fact, since the first day, he had not appeared publicly in connection with the case at all, and I had surmised that he did not care to be identified with a mystery which there seemed to be no prospect of solving, and from which no glory was to be one. The case had been placed in Simmons's hands, and it was he who testified on behalf of the police,

admitting candidly that they were all at sea. He made a careful examination of a Van Tine house, he said, particularly of the room in which the bodies had been found and had discovered absolutely nothing in the shape of a clue to the solution of the mystery. There was something diabolical about it, something almost supernatural he had not abandoned hope and was still working on the case but he was inclined to think that if the mystery was ever solved it would only be by some lucky accident or through the confession of the guilty man goldberger was annoyed that was evident enough from the nervous way in which he gnawed his mustache but he had no theory any more than the police there was not a scintilla of evidence to fasten the crime upon any

anyone. And the end of the hearing was that the jury brought in a verdict that Philip Van Tynne and George Durey had died from the effects of a poison administered by a person or persons unknown. Godfrey joined me at the door as I was leaving, and we went down the steps together. I was glad to hear Simmons confess that the police are up a tree, he said. Of course Grady is trying to sneak out of it and blame someone else for the failed but I'll see that he doesn't succeed. I'll see anyway that Simmons gets a square deal. He's an old friend of mine, you know. Yes, I said I know, but we're all up a tree, aren't we? For the present, laughed Godfrey, we do occupy that undignified position. But you don't expect to

stay there forever, do you, Lester? Since my theory about the bull cabinet exploded, I said, I have given up hope. By the way, I'm going to turn the cabinet it over to its owner to-morrow." "'To its owner,' he repeated, his eyes narrowing. "'Yes, I thought he'd be around for it, though I hardly thought he'd come so soon. Who does it happen to be, Lester?' "'Why, I said a little impatiently, you know as well as I do, that it belongs to our mom and son.'

"'You've seen the representative, then,' he queried, "'a little flush of excitement which I could not understand spreading over his face.' He came to see me yesterday. I'd like you to meet him, Godfrey. He is Felix Armand, the son of the firm, and one of the most finished gentlemen I've ever met. I'd like to meet him, said Godfrey, smiling queerly. Perhaps I shall some day.

I hope so, anyway. But how did he explain the blunder, Lester? In some way they shipped the wrong cabinet to Van Tyn, the right one will get here on La Provence tomorrow, and I told him in detail the story which Felix Armand had told me. He was quite upset over it, I added. His apologies were almost abject.

Godfrey listened intently to all this, and he nodded with satisfaction when I had finished. It is almost interesting, he commented. Did Monsieur Armand happen to mention where he is staying? No, but he won't be hard to find if you want to see him. He's at one of the big hotels, of course. Probably the plaza or the St. Regis. He's too great a swell for any minor hostelry.

What time do you expect him tomorrow? Sometime in the afternoon, he's the call for me as soon as he gets Van Tyn's cabinet off the boat. Godfrey, I added, I felt yesterday, when I was talking with him, that perhaps he knew more about this affair than he would admit. I could see that he guessed in an instant

who the owner of the letters was and what they contained. Do you think I ought to tell you? to hold on to the cabinet a while longer, I could invent some pretext for delay easily enough. Why no, let him have his cabinet, said Godfrey, with an alacrity that surprised me. If your theory about it has been exploded, what's the use of hanging on to it? I don't see any use in doing so, I admit it, but I thought perhaps you might want more time to examine it. I've examined it all I'm going to, Godfrey answered, and I told myself that this

was the first time I had ever known him to admit himself defeated. I have a sort of a feeling, I explained, that when we let go of the cabinet, we give up the only clue we have to this whole affair. It is like a confession of defeat. Oh, no, it isn't, Godfrey objected. If there is nothing more to be learned from the cabinet, there is no reason to retain it. I should certainly let, Monsieur Armand have it. Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow, he added, and we parted at the corner. But I did not see him on tomorrow. I was rather expecting a call from him during the morning,

and when none came, I was certain I should find him awaiting me when I arrived at the Van Tyn House, in company with Mitzur Armand. But he was not there, and when I asked for him, Parks told me that he had not seen him since the day before. I confess that Godfrey's indifference to the fate of the cabinet surprised me, greatly. Besides, I was hoping that he would wish to meet the fascinating Frenchman, more fascinating, if possible, than he had been on Monday, and I soon found myself completely under his spell. There had been less delay than he had anticipated in getting the cabinet

off the boat and through the customs, and it was not yet three o'clock when we reached the Van Tine House. I haven't seen Mr. Godfrey Parks repeated, but there are others here, as it fare breaks my heart to see. He motioned toward the door of the music-room, and stepping to it, I saw the inventory was already in progress. The man in charge of it nodded to me, but I did not go in, for the sight was anything but a pleasant one. The cabinet is in the room across the hall, I said to the Monsieur Armand, and led the way through the ante-room, into the room beyond. Parks switched on the lights for us, and my companion glanced with surprise, eyes at the heavy shutters covering the windows.

We put those up for a protection, I explained. We had an idea that someone would try to enter. In fact, one evening, we did find a wire connecting with a burglar alarm cut, and later on saw someone peering in through the hole in that shutter yonder. You did, Monsieur Armand queried quickly. Would you recognize the man if you were to meet him again? Oh, no. You see the hole is quite small.

There was nothing visible except a pair of eyes. Yet, I might know them again, for I never before saw such eyes, so bright, so burning. It was the night that Godfrey and I were trying to find the secret drawer, and those eyes gleamed like fire as they watched us. Monsieur Raman was gazing at the cabinet, apparently only half-listing. Ah, yes, the secret drawer, he said. will you show me how it's operated, Mr. Lester.

I am most curious about it. I placed my hand upon the table and pressed the three points which the veiled lady has shown us. The first time I got the order wrong, but at the second trial the little handle fell forward with a click and I pulled the drawer open. There it is, I said. You see how cleverly it is constructed

and how well it is concealed. No one would suspect its existence. He examined it with much interest, pushed it back into place, and then opened it himself. Very clever indeed, he agreed. I have never seen another so well concealed, and the idea of opening it only by a certain combination is most happy and original. Most secret drawers are secret only in name. A slight search reveals them, but this one... He pushed it shut again and examined the inlay around it. my friend and i went over the cabinet very carefully and could not find it i said your friend i think you mentioned his name yes his name is godfrey a man of the law like yourself oh no a newspaper man but he had been a member of the detective force before that He is extraordinarily keen, and if anybody could have found that drawer he could, but that

combination was too much for him. Monsieur Armand snapped the drawer back into place with a little crash. I am glad at any rate that it was discovered, he said. I will not conceal from you, Mr. Lester, that it adds not a little to the value of the cabinet. What is its value, I asked? Mr. Van Tyn wanted me to buy it for him and named the most extravagant figure. as the limit he was willing to pay.

Really, Mr. Armand answered, after an instant's hesitation. I would not care to name a figure, Mr. Lester, without further consultation with my father. The cabinet is quite unique, the most beautiful, perhaps, that Monsieur Boulle ever produced. Did you discover, Madame de Montespan's monogram? No, Mr. Van Tynes said he was sure it existed, but Godfrey and I did not look for it.

Monsieur Armand opened the doors, which concealed the central drawers. Walla, he said, and traced with his finger, the aberesque, just under the pediment. See how cunningly it has been blended with the other figures, and here is the emblem of the giver. He pointed to a tiny golden sun with radiating rays on the base of the pediment, just above the monogram. Lois solar ray. "'Lawasolet, I repeated, of course. We were stupid not to have discerned it. That tells the whole story, doesn't it? What is it, Parks?' I added, as that worthy appeared at the door. "'There's a van outside, sir,' he said, and a couple of men, or unloading a piece of furniture.

"'Is it all right, sir?' "'Yes,' I answered. "'Have them bring it in here, and asked the man in charge of the inventory to step over here a minute. Mr. Van Tyn left his collection. of art objects to the Metropolitan Museum, I explained to Monsieur Armand, and I should like the representative of the museum to be present when the exchange is made. Certainly he assented, that is very just. Parks was back in a moment piloting two men who carried between them an object swath and burlap, and the Metropolitan Man followed them in.

I am Mr. Lester, I said to him, Mr. Van Tynes' executor, and this is Monsieur Felix Armand, of Armand and son of Paris. We are correcting an error which was made just before Mr. Van Tynne died. That cabinet yonder was shipped him by mistake in place of one which he had bought. Monsieur Armand has caused the right one to be sent over and will take away the one which belongs to him. I've already spoken to the museum's attorney about the matter, but I wish you to be present when the exchange was made. I have no doubt it's all right, sir, the museum man hastened to assure me.

You, of course, have personal knowledge of all this? Certainly, Mr. Van Tyn himself told me the story. Very well, sir, but his eyes dwelt lovingly upon the bull cabinet. That is a very handsome piece he added. I am sorry the museum is not to get it. Perhaps you can buy it for Monsieur Armand, I suggested, but the curator laughed and shook his head. No, he said we couldn't afford it, but Sir Casper might persuade Mr. Morgan to buy it for us.

I'll mention it to him. The two men, meanwhile, under Monsieur Armand's direction, had been stripping the wrappings from the other cabinet, and it finally stood revealed. It too was a beautiful piece of furniture, but even my untrained eye could see how greatly it fell below the other. We shall be very pleased to have Mr. Morgan see it, said Mr. Armand, who, the smile. I will not conceal from you that we have already thought of him, as what dealer does not, when he acquires something rare and beautiful. I shall endeavor to secure an appointment

with him. Meanwhile, the cabinet is yours, I said. He made a little deprecating gesture, and then proceeded to have the cabinet very carefully wrapped in the burlap, which had been around the other one. I watched it disappear under the rough covering, with the something like regret, for already my eyes were being open to its beauty. Besides, I told myself again, with it would disappear the last hope of solving the mystery of Philip Van Tyn's death. However my reason might protest, some instinct told me that in some way the bull cabinet was connected with that tragedy.

But at last the packing was done, and Monsieur Armand turned to me and held out his hand. I shall hope to see you again, Mr. Lester, he said, with the cordiality which flattered me, and to renew our very pleasant acquaintance. Whenever you are in Paris, I trust you will not fail to honor me by letting me know. I shall count it a very great privilege to display for you some of the beauties of our city, not known to everyone. Thank you, I said. I shall certainly remember that invitation, and meanwhile, since you are here in New York,

you are most kind he broke in and i myself was hoping that we might at least dine together but i am compelled to proceed to boston this evening and from there i shall go on to quebec whether i shall get back to new york i do not know it will depend somewhat upon mr morgan's attitude we would scarcely entrust the business so delicate to our dealer if i do get back i shall let you know please do i urged it will be a very great pleasure to me Besides, I am still hoping that some solution of this mystery may occur to you. He shook his head with a little smile. I feel it is too difficult for a novice like myself, he said. It is impenetrable to me. If a solution is discovered, I trust you will inform me. It is certain to be most interesting.

I will, I promised, and we shook hands again. Then he signed to the two men to take up the cabinet, it, and he himself laid a protecting hand upon it as it was carried through the door and down the steps to the van, which was backed up to the curb. It was lifted carefully inside, the two men clambered in beside it, the driver spoke to the horses, and the van rolled slowly away up the avenue. Mr. Armand watched it for a moment, then mounted into the cab, which was waiting, waved the last farewell to me, and followed after the van. We watched it, until it turned westward at the first cross street.

Mr. Gottfrey's occupation will be gone, said Parks, with a little laugh. He had fairly lived with that cabinet for the past three or four days. He was here last night for quite a while. Last night, I echoed, surprised. I was sure he would be here today, I added, reflecting that Gottfried might have decided to have a final look at the cabinet. He half promised to be here, but I suppose something more important. detained him.

The next instant I was jumping down the steps two at a time, for a cab in which two men were sitting, came down the avenue, and rolled slowly around the corner in the direction taken by the van. And just as it disappeared, one of its occupants turned towards me and waved his hand, and I recognized Jim Godfrey. End of Chapter 18. Chapter 19 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain.

La Mort. That my legs, without conscious effort of my own, should carry me up the avenue and around the corner after the cab in which I had seen Godfrey was a foregone conclusion. And yet it was with a certain vexation of spirit that I found myself. racing along, for I realized that Godfrey had not been entirely frank with me. Certainly, he had dropped no hint of his intention to follow Armand. But, I told myself, that might very well have been, because he deemed such a hint unnecessary. I might have guessed, in spite of his seeming unconcern, that he would not allow the cabinet to pass from his sight.

If he had been willing for me to turn it over to Armand, it was only because he expected developments of some sort to follow that transfer. And suddenly it dawned upon me that even I did not know the cabinet's destination. It had not occurred to me to inquire where Monsieur Armand proposed to take it, and he had volunteered no information. So after a moment I took up the chase more contentedly, telling myself, that Godfrey would not have waved to me if he had not wanted me along, and I reached the corner in time to see the van turn northward in the Sixth Avenue.

As soon as it and the cabs which followed it were out of sight, I sprinted along the sidewalk at top speed, and, arriving at the corner, had the satisfaction of seeing them only a little way ahead. Here the congestion of traffic was such that the van could proceed but slow, slowly, and I had no difficulty in keeping pace with it, without the necessity of making myself conspicuous by running. Indeed, I rather hung back, burying myself in the crowds on the sidewalk, for fear that Aramon might chance to glance around and see me in pursuit. I saw that Godfrey and Simmons had the same fear, for the cabin which they were, drew

up at the curb, and waited there and, saw that Godfrey and Simmons. until the van had got some distance ahead. At 16th Street, it turned westward again, and then northward into 7th Avenue. What could Armand be doing in this part of town, I asked myself? Did he propose to leave that priceless cabinet in this dingy quarter? And then I paused abruptly and slipped into an area away, for the van had stopped some distance ahead and was backing up to the curb.

Looking out discreetly, I saw the cab containing Armand stop also, and that gentleman alighted and paid the driver. The other cab rattled on at a good pace and disappeared up the avenue. Then the two porters lifted out the cabinet, and, with Armand showing them the way, carried it into the building before which the van had stopped. They were gone perhaps five minutes, from which I argued that they were coming to the carrying it upstairs. Then they reappeared with Armand

accompanying them. He tipped them and went out also to tip the driver of the van. Then the porters climbed aboard and it rattled away out of sight. Armand stood for a moment on the steps, looking up and down the avenue, then disappeared

indoors. An instant later I saw Godfrey and another man, whom I recognized as Simmons, come out of his shop across the street, and dashed over to the house into which the cabinet had been taken. They were standing on the doorstep when I joined them. It was a dingy building, entirely typical of the dingy neighborhood.

The ground floor was occupied by a laundry, which the sign on the front window declared to be French, and the room, which the window lighted, extended, the whole width of the building, except for a door which opened presumably on the stairway, leading to the upper stories. godfrey's face was flaming with excitement as he turned the knob of this door gently gently the door was locked he stopped and applied an eye to the keyhole the key is in the lock he whispered Simmons took from his pocket a pair of slender pliers and passed them over.

Godfrey looked up and down the street, saw that for the moment there was no one near, inserted the pliers in the keyhole, grasped the end of the key, and turned it slowly. Now he said, softly opened the door and slipped inside. I followed, and Simmons came after me like a shadow, closing the door carefully behind him. Then we all stopped, and my heart at least was in my mouth, for, from somewhere overhead, came the sound of a man's voice talking excitedly. Even in the semi-darkness I could see the look of astonishment and alarm on Godfrey's face, as he stood for a moment motionless, listening to that voice.

I also stood with ears astrain, but I could make nothing of what it was saying. Then suddenly I realized that it was speaking in French, and yet it was not Armand's voice of that I was certain. Fronting us was a narrow stair, mounting steeply to the story overhead, and after that moments amazed, hesitation, Godfrey sat down on the bottom step and removed his shoes, motioning us to do the same. Simmons obeyed phlegmatically, but my hands were trembling, so with excitement that I was in mortal terror, at least I'd drop one of my shoes,

but I managed to get them both off without mishap, and to set them softly on the floor at the stair foot. When at last I looked up with a sigh of relief, Godfrey and Simmons were stealing slowly up the stair, revolver in hand. I followed them, but I confessed my knees were knocking together, for there was something weird and chilling in that voice going on and on. It sounded like the voice of a madman. There was something about it at once, ferocious and triumphant.

Godfrey paused an instant at the stairhead, listening intently. Then he moved cautiously forward toward an open door from which the voice seemed to come, motioning us at the same time to stay where we were. And as I knelt, bathed in perspiration, I caught one word, repeated over and over, revanchet revanchet revanchet then the voice fell to a sort of low growling as of a dog which worries its prey and i caught a sound as of ripping cloth godfrey on hands and knees was peering into the room then he drew back and motioned us forward i shall never forget the sight which met my eyes as i peeped cautiously round the corner of the door The room into which I was looking was lighted only by the rays which filtered between the slats of a closed shutter. In the middle of the floor stood the bull cabinet, and before it, with his back toward the door,

stood a man ripping savagely away at the strips of burlap in which it had been wrapped, talking to himself the while in a sort of savage sing-song, and pausing from moment to moment to glance at a huddled bundle, lying on the floor against the opposite wall. For a time I could not make out what this bundle was. Then straining my eyes, I saw that it was the body of a man, wrapped round and round in some web-like fabric. As I stared at him, I caught the glitter of his eyes

as he watched the man working at the cabinet, a glitter not to be mistaken, the same glitter which had so frightened me once before. Godfrey drew me back with a firm hand and took my place. As for me, I retreated to the stair and sat there feverishly mopping my face and trying to understand. Who was this man? What was he doing there against the wall,

and what was the meaning of this ferocious scene? Then my heart leaped into my throat, for Godfrey, with a sharp cry of, Altla, sprang to his feet and dashed into the room. Simmons at his heels. I suppose two seconds elapsed before I reached the threshold, and I stopped there, staring, clutching at the wall to steady myself. The scene is so photographed upon my brain

that I have only to close my eyes to see it again in every detail. There was the cabinet with its wrapping torn away, but the figure on the floor had disappeared, and before an open doorway into another room stood a man. man, a giant of a man, his hands above his head, his face working with fear and rage, while Godfrey, his lips curling into a mocking smile, pressed a pistol against his breast. Then, as I stood there staring, it seemed to me that there was a sort of flicker in the air above the man's head, and he screamed shrilly,

"'Lamort!' he shrieked, Lamort. For one dreadful instant longer he stood there motionless. his hands still held aloft, his eyes staring horribly, then, with a strangled cry, he pitched forward heavily at Godfrey's feet. End of Chapter 19. Chapter 20 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. The Escape

I have a confused remembrance of Gottfried stooping for an instant. above the body, staring at it, and then with a sharp cry, hurling himself through that open doorway. A door slammed somewhere. There was a sound of running feet, and before either Simmons or myself understood what was happening, Godfrey was back in the room, crossed it at a bound, and dashed to the door opening into the hall, just as it was slammed in his face. I saw him tear desperately at the knob, and then retreat two steps, and hurl himself against it. But it held firm, and from the hall outside came a burst of mocking laughter that fairly froze my blood. "'Come here, you fools!' cried Gottfried, between clenched teeth. Don't you see he's getting away?

Simmons was quicker than I, and together they threw themselves at the door. It cracked ominously, but it still held. again they tried, and this time it split from top to bottom. Godfrey kicked the pieces to either side and slipped between them, Simmons after him. Then, in a sort of trance, I staggered to it, and after a moment's aimless fumbling, was out in the hall again. I reached the stairhead in time to see Godfrey try the front door, and then turn along the lower hall leading to the back of the house. An instant later, a chorus of frenzied women's shrieks made my hair stand on end.

How I got down the stair I do not know, but I, too, turned back along the lower hall, expect in any instant to come upon I knew not what horror. I reached an open door, passed through it, and found myself in the laundry in the midst of a group of excited and indignant women, who greeted my appearance with a fresh series of screams. Not able to go farther, I sat limply down upon a box and looked at them. I dare say the figure I made was ridiculous enough, for the screams gave place the subdued giggles. But I was far from thinking of my appearance or caring what impression I produced,

and I was still sitting there when Godfrey came back, breathing heavily, chagrin and anger in his eyes. The employees of the laundry, conscious that something extraordinary was occurring, crowded about him, but he elbowed his way through them to the desk where the manager sat. A crime has been committed upstairs, he said. This gentleman with me is Mr. Simmons of the Detective Bureau. And at the words Simmons showed his shield. We shall have to notify headquarters, Godfrey went on, and I would advise that you keep your girls at their work.

I don't suppose you want to be mixed up in it. Sure not, agreed the manager promptly, and while Simmons went to the phone and called up police headquarters, the manager dismounted from his throne, went down among the girls, and had them back at their work in short order. Godfrey came over to me and laid his hand on my shoulder.

Why, Lester he said, You look as though you were at your last gasp. I am, I said, I'm going to have nervous prostrate. if this thing keeps up. You're not looking particularly happy yourself. I'm not happy. I've let that fellow kill a man right under my nose, literally under my nose, and then get away. Kill a man, I repeat it, do you mean? Go upstairs and look at the right hand of the man lying there, said Godfrey curtly, and you'll see what I mean. I sat staring at him,

unable to believe that I had heard a right, unable to believe. Unable to believe that I had heard of right, unable to believe that Godfrey had really uttered those words, the right hand of a man lying there. That could mean only one thing. Simmons joined us with a twisted smile on his lips, and I saw that even he was considerably shaken. I got Grady, he said, and told him what had happened. He says he's too busy to come up and that I'm to take charge of things. Godfrey laughed, a little mocking laugh. Grady foresees his water, Lou, he said.

Well, it's not far distant, but I'm glad for your sake, Simmons. You're going to get some glory out of this thing yet? I hope so, and Simmons's eyes gleamed an instant. The ambulance will be around at once, he added. We'd better get our shoes on and go back upstairs and see if anything can be done for that fellow. There can't be anything done for him, said Godfrey wearily, but we'd better have a look at him, I guess,

and he led the way out into the hall. Not until Simmons spoke did I remember that I was shoeless. Now I sat down beside Godfrey, got fumblingly into my shoes again, and then followed him and Simmons slowly up the stair. I thought I knew what was passing in Godfrey's mind. He was blaming himself for this latest tragedy. He was telling himself that he should have foreseen and prevented it. He always blamed himself in that way when things went wrong.

and then to have the murderer slipped through his very fingers i could guess what a mighty shock that had been to his self-confidence the latest victim was lying where he had fallen just inside the doorway leading into the inner room simmons stepped to the window threw open the shutters and led a flood of afternoon sunshine into the room then he knelt beside the body and held up the limp right hand for us to see just above the knuckles were two tiny incisions with a drop or two of blood oozing away from them and the flesh about them swollen and discolored i knew what it was the instant he yelled lamorte said godfrey quietly and he knew what it was the instant he felt the stroke it is evident enough that he had seen it used before or heard of it and knew that it meant instant death i sat down staring at the dead man and tried to collect my senses so this fiendish criminal who slew with poison had been lurking in van tine's house and had struck down first to ray and then the man of the house himself. But why, why, it was incredible, astounding. My brain reeled at the thought, and yet it must be true. I looked again at the third victim, and saw a man roughly dressed with bushy black hair and tangled beard, a very giant of a man

whose physical strength must have been enormous, and yet it had availed him nothing against a tiny pinprick on the hand. And then a sudden thought of him, brought me bolt upright. But Armand, I cried, where's Armand? Godfrey looked at me with a half-pitying smile. What lesser, he said, don't you understand even yet? It was your fascinating, Monsieur Armand, who did that, and he pointed to the dead man.

I felt as though I had been struck a heavy blow upon the head, black circles whirled before my eyes. Go over to the window, said Gawfrey, preemptorily, and get some fresh air. Mechanically I obeyed, and stood clinging to the windowsill, gazing down at the busy street, where the tide of humanity was flowing up and down, all unconscious of the tragedy which had been enacted so close at hand. And at last the calmness of all these people, the sight of the world going quietly on as usual,

restored me a portion of my self-control, but even yet I did not understand. Was it Armand, I asked, turning back into the room, who lay there in the corner? Certainly it was, Godfrey answered. Who else could it be? Godfrey, I cried, remembering suddenly. Did you see his eyes as he lay there watching the man at the cabinet? Yes, I saw them. They were the same eyes, the same eyes.

And the laugh. Did you hear that laugh? Certainly I heard it. I heard it once before I said, and you thought it was a case of nerve. I fell silent a moment, shivering a little at the remembrance. But why did Armand lie there so quietly, I asked at last? Was he injured? Godfrey made a little gesture toward the corner.

Go see for yourself, he said. Something lay along the wall on the spot where I had seen that figure, and as I bent over it, I saw that it was a large net, finely meshed, but very strong. That was dropped over Armand's head as he came up to the same. The stairs, said Godfrey, were flung over him as he came into the room. Then the dead man yonder jumped upon him and trussed him up with those ropes. Pushing the net aside, I saw upon the floor a little pile of severed cords. Yes, I agreed he would be able to do that.

Have you noticed his size, Godfrey? He was almost a giant. He couldn't have done it. If Armand hadn't been willing that he should, retorted Godfrey curtly, You see he had no difficulty in getting away, and he held up the net and pointed to the great Rensinit. He cut his way out while he was lying there. I ought to have known.

I ought to have known he wasn't bound. That he was only waiting, but it was all so sudden. He threw the net down upon the floor with a gesture of disgust and despair. Then he stopped in front of the bull cabinet and looked at it musingly, and after a moment his face brightened. The burlap wrapping had been almost wholly torn away, and the cabinet stood more insolently beautiful than ever. It seemed to me under the rays of the sun, which sparkled and glittered and shimmered as they fell upon it.

But we'll get him, Simmons, said Godfrey, and his lips broke into a smile. In fact, we've got him now. We have only to wait, and he'll walk into our arms. Simmons, I want you to lock this cabinet up in the strongest cell around at your station, and carry the key yourself." Lock it up, stammered Simmons, staring at him. Yes, said Godfrey, lock it up. That's our one's salvation. His face was glowing. He was quite himself again, alert, confident of victory.

You're in charge of this case, aren't you? We'll lock it up and give your reasons to nobody. That'll be easy, laughed Simmons. I haven't got any reasons. Oh, yes, you have, and Godfrey bent upon him a gaze. that was positively hypnotic. You will do it because I want you to, and because I tell you that, sooner or later, if you keep this cabinet safe where no one can get at it, the man we want will walk into our hands.

And I'll tell you more than that, Simmons, if we do get them, I'll have the biggest story I ever had, and you will be world-famous. France will make you a chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Simmons, mark my words, don't you think the ribbon would look well? in your buttonhole.

Simmons was staring at the speaker as though he thought he had suddenly gone mad. Indeed, the thought flashed through my own brain that the disappointment, the chagrin of failure, had been too much for Godfrey. He burst into laughter as he saw our faces. No, I'm not mad, he said more soberly, and I'm not joking.

I'm speaking in deadly earnest, Simmons, when I say that this fellow is the biggest catch we could make. he's the greatest criminal of modern times i repeated lester this time without qualification and now perhaps you'll agree with me and with armand so finished so poised so distinguished in my mind and the body of his latest victim before my eyes i nodded gloomily but who is he i asked do you know who he is godfrey there's the amulence broke in simmons as a knock came at the street door and he hurried down to open it. Come on, Lester, and Godfrey hooked his arm through mine. There's nothing more we can do here. We'll go down the back way. I've had enough excitement for the time being, haven't you? I certainly have, I agreed, and he led me through the back along the hall to another stair, down it, and so out through the laundry. But Godfrey, who is this man, I repeated? Why did he

kill that poor fellow up there? And why did he kill Durray and Van Tyn? How did he get into the Van Tyn House. What is it all about?" "'Ah,' he said, looking at me with a smile, "'that's the important question. What is it all about? But we can't discuss it here in the street. Besides, I want to think it over, Lester, and I want you to think it over. If I can, I'll drop in to-night to see you, and we can thrash it out. Will that suit you?'

"'Yes,' I said, and for heaven's sakes, don't fail to come." End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Godfrey Weaves a Romance. I had begun the fear that Godfrey was going to disappoint me, so late it was, before his welcome knock came at my door that night. I hastened to let him in, and I could tell by the sigh of relief,

with which he sank into a chair that he was thoroughly weary. It does me good to come in here occasionally and have a talk with you, Lester, he said, accepting the cigar I offered him. I find it restful after a hard day, and he smiled across at me good-humoredly. How you keep it up I don't see, I said. This one case has nearly given me nervous prostration. Well, I don't often strike one as strenuous as this, and he settled back comfortably.

As a matter of fact, I haven't had one for a long time that even touches it. There's nothing really mysterious about most crimes. This one is certainly mysterious enough, I remarked. What makes it mysterious, Godfrey explained, is the apparent lack of motive. As soon as one learns the motive for a crime, one learns also who committed it. But where the motive can't be discovered, it is mighty heart, make any progress. It is an only lack of motive which makes it mysterious, I commented.

It's everything about it. I can't understand either why it was done or how it was done. When I get to thinking about it, I feel as though I were wandering around and around in a maze, from which I can never escape. Oh, yes, you'll escape, Lester, said Godfrey quietly, and that before very long. If you have an explanation, Godfrey, I protested. For heaven's sakes tell me. Don't keep me in the maze an instant longer that is necessary.

I've been thinking about it till my brain feels like a snarl of tangled thread. Do you mean to say you know what it is all about? No is perhaps a little strong. There isn't much in this world that we really know. Suppose we say that I strongly suspect. He paused a moment his eyes on the ceiling. you know you've accused me of romancing sometimes lester the other evening for instance yet that romance has come true i take it all back i said meekly there's another thing these talks do continued godfrey going off rather at a tangent and that is to clarify my ideas you don't know how it helps me to state my case to you and try to answer your objections your being a lawyer makes you unusually quick to see objections you're being a lawyer makes you unusually quick to see objections

and a lawyer is always harder to convince of a thing than the ordinary man. You are accustomed to weighing evidence, and so I never allow myself to be convinced of a theory until I have convinced you. Not always even then, he added, with a smile. Well, I'm glad I'm of some use, I said, if it is only as a sort of file for you to sharpen your wits on. So please go ahead and romance some more. Tell me first how you and Simmons came to be fine,

following Armand. Simply because I found out he wasn't Armand. Felix Armand is in Paris at this moment. You were too credulous, Lester. Why, I never had any doubt of his being Armand, I stammered. He knew about my cable, Graham. He knew about the firm's answer. Of course he did, because your cable was never received by the Armand's,

but by a confederate in this fellow's employ. And it was that confederate who answered it. our friend the unknown foresaw of course that a cable would be sent the armands as soon as the mistake was discovered and he took his precautions accordingly then you still believe that the cabinet was sent to van tine by design and not by accident absolutely it was sent by the armands in good faith because they believed that it had been purchased by van tine all of which had been arranged very carefully by the great unknown Tell me how you know all this Godfrey, I said. Why, it was easy enough, when you told me yesterday of Armand, I knew, or thought I knew, that it was a plant of some kind. But in order to be sure, I cable our man at Paris to investigate,

Armand, Pierre, and he learned a number of very interesting things. One was that the son, Felix Armand, was in Paris. Another was that no member of the firm knew anything about your cable or the answer to it. The third was, that had the cable been received, it would not have been understood because the Armand's book showed that this cabinet was bought by Philip Bantyne for the sum of fifteen thousand francs. Not this one, I protested. Yes, this one, and it was cheap at the price. Of course the Armands knew nothing about the Montespan story.

They were simply selling at a profit. But I don't understand, I stammered. Pantyne told me himself that he did not buy that cabinet. Nor did he, but somebody bought it in his name and directed that it be sent forward to him. And paid fifteen thousand francs for it, certainly, and paid fifteen thousand francs to the Armands. Rather inexpensive present, I said, feebly,

for my brain was beginning to whirl again. What wasn't intended as a present, the purchaser planned to reclaim it, but Van Tyn's death threw him out. If it hadn't been for that, for an accident which no one could foresee, everything would have gone along smoothly, and no one would ever have been the wiser.

But what was his object? Was he trying to evade the duty? Oh, nothing so small as that. Besides, he would have had to refund the duty to Van Tyn. Did he refund it to you? No, I said, I didn't think there was any to refund. Van Tyn really paid the duty only on the cabinet he purchased, since that was the one shown on his manifest.

The other fellow must have paid the duty on the cabinet he brought in, so I didn't see that there was anything coming to Van Tyn's estate. There's probably something due to the government, for the cabinet Van Tine brought in was, of course, much more valuable than his manifest showed. No doubt of that, and the other cabinet is the one which Van Tyn really purchased. It was, of course, sent forward to this other fellow's address here in New York. His plan is evident enough to call upon Van Tine as the representative of the Armands,

or perhaps as the owner of the Montespan cabinet and make the exchange. Van Tine's death spoiled that, and he had to make the exchange through you. Even then he would have been able to pull it off, but for the fact that Van Tyn's death and that of D'Rei had called our attention to the cabinet. We followed him, and the incidents of this afternoon ensued. And he accomplished all this by means of a Confederate in the employ of the Armands? No doubt of it, the clerk who made the supposed sale to Van Tine and got a commission on it resigned suddenly two days ago, just as soon as he had intercepted your cable and answered it. The Paris police are looking for him, but I doubt if they'll find him.

I paused to think this over, and then as sudden, impatience seized me. That's all clear enough, I said, the cabinets might have been exchanged just as you say they were. No doubt you are right, but all that doesn't lead us anywhere. Why were they exchanged? What was there about the Bull cabinet, which makes this undempsych. known willing to do murder for it. Does he think those letters are still in it? He knows they are not in it now, you told him.

Before that, he knew nothing about the letters. If he had known of them, he would have had them out before the cabinet was shipped. What is it, then, I demanded, and above all Godfrey, why should this fellow hide himself in Van Tyn's house and kill two men? Did they surprise him while he was working over the cabinet? I see no reason to believe that he was. he was ever inside the Van Tyn house, said Godfrey quietly, that is, until you took him there yourself this afternoon.

But look here, Godfrey, I protested, that's nonsense. He must have been in the house, where he couldn't have killed Van Tine and D'Rae. Who said he killed them? If he didn't kill them, who did? Godfrey took two or three contemplative puffs while I sat there staring at him. Well, Godfrey answered at last, now I'm going to romance a little. we will return to your fascinating friend armand as we may as well call him for the present he is an extraordinary man no doubt of it i agreed i can only repeat what i have said before in my opinion he is the greatest criminal of modern times if he is a criminal at all he is undoubtedly a great one i conceded but it is hard for me to believe that he is a criminal he is the most cultured man i ever met of course he is that's why he's so dangerous an ignorant criminal is never dangerous it's the ignorant criminals who fill the prisons but look out for the educated accomplished ones it takes brains to be a great criminal lester and brains of a high order

but why should a man with brains be a criminal i queried if he could earn an honest living why should he be dishonest in the first place most criminals are criminals from choice not for a man with brains be a criminal i queried if he could earn an honest living why should he be dishonest in the first place most criminals are criminals from choice not for from necessity, and with a cultured man, the incentive, is usually the excitement of it. Have you ever thought what an exciting game it is, Lester, to defy society to break the law, to know that the odds against you are a thousand of one, and yet to come out triumphant? And then, I suppose, every great criminal is a little insane. No doubt of it, I agreed. Just as every absolutely honest man is a little insane when I'm Godfrey quickly, just as every great reformer and enthusiast is a little insane.

The sane men are the average ones who are fairly honest and yet tell white lies on occasion, who succumb to temptation now and then, who temporize and compromise, and try to lead a comfortable and quiet life. I repeat, Lester, that this fellow is a great criminal, and that he finds life infinitely more engrossing than either you or I. I hope I shall meet him sometime,

not in a little skirmish like this, but in an out-and-out battle. Of course I'd be routed, horse-foot, and dragoons, but it certainly would be interesting, and he looked at me, his eyes glowing. It certainly would, I agreed, go ahead with your romance. Here it is. This Monsieur Armand is a great criminal, and has, of course, various followers upon whom he must rely for the performance of certain details,

since he can be in but one place at a time. Abject, an absolute obedience, is necessary to his success, and he compels obedience in the only way in which it can be compelled among criminals by fear. For disobedience there is but one punishment, death, and the manner of the death is so certain and so mysterious as to be almost supernatural. For deserters and traitors are found to have died inevitably and invariably from the effects of an insignificant wound on the right hand just above the knuckles. I was listening intently now, as you may well believe,

for I began to see whither the romance was tending. It is by this secret, Godfrey continued, that Armand preserves his absolute supremacy, but occasionally the temptation is too great and one of his men deserts. Armand sends this cabinet to America. He knows that in the same time. this case the temptation is very great indeed. He fears treachery, and he arranges in the

cabinet a mechanism which will inflict death upon the traitor in precisely the same way in which he himself inflicts it by means of a poison stab in the right hand. Imagine the effect upon his gang. He is nowhere near when the act of treachery is performed, and yet the traitor dies instantly and surely, why it was a tremendous idea and it was a tremendous idea and it was carried out with absolute genius. But I questioned. What act of treachery was it that Armand feared? The opening of the secret drawer.

Then you still believe in that poison mechanism? I certainly do. The tragedy of this afternoon proves the truth of the theory. I don't see it, I said helplessly. Why Lester protested Godfrey is his play in his day? Who was that bearded giant who was killed? The traitor, of course. We will find that he was a member of Armand's gang.

He followed Armand to America, lay in wait for him, caught him in the net, and bound him hand and foot. Do you suppose for an instant that Armand was ignorant of his presence in that house? Do you suppose he would have been able to take Armand prisoner if Armand had not been willing that he should? I don't see how Armand could help himself after that fellow got his hands on him. You don't, and yet you saw yourself that he was not really bound, that he had cut himself loose. That is true, I said thoughtfully. Let us reconstruct the story, Godfrey went on rapidly.

The traitor discovers the secret of the cabinet. He follows Armand to New York, shadows him, to the house on 7th Avenue, waits for him there, and seizes and binds him. He is half mad with triumph. He chants a crazy, Sing song about revenge, revenge, revenge. And in order that the triumph may be complete, he does not kill his prisoner at once.

He rolls him into a corner and proceeds to rip away the burlap. His triumph will be to open the secret drawer before Armand's eyes. And Armand lies there in the corner, his eyes gleaming, because it is really the moment of his triumph which is at hand. The moment of his triumph, I repeated. What do you mean by that, Godfrey? I mean that the instant the traitor opened the drawer, he would be stabbed by the poison mechanism.

It was for that that Armand waited. I lay back in my chair with a gasp of amazement and admiration. I had been blind not to see it. Armand merely had to lie still and permit the traitor to walk into the trap prepared for him. No wonder his eyes had glowed as he lay there watching that frenzied figure at the cabinet. it was not until the last moment gothry went on when the trader was bending above the cabinet feeling for the spring that i realized what was about to happen

there was no time for hesitation i sprang into the room armand vanished in an instant and the giant also tried to escape but i caught him at the door i had no idea of his danger i had no thought that armand would dare linger and yet he did now that it is too late i understand he had to kill that man there were no two ways about it whatever the risk he had to kill him but why i asked why to seal his lips if we had captured him do you suppose armand's secret would have been safe for an instant so he had to kill him he had to kill him with the poisoned barb and he did kill him and got away into the bargain never in my life have i felt so like a fool as when that door was slammed in my face perhaps he had that prepared too i suggested timidly ready to believe anything of this extraordinary man perhaps he knew that we were there all the time of course he did assented godfrey grimly why else would there be a snap lock on the outside of the door and to think that i didn't see it to think that i was fool enough to suppose that i could follow him about the streets of new york without his knowing it he knew from the first that he might be followed and prepared for it But it's incredible, I protested feebly. It's incredible. Nothing is incredible in connection with that man. But the risk, think of the risk he ran. What does he care for risks? He despises them and rightly. He got away, didn't he? Yes, I said he got away. There's no

question of that, I guess. Well, that is the story of this afternoon's tragedy as I understand it, proceeded Godfrey more calmly. And now I'm going to leave you. I want you to think it over, if it doesn't hold together, show me where it doesn't. But it will hold together. It has to, because it's true. But how about Armand, I protested? Aren't you going to try and capture him? Are you going to let him get away? He won't get away, and Godfrey's eyes were gleaming again. We don't have to search for him, for we've got our trap, Lester, and it's baited with a bait he can't resist, the bull cabinet. But he knows it's a trap. Of course he knows it, and you really think he'll walk into it, I asked incredulously.

I know he will. One of these days, he will try to get that cabinet out of the steel cell at the twenty-third street station, in which we have it locked. I shook my head. He's no such fool, I said. No man is such a fool as that. He'll give it up and go quietly back to Paris. Not if he's the man I think he is, said Godfrey, his hand on the door. He will never give up. Just wait, Lester, we shall know in a day or two which of us is a true prophet. The only thing I'm afraid of, he added, his face clouding, is that he will get away with the cabinet in spite of us. And he went away down the hall, leaving me staring after him.

End of Chapter 21. Chapter 22 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. crowshard the invincible it seemed for once that gotfrey was destined to be wrong for days passed and nothing happened nothing that is in so far as the cabinet was concerned there was an inquest of course over the victim of the latest tragedy and once again i was forced to give my evidence before a coroner's jury i must confess that this time it made me appear considerable of a fool and the papers poked sly fun at the attorney who had walked blindly into a trap which now that it was sprung seemed so apparent the burdalon measurements of the victim had been cabled to paris and he had been instantly identified as a fellow named morel well known to the police as a daring and desperate criminal in fact m le pine considered the matter so important that he cabled next day that he was sending inspector pujou to new york to investigate the affair further and to confer with our bureau as to the best methods to be taken to apprehend the murderer inspector pujou

it was added with sale at once for harve on la savi meanwhile grady's men with simmons at their head strained every nerve to discover the whereabouts of the fugitive a net was thrown over the entire city, but while a number of fish were captured, the one which the police particularly wished for was not among them. Not a single trace of the fugitive was discovered. He had vanished absolutely, and after a day or two, Grady asserted confidently that he had left New York. For Grady had come back into the case again, goaded by the papers, particularly by the record, two efforts which he must have considered superhuman. The remarkable nature of the mystery, its picturesque and unique features,

the fact that three men had been killed within a few days in precisely the same manner, and the absence of any reasonable hypotheses to explain these deaths, all this served to rivet public attention. Every amateur detective in the country had a theory to exploit, and far-fetched enough most of them were.

Grady did a lot of talking in those days, explaining in detail the remarkable measures he was taking to capture the criminal, but the fact remained that three men had been killed and that no one had been punished, that a series of crimes had been committed, and that the criminal was still at large, and seemed likely to remain so, and naturally enough the papers having exhausted every other phase of the case,

or soon echoing public sentiment that something was wrong somewhere and that the detective bureau needed an overhauling beginning at the top. The bull cabinet remained locked up in the cell at the 23rd Street station, and Simmons kept the key in his pocket. I know, now that he was as much in the dark concerning the cabinet as the general public was, and the general public was very much in the dark indeed. for the cabinet had not figured in the accounts of the first two tragedies at all, and only incidentally in the reports of the latest one. As far as it was concerned, the affair seemed clear enough to most of the reporters,

as an attempt to smuggle into the country an art object of great value. Such cases were too common to attract the special attention. But Simmons had come to see that Grady was tottering on his throne, He realized, perhaps, that his own head was not safe, and he made up his mind to pin his faith to Godfrey as the only one, at all likely, to lead him out of the maze. And Godfrey laid the greatest stress upon the necessity of keeping the cabinet under lock and key, so under lock and key it was kept. As for Grady, I do not believe that, even at the last, he realized the important part the

cabinet had played in the drama. But while the bull cabinet failed to focus the attention of the public, and while most of the reporters promptly forgot all about it, I was amused at the pains which Godfrey took to inform the fugitive as to its whereabouts and as to how it was guarded. Over and over again, while the other papers wondered at its imbecility, he told how it had been placed in the strongest cell at the 23rd Street Station, a cell whose boss cars were made of chrome-nickel steel which no saw could bite into, a cell whose lock was worked not only by a key, but by a combination, known to one man only. A cell isolated from the

others, standing alone in the middle of the third corridor, in full view of the officer on guard, so that no one could approach it day or night without being instantly discovered. A cell whose door was connected with an automatic alarm over the sergeant's desk in the front room, the cell in short, from which no man could possibly escape, and which no man could possibly enter unobserved. Of the bull-cabinet itself, Godfrey said little, saving his story for the denouement, which he seemed so sure would come, but the details which I had given above were dwelt upon in the record. Until happening to meet Godfrey on the street one day, I protested that he would only succeed in frightening the fugitive away

altogether if he still had any designs on the cabinet, which I very much doubted. But Gottfrey only laughed. There's not the slightest danger of frightening him away, he said. This fellow isn't that kind. If I'm right in sizing him up, he's the sort of daredevil whom an insuperable difficulty only attracts. The harder the job, the more he is drawn to it. That's the reason I am making this one just as hard as I can.

But a man would be fool to attempt to get to that cabinet, I protested. It's simply impossible. It looks impossible, I'm free to admit, he agreed. But just the same, I wake every morning cold with fear, and run to the phone to make sure the cabinet's safe. If I could think of any further safeguards, I would certainly employ them. I looked at Goughrey searchingly, for it seemed to me that he must be must be jesting. He smiled as he caught my glance. I was never more in earnest in my life,

Lester, he said. You don't appreciate this fellow as I do. He's a genius. Nothing is impossible to him. He disdains easy jobs. When he thinks a job is too easy, he makes it harder, just as a sporting chance. He has been known to warn people that they keep their jewels too carelessly. Then, after they have put them in a safer place, he would go and take them. That seems rather foolish, doesn't it, I queried? Not from his point of view. He doesn't steal because he needs money, but because he needs excitement. You know who he is, then, I demand it.

I think I do, I hope I do, but I'm not going to tell even you till I'm sure. I'll say this. If he is who I think he is, it would be a delight to match one's brains with his. We haven't got anyone like him over here, which is a pity. I was inclined to doubt this, for I have no romantic admiration for gentlemen burglars, even in fiction. However, picturesque and chivalric a thief is, after all, a thief. Perhaps it is my training as a lawyer, or perhaps I am simply narrow, but crime, however brilliantly carried out, seems to me a sword and unlovely thing. I know quite well, that there are many people who look at these things from a different angle.

Godfrey is one of them. I pointed out to him now that, if his intuitions were correct, he would soon have a chance to match his wits with those of the great unknown. Yes, he agreed, and I'm scared to death. I have been, ever since I began to suspect his identity. I feel like a tyro going up against the master in a game of chess, made in six moves. I shouldn't consider you exactly a Tyro, I said dryly.

It's long odds that the great unknown will, Godfrey retarded, and bade me goodbye. Except for that chance meeting I saw nothing of him, and in this I was disappointed, for there were many things about the whole affair which I did not understand. In fact, when I sat down of an evening and lit my pipe and began to think it over, I found that I understood nothing at all. Gottfrey's theory held together perfectly, so far as I could see, but it led nowhere. How had Dorey and Van Tynne been killed?

Why had they been killed? What was the secret of the cabinet? In a word, what was all this mystery about? Not one of these questions could I answer, and the solutions, I guessed that seemed so absurd that I dismissed them in disgust. In the end, I found the effect. was interfering with my work, and I banished it from my mind, turning my face resolutely away

from it whenever it tried to break into my thoughts. But though I could shut it out of my waking hour successfully enough, I could not control my sleeping ones, and my dreams became more and more horrible. Always there was a serpent with dripping fangs, sometimes with Armand's head, sometimes with a face unknown to me. But hideous being. beyond description. Its slimy body glittered with inlay and aberresque. Its scaly legs were curved like those of the bull cabinet. Sometimes the golden sun glittered on its forehead like a great eye. Over and over again I saw this monster slay its three victims, and always, when that was done, it raised his head and glared at me, as though selecting me for the fourth.

But I shall not try to describe those dreams. Even yet, I cannot. I cannot. not recall them without a shudder. It was while I was sitting moodily in my room one night, debating whether or not to go to bed, weary to exhaustion, and yet reluctant to resign myself to asleep from which I knew I should wake shrieking, that a knock came at the door, a knock I recognized, and I arose joyfully to admit Godfrey. I could see, by the way, his eyes were shining, that he had something unusual to tell me, and then as he looked at me, his face changed.

What's the matter, Lester, he demanded. You look fagged out, working too hard. It's not that I said I can't sleep. This thing has upset my nerves, Godfrey. I dream about it, have regular nightmares. He sat down opposite me, concerned and anxiety in his face. That won't do, he protested. You must go away somewhere, take a rest and a good long one.

A rest wouldn't do me any good. as long as this mystery is unsolved, I said. It's only by working that I can keep my mind off of it. Well, he smiled, just to oblige you, we'll solve it first, then. Do you mean you, no? I know who the great unknown is, and I'm going to tell you presently. Day after tomorrow, Wednesday, I'll know all the rest. The whole story will be in Thursday morning's paper.

Suppose you arrange to start Thursday afternoon. I could only stare at him. He smiled as he met my gaze. You're looking better already, he said, as though you were taking a little more interest in life, and he helped himself to a cigar. Godfrey, I protested. I wish you would pick out somebody else to practice on.

You come up here and explode a bomb just to see how high I'll jump. It's amusing to you, no doubt, and perhaps a little instructive, but my nerves won't stand it. My dear Lester he broke in. That wasn't a bomb. That was a simple statement of fact.

Are you serious? Perfectly so. But how do you know? Before I answer any questions, I want to ask you one. Did you by any chance mention me to the gentleman known to you as Monsieur Felix Armand? Yes, I answered. After a moment's thought, I believe I did. I was telling him about our trying to find the secret drawer.

I mentioned your name, and he asked who you. you were. I told him you were a genius at solving mysteries. Godfrey nodded. Thaddy said explains the one thing I didn't understand. Now go ahead with your questions. You said a while ago that you would know all about this affair day after tomorrow. Yes. How do you know you will? Because I have received a letter which sets to date and he took from his pocket a sheet of paper and handed it over to me. Read it. the letter was written in pencil in a delicate and somewhat feminine hand on a sheet of plain unruled paper with an astonishment which increased with every word i read this extraordinary epistle my dear mr godfrey i have been highly flattered by your interest in the affair of the cabinet bull and admire most deeply your penetration in arriving at a conclusion so nearly correct regarding it I must thank you also for your kindness in keeping me informed of the measures which have been taken to guard the cabinet, and which seemed to me very complete and well thought out.

I have myself visited the station and inspected the cell, and I find that in every detail you are correct. It is because I so esteem you as an adversary that I tell you in confidence that it is my intention to regain possession of my property on Wednesday next. and that having done so, I shall beg you to accept the small souvenir of the occasion. I am, my dear sir, most cordially yours, Shock Christchard, the invincible. I looked up to find Godfrey regarding me with a quizzical smile. Of course it's a joke, I said, then I looked at him again. Surely, Godfrey, you don't believe this is genuine. Perhaps we can prove it, he said quietly.

That is one reason I came up. up. Didn't Armand leave a note for you the day he failed to see you? Yes, on his card I have it here, and with trembling fingers I got out my pocketbook and drew the card from the compartment in which I had carefully preserved it. One glance at it was enough. The penciled line on the back was unquestionably written by the same hand which wrote the letter. And now you know his name, Godfrey added, tapping the signature with his finger. I have been certain from the first. first, that it was he. I gazed at the signature without answering. I had, of course, read in the

papers many times of the gargant exploits of Crouchard. The Invincible, as he loved to call himself, and with good reason. But his achievements, at least, as the papers described them, seemed too fantastic to be true. I had suspected more than once that he was merely a figment of the Parisian space riders, a sort of reserve for the dull season, or else that he was a kind of scapegoat saddled by the French police with every crime which proved too much for them. Now, however, it seemed that Crouchard really existed. I held his letter in my hand. I had even talked with him, and as I remembered the fascination, the finish, the distinguished culture of Monsieur Felix Armand, I understood something of the reason for his extraordinary

reputation. There can be no two opinions about him, said Godfrey, reaching out his hand for the letter and sinking back into his chair to contemplate it. Grischard is one of the greatest criminals who ever live, full of imagination and resource, and, with a sense of humor most acute, I have followed his career for years. It was this fact that gave me my first clue. He killed a man once before, just as he killed this last one. The man had betrayed him to the police.

He was never betrayed again. What a fiend he must be, I said, with a shudder. But Godfrey shook his head quickly. Don't get that idea of him, he protested earnestly. Up to the time of his arrival in New York, he had never killed any man except that traitor. Him he had a certain right to kill, according to thieves' ethics anyway.

His own life had been in peril scores of times, but he has never killed a man to save himself. Put that down to his credit. But Dore and Vantyna objected. An accident for which he was in no way responsible, said Godfrey promptly. You mean he didn't kill them? Most certainly not. The last man he did kill was a traitor like the first.

Crischard, I think, reasons like this. To kill an adversary is too easy. It is too brutal. It lacks finesse. Besides, it removes the air. adversary, and without adversaries, Christard's life would be of no interest to him. After he had killed his last adversary, he would have to kill himself. I can't understand a man like that, I said.

Well, look at this, said Godfrey, and tap the letter again. He honors me by considering me an adversary. Does he seek to remove me? On the contrary, he gives me a handicap. He takes off his queen in order that it may be a little more difficult to mate me. But surely, Godfrey, I protested, you don't take that letter seriously. If he wrote it at all, he wrote it merely to throw you off the track. If he says Wednesday, he really intends to try for the cabinet tomorrow. I don't think so. I told you he would

think me only a Tyro. And beside him, that is all I am. Do you know where he wrote the letter, Lester, right in the record office? This is a sheet of our copy paper. He sat down. He That down there, right under my nose, wrote that letter, dropped it into my box, and walked out. All that, sometime this evening, when the office was crowded. But it's absurd for him to write a letter like that, if he really means it. You have only to warn the police. You'll notice he says it is in confidence.

Are you going to keep it so? Certainly I am. I consider that he has paid me a high compliment. I have shown it to no one but you, also in confidence. It is not the sort of confidence the law recognizes, as I pointed out. To keep a confidence like that is practically to abet a felony. And yet you will keep it, said Godfrey cheerfully. You see, I'm going to do everything I can to prevent that felony,

and we will see if Crouchard is really invincible. I'll keep it, I agreed, because I think the letter is just a blind. And by the way, I added, I have a letter from Armand's son. confirming the fact that their books show that the Bull Cabinet was bought by Philip Van Tyn. Under the circumstances, I shall have to claim it and hand it over to the Metropolitan. I hope you won't disturb it until after Wednesdays had Godfrey quickly. I won't have any interest in it after that. You really think Richard will try for it Wednesday?

I really do. I shrugged my shoulders. What was the use of arguing with a man like that? till after wednesday then i agreed and gotfrey having verified his letter and secured from me the two promises he was after bade me good-night end of chapter twenty two chapter twenty three of the mystery of the bull cabinet by burton egbert stevenson this librivox recording is in the public domain we meet m pigo i was just getting ready to leave the office the next afternoon when gotfrey called me up how are you feeling to-day lester he asked not as fit as i might i said have you arranged the start on that vacation thursday i don't think that's a good joke godfrey it isn't a joke at all i want you to arrange it but meanwhile how would you like a whiff of salt air this evening first rate how will i get it the savoy will get to quarantine about six o'clock. I'm going down on our boat to meet her. I want to have a talk with

Inspector Pigo, the French detective, will you come along? Will I? I said, where shall I meet you? At the foot of Liberty Street, at five o'clock. I'll be there, I promised, and I was. The boat was cast loose as soon as we got aboard, backed out into the busy river. Her whistle shrieking shrilly, then swung about and headed downstream. It was a fast boat, the record, which prided itself on outdistening its contemporaries and other directions, would, of course, try to do so in this. And when she got fairly into her stride, with her engines throbbing rhythmically, the shore on either hand slipped past us rapidly.

The New York skyline has seen from the river is one of the wonders of the world, and I stood looking at it until we swung out into the bay. There were two other men on board, the regular ship reporters, I suppose, and Gottfrey had gone into the cabin with them to talk over some detail of the evening's work. So I went forward to the bow where I would get the full benefit of the salt breeze, with the taste of it on my lips. The Statue of Liberty was just ahead, and already the great searchlight in her torch was winking across the sea.

the water. Craft innumerable, crossed and recrossed. Their lights reflected in the waves, and far ahead, a little to the left, I could see the white glow against the sky, which marked the position of Coney Island. Godfrey joined me presently, and we stood for some time looking at this scene in silence. It's a great sight, isn't it, he said at last. Hello, look at that boat, he added, as a yacht coming down the bay, drew a breast of us, and then slowly forged ahead. She can go some, can't she? This boat of ours is no slouch, you know, but just look how that one walks away from us. I wonder who she is. What boat is that captain, he called to the man on the bridge? Don't know, sir, answered the captain, after a look through

his glasses. Private yacht can't make out her name. There's a flag or something hanging over her stern, she's flying the French flag, there come the other press boats behind us, sir, he added, and there's the Savoy, just slowing down at quarantine. Far ahead we could see a great hull of the liner, dark against the horizon, and crowned with row upon row of glowing lights. One doesn't appreciate how big those boats are, until one sees them from the water, I remarked. Isn't she immense? And yet she's not an especially big boat either, said Godfrey. To swing in under the really big ones like the Olympic is an experience to remember.

The Savoy had by this time slowed down until she was just holding her own against a tide, and one of her lower ports swung open. A moment later, a boat puffed up beside her, made fast, and three or four men clambered aboard and disappeared through the port. there go the doctors said godfrey and there is that french boat going alongside the tug from quarantine dropped the stern and the french yacht took her place after a short colloquy one man from her was helped aboard the savoy then it was our turn and after what seemed to me a tremendous swishing and swirling at imminent risk of collision we swung up to the open port the line was flung out and made fast and and a moment later, Godfrey and I, and the other two men were aboard the liner. My companions exchanged greetings with the officer in charge of the open port,

and then we hurried forward along a narrow corridor, smelling of rubber and heated metal, then upstairs after stair, until at last we came to the main companionway. Here the two men left us, to seek certain distinguished passengers, I suppose, whose view upon the questions of the day were, presumably, anxiously awaited by an expectant public. Godfrey stopped in front of the purser's office and passed his card through the little window to the man inside the cage. I should like to see Monsieur Pigo of the Paris Service du Serret, he said. Perhaps you will be so kind as to have a steward take my card to him. That is unnecessary, sir, replied the purser.

courteously. That is, Monsieur Pugot, yonder, the gentleman with a white hair, with his back to us. You'll have to wait for a moment, however. The gentleman speaking with him is from the French consulate, and has but this moment come aboard. I could not see Inspector Pigo's face, but I could see that he held himself very erect in a manner to be speaking military training. The messenger from the legation was a youngish man with waxed mustache, and wearing an eyeglass. He was greeting Monsieur Pigo at the moment, and after a word or two,

produced from an inside pocket, an official-looking envelope, tied with red tape, and secured with an immense red seal. Monsieur Pugot looked at it an instant, while his companion added a sentence in his ear. Then, with a nod of his scent, the detective turned down one of the passageways,

the other man at his heels. official business no doubt commented the purser who had also been watching this little scene monsieur pigo is one of the best of our officers and you will find it a pleasure to talk with him he will no doubt soon be disengaged yes but meanwhile my esteemed contemporaries will arrive said godfrey with aggrimance they are on my heels here they are now in fact for the next twenty minutes reporters from the other papers kept arriving till there was quite a crowd before the purser's office, and from nearly every paper a special man had been detailed to interview Monsieur Pigo. Evidently all the papers were alive to the importance of the subject. There was some good nature chafing, and then one of the stewards was bribed to carry the cards of the assembled multitude to Monsieur Pigo's statero with a request for an audience.

The steward went away laughing, and came back presently to say that Monsieur Pugot would be pleased to see us in a few minutes, but when five minutes more passed and he did not appear, impatience broke out anew. The lords of the press were not accustomed to be kept waiting. I move we storm his capsule, suggested the world man. And just then, Monsieur Pagot himself stepped out into the companion

in a way. In an instant he was surrounded. My good friends of the press, he said, speaking slowly, but with only the faintest accent, and he smiled around at the faces bent upon him. You will pardon me for keeping you in waiting, but I had some matters of the first importance to attend to, and also my bag to pack. Stewart, he added, you will find my bag outside my door. Please bring it here, so that I may be ready to go ashore at once. the steward hurried away and m pigo turned back to us now gentlemen he went on what is it that i can do for you it was to godfrey that the position of spokesman naturally fell we wish first to welcome you to america monsieur pigo he said and hope that you will have a pleasant and interesting stay in our country you are most kind responded the frenchman with a charming smile i am sure that i shall find it most interesting especially your wonderful wonderful

city, of which I have heard many marvelous things. And in the next place, continued Gawry, we hope that with your assistance our police may be able to solve the mystery surrounding the death of three men recently killed here, and to arrest the murderer. Of themselves, they seem to be able to do nothing. Monsieur Pigo spread out his hands with a little deprecating gesture. I also hope we may be successfully said, but if your police have not been, my poor help will be of little account. I have a profound admiration for your police.

The results which they accomplish are wonderful, when one considers the difficulties under which they labor. He spoke with an accent so sincere that I was almost convinced he meant every word of it, but Godfrey only smiled. It is a proverb, he said, that the French police are the best in the world. You no doubt have a theory in regard to the death of these men. I fear it is impossible, sir, said Monsieur Pagot regretfully, to answer that question at present, or to discuss this case with you. I have my report first to make to the chief of your Detective Bureau. Tomorrow I shall be most happy to tell you all that I can. But for tonight, my lips are closed, sad as it makes me to seem discourteous.

i could hear behind me a little indrawn breath of disappointment at the failure of the direct attack m pigo's position was of course absolutely correct but nevertheless godfrey prepared to attack it on the flank you are going ashore to-night he inquired i was expecting a representative of your bureau to meet me here monsieur pigo explained i was hoping to return with him to the city i have no time to lose in addition the more quickly we get to work the more likely we shall be to succeed ah perhaps that is he he added as a voice was heard inquiring loudly for monsieur i recognized that voice and so did godfrey and i saw the cloud of disappointment which fell upon his face an instant later grady with simmons in his wake elbowed his way through the group monsieur peggot he cried and enveloped the frenchman's slender hand in his great paw and gave it a squeeze which was no doubt painful glad to see you sir welcome to our city as we say over here at america i certainly hope you can speak english for i don't know a word of your lingo i'm commissioner grady in charge of the detective bureau and this is simmons one of my men m pigo's perfect suavity was not even ruffled i am most pleased to meet you sir and you monsieur simmons he said yes i speak english though as you can see with some difficulty these reporters bothering your life out i see and grady glanced about the group scowling as his eyes met godfrey now you boys might as well fade away you won't get anything out of either of us to-night eh

monsieur piggot i have but just told them that my first report must be made to you sir assented pigo then let us go somewhere and have a drink suggested grady i was hoping said m pigo gently that we might go ashore at once i have my papers ready for you all right agreed grady and after i've looked over your papers i'll show you broadway and i'll bet you agree with me that it beats anything in gay paris Our boat's waiting, and we can start right away. This your bag? Yes, bring it along, Simmons, and Grady started for the stair. But the attentive steward got ahead of Simmons. Monsieur Pigo turned to us with a little smile. Till tomorrow, gentlemen, he said,

I shall be at the Hotel Aster, and shall be glad to see you, shall we say at eleven o'clock, I am truly sorry that I can tell you nothing tonight. He shook hands with the purser, waved his hands to us, and joined Grady, who was watching these amenities, with evident impatience. Together they disappeared down the stair. The contrast and manners, was it not, gentlemen? asked Godfrey, looking about him. Didn't you blush for America?

The men laughed, for they knew he was after Grady, and yet it was evident enough that they agreed with him. Come on, Lesser, he added. we might as well be getting back i can send the boat down again after the other boys and he turned down the stair end of chapter twenty three chapter twenty four of the mystery of the bull cabinet by burton egbert stevenson this librivox recording is in the public domain the secret of the cabinet godfrey bade me good-bye at the dock and hastened away to the office to write his story which i could guess would be concerned with the manners of Americans, especially with Grady's. As for me, that whiff of salt air had put an unaccustomed edge to my appetite, and I took a cab to Murray's, deciding to spend the remainder of the evening there,

over a good dinner, except at a certain mood, Murray's does not appeal to me, the pseudo-Grecian temple in the corner, with water cascading down its steps, The make-believe clouds which float across the ceiling, the tables of glass lighted from beneath, all this ordinarily seems trivial and banal. But occasionally, in an esoteric mood, I like murries, and can even find something picturesque and romantic in the bright gowns and gleaming shoulders and handsome faces seen amid these bizarre surroundings. And then, of course, there is always the cooking, which leaves nothing to be it.

to be desired. I was in the right mood tonight for the enjoyment of the place, and I ambled through the dinner in a fashion so leisurely and trifled so long over coffee and cigarette that it was far past ten o'clock when I came out again into Forty-second Street. After an instant's hesitation, I decided to walk home and turned back toward Broadway, already filling with the after-theater crowd. Often as I have seen it, Broadway at night is still a fascinating place to me, with its blazing

signs, its changing crowds, its clanging street traffic, its bright shop windows. Grady was right in saying that Gay Parry had nothing like it, nor has any other city that I know. It is indeed unique and thoroughly American. And I walked along it that night in the most leisurely fashion, savoring it to the full. pausing now and then for a glance at a shop window and stopping at the Hoffman house now denuded alas of its boogorole to replenish my supply of cigarettes reaching Madison square at last i walked out under the trees as i almost always do to have a look at the flat-iron building white against the sky then i glanced up at the metropolitan tower higher but far less romantic in appearance and saw by the big illuminated clock that it was nearly half-past eleven. I crossed back over Broadway at last and turned down 23rd Street in the direction of the

marathon. When, just at the corner, I came face to face with three men as they swung around the corner in the same direction, and, with a little start, I recognized Grady and Simmons with Monsieur Pigo between them. Evidently Grady had felt it incumbent upon himself to make good as promise in the most liberal manner, and to display the wonders of the Great White Way from end to end, the ceremony, no doubt, involving the introduction of the stranger to a number of typical American drinks, and the result of all this was Grady's legs wobbled perceptibly. As a matter of racial

comparison, I glanced at Monsieur Pagos, but they seemed in every way normal. Hello, Lester, said Simmons, in a voice, which showed that he had not wholly escaped the influences of the evening's celebration, and even Grady condescended to nod, from which I inferred that he was feeling very unusually happy. Hello, Simmons, I answered, and as I turned westward with him, he dropped back and fell into step beside me. Pickett is certainly a wonder, he said, a regular sport, wanted to see everything and taste everything.

He says Paris ain't in the same class with this town. Where are you going now, I asked. We're going round to the station. Pickett says he's got a sensation up his sleeve for us. It's got something to do with that cabinet. With a cabinet? Yes, that shiny thing Godfrey got me to lock up in a cell. Simmons, I said seriously.

Does Godfrey know about this? No, said Simmons, looking a little uncomfortable. I told Grady, we ought to phone him to come up. But the chief got mad and told me to mind my own business. Godfrey's been after him, you know, for a long time. suppose i phone em i suggested there'd be no objection to that would there i won't object said simmons and i don't know who else will since nobody else will know about it all right and drag out the preliminaries as long as you can to give him a chance to get up here Simmons nodded. "'I'll do what I can,' he agreed.

But I don't see what good it will do. The chief won't let him in, even if he does come up. We'll have to leave that to Godfrey, but he ought to be told he's responsible for the cabinet being where it is. I know he is, and Pickett says it was a mighty wise thing to put it there, though I'm blessed if I know why. Hurry, Godfrey along as much as you can. Good night, and he followed his companions into the station.

There was a drugstore at the corner with a public telephone station, and two minutes later I was asking to be connected with the city room at the record office. No, said a super-silious voice. Mr. Gottfried was not there. He had left some time before. No, the speaker did not know where he was going, nor when he would be back. Look here I said this is important. I want to talk to the city editor and be quick about it.

There was an instance astonished silence. What name? asked the voice. Lester, of Royce and Lester, and you might tell your city editor that Godfrey is a close friend of mine. The city editor seemed to understand, for I was switched on to him a moment later, but he was scarcely more satisfactory. We sent Gottfried up into Westchester to see a man, he said, on a tip that looked pretty good. He started just as soon as he got his Pigo story written, and he ought to be back almost any time. Is there a message I can give him? Yes, tell him that Pigo is at the 23rd Street station, and that he'd better come up as soon as he can. Very good. I'll give him the message the moment he comes in. Thank you,

I said, but the disappointment was a bitter one. In the street again, I paused hesitatingly at the curb, my eyes on the red light of the police station. What was about to happen there? What was the sensation, Monsieur Pigo had up his sleeve? Had I any excuse for being present? And then, remembering Grady's nod and his wobbly legs, remembering, too, that at the worst, he could only put me out, I turned toward the light, pushed open the door, and entered. There was no one in sight except the sergeant at the desk.

My name is Lester, I said, you have a cabinet here, belonging to the estate of the late Philip Van Tyn. We got a cabinet all right, but I have a cabinet, I don't know who it belongs to. It belongs to Mr. Van Tynes' estate. Well, what about it, he asked, looking at me to see if I was drunk. You haven't come in here at midnight to tell me that, I hope. No, but I'd like to see the cabinet a minute.

You can't see it tonight, come around tomorrow. Besides, I don't know you. Here's my card. Either Mr. Simmons or Mr. Grady would know me, and tomorrow won't do. The sergeant took the card, looked at it, and looked at me. Wait a minute, he said, at last, and disappeared through the door at the farther side of the room. He was gone three or four minutes, and the station clock struck twelve as I stood there.

I counted the sonorous deliberate strokes, and then, in the silence that followed, my hands began to tremble with the suspense. Suppose Grady should refuse to see me, but at last the sergeant came back. Come along, he said, opening the gate and the railing, and motioning me through. straight on through that door, he added, and sat down again at his desk. With a desperate effort at careless unconcern, I opened the door and passed through. Then involuntarily I stopped, for there, in the middle of the floor was the bull cabinet, with Monsieur Pigo standing beside it, and Grady and Simmons sitting opposite,

flung carelessly back in their chairs and puffing at black cigars. They all looked at me as I entered. Peugeot, with an evident contraction of the brows, which showed how strongly his urbanity was strained. Simmons, with an affection of surprise and Grady, with a bland and somewhat vacant smile. My heart rose when I saw that smile. Well, Mr. Lester, he said, so you want to see this cabinet. Yes, I answered. It really belongs to the Van Tine estate, you know.

I'm going to put in a claim for it, that is, if you are not willing to surrender it without contest. Did you just happen to think of this in the middle of the night, he inquired, quizzically? No, I said boldly, but I saw you and Mr. Simmons and this gentleman, with a bow to Monsieur Pigo, turn in here a moment ago, and it occurred to me that the cabinet might have something to do with your visit. Of course, we don't want the cabinet injured.

It's very valuable. Don't worry, said Grady easily. We're not going to injure it, and I think we'll be ready to surrender it to you at any time after tonight. M. M. Pagot here wants to do a few tricks with it first. I suppose you have a certain right to be present, so, if you like sly of hand, sit down. I hastily sought a chair, my heart singing within me.

Then I attempted to assume a mask of indifference, for Monsieur Pigo was obviously annoyed at my presence, and I feared for a moment that his gallic suavity would be strained to the breaking. But Grady, if he noticed his guest's annoyance, paid no heed to it, and I began to suspect that the Frenchman's courtesy and good breeding had ended by rubbing Grady the wrong way. They were in such painful contrast to his own hobnailed manners. Whatever the cause, there was a certain malice in the smile he turned upon the Frenchman. And now, Mousier-Pigot, he said, settling back in his chair a little farther, were ready for the show.

What I have to tell you, sir, began Monsieur Pigo, in a voice as hard as steel and cold as ice, has, understand well, to be told in confidence. It must remain between ourselves until the criminal is secured. Grady's smile hardened a little. Perhaps he did not like the imperatives. At any rate, he ignored the hint. Understand, Mr. Lester, he asked, looking at me, and I nodded. I saw Pigo's eyes flame, and his face flushed with anger, for Grady's tone was almost insulting. For an instant I thought that he would refuse to proceed, but he controlled himself. Standing there facing me, in the full light, it was possible for me to examine him much more closely than had been possible on board the boat, and I looked at him with interest.

He was typically French, smooth-shaven, with a face seamed with little wrinkles, and very white, eyes shadowed by enormously bushy lashes, and close-cropped hair as white as his face. But what attracted me most was the mouth, a mouth at once delicate and humorous, a little large, with the lips full enough to be token vigor, yet not too full for finesse. He was about sixty years of age, I guessed, and there was about him the air of a man that passed through a hundred remarkable experiences, without once losing him. his aplomb. Certainly, he was not going to lose it now. The story which I have to relate, he began, in his careful English, clipping his words a little now and then, has to do

with the theft of the famous Michaelovitch Diamonds. You may perhaps remember the case. I remembered it, certainly, for the robbery had been conceived and carried out with such brilliancy and daring, that its details had at once arrested my attention, to say nothing of the fact. that the diamonds, which formed the celebrated collection, belonging to the Grand Duke Michael of Russia, so journeying in Paris, because unappreciated in his native land, and also because of the supreme attraction of the French capital, to one of his temperament, were valued at something like eight million francs. The theft continued, Monsieur Pagot, was accomplished in a manner at once so bold and so unique that we were certain it could be the work of but a single

man. A rascal named Crouchard, who calls himself also the invincible. A rascal who has given us very great trouble, but whom we have never been able to convict. In this case, we had against him no direct evidence. We subjected him to an interrogation, and found that he had taken care to provide a perfect alibi. So we were compelled to release him. We knew that it would be quite useless to arrest him, unless we should find some of the stolen jewels in his possession. He appeared, as usual, upon the boulevards at the cafes everywhere. He laughed in our faces. For us it was not pleasant, but our law is strict. For us to accuse a man, to arrest him, and then to be compelled to own ourselves mistaken, is a very serious matter. But we did

what we could. We kept Christard under constant surveillance. We searched the his rooms and those of his mistress, not once but many times. On one occasion, when he passed a barrier at Vincennes, our agents fell upon him and searched him under pretense of robbing him. He was, understand well, not for an instant deceived. He knew thoroughly what we were doing, for what we were searching. He knew also that nowhere in Europe would he dare to attempt to sell a single one of those jewels. We suspected that he was. would attempt to bring them to this country, and we warned your Department of Customs, for we knew that here he could sell all but the very largest, not only almost without danger, but at a

price far greater than he could obtain for them in Europe. We closed every avenue to him, as we thought, and then all at once he disappeared. For two weeks we heard nothing, and then came the story of this man Dore, killed by a stab on the hand. At once we recognized the work of Christard, for he alone, of living men, possesses the secret of the poison of the Medici. It is a fearful secret which in his whole life he has used but once, and that was upon a man who had betrayed him. Monsieur Pigo paused and passed his hand across his forehead. We were at a loss to understand Crishard's connection with D'Re.

Monsieur Pagot continued, De Ray, while a mere hangar-on at the cafes of the boulevards, was not a criminal. Then came the death of that creature, Morrell, in an effort to gain possession of this cabinet, and we began to understand. We made inquiries concerning the cabinet, we learned its history and the secret of its construction, and we arrived at a certain conclusion. It was to ascertain if that conclusion is correct that I came to America. What is the conclusion, queried Grady, who had listened to all this with a manifest in patience in strong contrast to my own absorbed interest.

For I had already guessed what the conclusion was, and my pulses were bounding with excitement. Our theory, replied Monsieur Pigo, without the slightest acceleration of speech, is that the Mikhailovich diamonds are concealed in this cabinet. Everything points to it, and we shall soon see. As he spoke, he drew from his pocket a steel gauntlet, marvelously like the one Godfrey had used,

and slipped it over his right hand. When one attempts to fathom the secrets of the invincible, he said with a smile, one must go armored. Already three men have paid with their lives the penalty of their rashness. Three men repeated Grady wonderingly. Three, and Peugeot checked them off upon his fingers. First, the man who gave his name as Durel, but who was really a blackmailer named a ray. Second, Monsieur Van Tyn, the connoisseau.

and third the creature morel of these the only one that really matters is m van tines his death was most unfortunate and i am sure that grisjard regrets it exceedingly he might also regret my death but at any rate i have no wish to be the fourth not i and he adjusted the gauntlet carefully one moment monsieur i said bursting in unable to remain longer silent this is also wonderful so thrilling will you not tell us more for what were these men searching for the jewels monsieur is as familiar with the fax as i he answered in a sarcastic tone he knows that the ray was killed while searching for a packet of letters which would have compromised most seriously a great lady he knows that m van tine was killed while endeavouring to open the drawer after its secret had been revealed to him by the maid of that same great lady who was hoping to get a reward for them morale met death directly at the hands of chrychard because he was a traitor and deserved it more and more fascinated i stared at him what secrets were safe i asked myself from this astonishing man or was he merely piecing together the whole story from such fragments as he knew but even yet i stammered i do not understand we have opened the secret drawer of the cabinet there was no poison how could it have killed dray and mr van tine very simply said m pago coldly death came to dray and m van tine because the maid of madame la duchess mistook her left hand for her right the drawer which contains the letters is at the left of the cabinet see and he pressed a series of springs and caught the little handle and pulled the drawer open you will notice that the letters are gone for the drawer was opened by madame la duchess herself in the presence of m lestere who very gallantly permitted her to resume possession of them the drawer which the ray and mr van tyne opened and here his voice became a little strident under the stress of great emotion is on the right side of the cabinet exactly opposite the other and opened by a similar combination

but there is one great difference about the first drawer there is nothing to harm any one the other is guarded by the deadliest poison the world has ever known observe me gentlemen impelled by an excitement so intense As to be almost painful, I had risen from my chair and drawn near to him. As he spoke, he bent above the desk and pressed three fingers along the right edge. There was a sharp click, and a section of the inlay fell outward, forming a handle, just as I had seen it do on the other side of the desk. Monsieur Pigo hesitated an instant. Any man would have hesitated before that awful risk. Then, catching the handle firmly with his armored hand,

he drew it quickly out. There was a sharp clash as of steel on steel, and the drawer stood open. End of Chapter 24. Chapter 25 of a mystery of the bull cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. The Mikhailovich Diamonds

Monsieur Pigo, cool and imperturbable, held out to us with a little smile a hand which showed not a quiver of emotion. His gauntleted hand, and I saw that on the back of it, were two tiny depressions. At the bottom of each depression lay a drop of bright red liquid. Blood red, I told myself, as I stared at it, fascinated. And what nerves of steel this man possessed. A sudden warmth of admiration for him glowed within me. That liquid, gentleman, he said, in his smooth voice, is the most powerful poison ever distilled by man. Those two tiny drops would kill a score of people, and kill them instantly.

Its odor betrays its origin, and indeed the air was heavy with a scent of bitter alums. But the poison ordinarily derived from that source is as nothing compared with this. This poison is said to have been discovered by Remney. that remarkable man who brought about the death of the Duke de Anjou. Its distillation was supposed to be one of the lost arts, but the secret was rediscovered by this man, Christard. No secret indeed is safe from him. Criminal history, criminal memoirs,

the mysteries and achievements of the great confederacy of crime, which has existed for many centuries, and whose existence few persons ever suspect, all this is to him an open book it is this which renders him so formidable no man can stand against him even the secret of this drawer was known to him and he availed himself of it when a need arose m pigo paused his head bent in thought and i seemed to be gazing with him down long avenues of crime extending far into the past dismal avenues like those of perlachais where tombs elbowed each other where at every step one came face to face with a mystery a secret or a tragedy only here the mysteries were all solved the secrets all uncovered the tragedies all understood but only to the elect to criminals really great where these avenues open to all others they were forbidden alone of living men perhaps crusard was free to wonder there unchallenged some such vision as this i say passed before my eyes and i had a feeling that m pigo shared in it but after an instant he turned back to the cabinet

now m simmons he said briskly in an altered voice if you will have the kindness to hold the drawer for a moment in this position i will draw the serpent's fangs there is not the slightest danger he added seeing that simmons very naturally hesitated thus assured simmons grasped the handle of the drawer and held it open while the frenchman took from his pocket a tiny flask of crystal a little farther he said and as simmons with evident effort drew the drawer out to its full length a tiny two-tined prong pushed itself forward from underneath the cabinet there are the fang said m pugo goe he held the mouth of the flask under the first one and then the other passing his other hand carefully behind and above them the poison is held in place by what we in french call attraction capelare i do not know the english but i drive it out by introducing the air behind it ah you see he stood erect and held the flask up to the light it was half full of the red liquid enough to decimate france he said screwed the stopper carefully in the place and put the flask in his pocket released a drawer if you please monsieur he added to simmons it sprang back in the place on the instant the aberrest handle snapping up with a little click you will observe its ingenuity said m pigo it is really most clever for whenever the hand struck by the poison fangs loosens its hold on the drawer the drawer sprang shut as you see and everything was as before except that one man more had tasted death now i open it the fangs fall again they strike the gauntlet but for that they would pierce the hand but death no longer follows by turning this button i lock the spring and the drawer remains open

the man who devised this mechanism was so proud of it that he described it in a secret memoir for the entertainment of the grand louis there is a copy of that memoir among the archives of the bibliotheque national the original is owned by chrychard it was he who connected that memoir with his cabinet who rediscovered the mechanism rewound the spring and renewed the poison no doubt the stroke with the poisoned fangs which he used to punish traitors was the result of reading that memoir this croixar or whatever's name is seemed to be a extraordinary fellow observed grady relighting his cigar he is agreed m pigo quietly a most extraordinary man but even he is not infallible for since the memoir made no mention of the other secret drawer the one in which madame la duchess concealed her love-letters chrachard knew nothing of it it was that fact which defeated his combinations a pure accident which he could not foresee and now gentlemen it shall be my pleasure to display before you some very beautiful brilliants Not until that instant had I thought of what the drawer contained. I had been too fascinated by the poison fangs and by the story told so quietly but so effectively by the French detective.

But now I perceived that the drawer was filled with little rolls of cotton, which had been pressed into it quite tightly. Monsieur Pigo removed the first of these, unrolled it, and spread it out upon the desk, and instantly we caught the glitter of diamonds, diamonds so large, so brilliant, so faultlessly white, that I drew a deep breath of admiration. Even Monsieur Pigo, evidently, as he prided himself upon his imperturbability, could not look at those gems wholly unmoved.

The slow color crept into his cheeks as he gazed down at them, and he picked up one or two of the larger ones to admire them more closely. Then he unfolded roll after roll, stopping from time to time, for a look at the larger brilliance. These are from the famous necklace which the Grand Duke inherited from his grandmother, he said, calling our attention to a little pile of marvelous gems in one of the last packets.

Grischard, of course, removed them from their settings. That was inevitable. He could melt down the settings and sell the gold, but not one of these brilliance would be marketable in Europe for many years. Each of them is a marked gem. Here in America, your police regulations are not so complete, but I fancy that even here. He would have had difficulty in marketing this one, and he unfolded the last packet and held up to the light a rose-colored diamond, which seemed to me as large as a walnut and a glow with lovely color.

Perhaps you have stopped to admire the Mazarin Diamond in the Gallery of Apollo at the Louvre, said Monsieur Pagot. there is always a crowd about that case, and a special attendant is installed there to guard it, for it contains some articles of great value, but the Mazarin is not one of them, for it is not a diamond at all, it is paste, a paste facsimile of which this is the original. Oh, it's all quite honest, he added, as Grady snorted derisively. Some years ago, the directors of the Lou needed a fund for the purchase of new paintings, needed also to clean and restore the old ones. They decided that it was folly to keep three millions of francs

imprisoned in a single gem. When their Michelangelo's and Da Vinci's and Marillos were encrusted with dirt and fading daily, so they sought a purchaser for the mazarin. They found one in the Empress of Russia, who had a craze for precious stones, and who at her death, left this remarkable collection to her favorite son,

who had inherited her purse of her purse of her. passion. A paste replica of the Mazarin was placed in the Louvre for the crowds to admire, and everyone soon forgot that it was not really the diamond. For myself, I think the directors acted most wisely, and now he added, with a gesture toward the glittering heaps, what shall we do with all this? There's only one thing to do, said Grady, awakening suddenly, as from a trance, and that's to get them in a safe deposit box as quick as possible. there's no police safe i'd trust with em why they'd tempt the angel gabriel and he drew a deep breath can we find a box of safe deposit at this hour the night as monsieur pigo glancing at his watch it is almost one o'clock and a half that's easy in new york said grady we will take him over to the day and night bank on fifth avenue it never closes wait till i get something to put him in he went out and came back presently with a small valise

this will do he said stole him away and i'll call up the bank and arranged for the box simmons and pigo rolled up the packets carefully and placed them into valise while i sat watching them in a kind of days and i understood the temptation which would assail a man in the presence of so much beauty it was not the value of the jewels which shook and dazzled me i scarcely thought of that it was their seductive brilliance it was the thought that if i possessed them i might take them out at any hour of the day or night and run my fingers through them and watch them shimmer and quiver in the light the grand duke michael must have been considerably upset remarked simmons who throughout all this scene had lost no wit of his serenity of demeanor he has been like a madman said m pugo smiling a little at simmons's unemotional tone these jewels are a passion with him he worships them he never has parted with them even for a day where he goes they have gone in his most desperate need of money and he has had such need many times he has never sold one of his brilliance on the contrary whenever he has money or credit and the opportunity comes to purchase a stone of unusual beauty he could not resist even though his debts go unpaid since the loss of these stones he has raved he has cursed he has beat his servants one of them has died in consequence we are all a little mad on some one subject i have heard it said well the grand duke michael is very mad on the subject of diamonds why didn't he offer a reward for their return queried simmons oh he did said monsieur pigot he offered immediately his old fortune for their return but his fortune was not large enough to tempt chrychreyshire for the Grand Duke really has nothing but the income from his family estates,

and you may well believe that he spends all of it. It will be a great joy to him that we have found them. The thought flashed through my mind that doubtless Monsieur Pagot was in the way of receiving a handsome present. There they are, said Simmons, and closed a bag with a snap as Grady came in again. I've arranged for the box, said Grady, and one of our wagons is at the door. I thought we'd better not trust the taxi, might turn over or run into something, and we can't afford to take any chances, not this trip. Simmons, you go along with Monsieur Piggott and put an extra man on the seat with the driver.

Maybe that Crochet might try to hold you up. The same thought was in my own mind, for Creschard must have learned of Monsieur Piggott's arrival, and I could scarcely imagine that he would sit quietly by and permit the jewels to be taken away from him, to say nothing of a chagrin over his unfulfilled boast to Godfrey. So I was relieved that Grady was wise enough to take no risk. You'd better get a receipt, Grady went on, and arranged that the valise is to be delivered only when you and Monsieur Piggott appear together. That will be satisfactory, monsieur, he added, turning to the Frenchman.

Entirely so, sir. Very well, then. I'll see you in the morning. i congratulate you on the find it was certainly great work i thank you sir replied m pigo gravely au revoir monsieur and with a bow to me he followed simmons into the outer room grady sat down and got out of fresh cigar well mr lester he said as he struck a match what do you think of these frenchmen anyway they're marvellous i said even yet i can't understand how he knew so much maybe he was just guessing at some of it grady suggested I thought of that, but I don't believe anybody could guess so accurately. For instance, how did he know about those letters? Fact is, broke him, Grady. That's the first I heard of him.

What is that story? I told him the story briefly, carefully suppressing everything, which would give him a clue to the identity of the veiled lady. There were certain details I added, which I suppose were known to no one except myself and two other persons, and yet Monsieur Pugot knew them. then again how did he know so certainly just how the mechanism worked how did he know which roll of cotton contained that mazarin diamond you will remember that he told us what was in that roll before he opened it grady smiled good-naturedly and a little patronizingly that was the last role wasn't it he demanded since that big diamond hadn't shown up in any of the others he knew it had to be in that role it was just one of the little plays for effect them frenchies are so fond of perhaps you are right i agreed but it seemed to me that he handled that mechanism as though he were familiar with it of course he may have prepared himself by studying the drawings which no doubt accompany the secret memoir

he may even have had a working model made grady nodded tolerantly them fellows go to a lot of trouble over things like that he said they like to slam their cards down on the table with a big hurriedly but he nodded tolerantly them fellows go to a lot of trouble over things like that he said they like to slam their cards down on the table with a big hurrah rah, even when the cards ain't worth a damn. He certainly held trumps this time anyway, I commented, and he played his hands superbly. He's an extraordinary man. A great actor, Grady supplemented. Them fellas always behave, like they was on the stage, right in the spotlight. It makes me a little tired sometimes. Hello, who's that?

The front door had been flung open. There was an instance, colloquy, with a desk sergeant. then a rapid step crossed the outer room, and Godfrey burst in upon us. He cast a rapid glance at the bull cabinet, at the secret drawer standing open, empty, and then his eyes rested upon Grady. So he got away with it, diddy, he inquired. Who in the hell do you think you are, shouted Grady, his face purple. Coming in here like this, get out, or have you thrown out?

Oh, I'll go, retorted Godfrey coolly. I've seen all I care to see. Only I'll tell you one thing, Grady. you've signed your own death warrant tonight. What do you mean by that, Grady demanded, in a lower tone. I mean that you won't last an hour after the story of this night's work gets out. Grady's color slowly faded as he met the burning and contemptuous gaze Godfrey turned upon him. As for me, an awful fear had gripped my heart.

Do you mean to say it wasn't Piggott? stammered Grady at last. Godfrey laughed scornfully. No, you blithering idiot, he said it wasn't Piggy. it was Christchard himself, and he stalked out, slamming the door behind him. End of Chapter 25. Chapter 26 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. The fate of Monsieur Pigo.

Whatever may have been Grady's defects of insight and imagination, he was energetic enough when thoroughly aroused. Almost before the echo of that slamming door had died away, he was beside the sergeant's desk. Get out the reserves, he ordered, and have the other wagon round. Phone headquarters to rush every man available up to the day and night bank and say it's from me. He stood chewing his cigar savagely, as the sergeant hastened to obey. In a moment the reserves came tumbling out, struggling into their coats. There was a clatter of hoofs in the street as the wagon dashed up.

The reserves piled into it, permitting me to crowd in beside them. Grady jumped to the seat beside the driver, and we were off at a gallop, our gong, waking the echoes of the silent street. I clung to the handrail as the wagon swayed back and forth, or bound it into the air, as it struck the car tracks, and stared out into the night, struggling to understand. Could Godfrey be right? But of course he was right. Some intuition told me that, and yet, how had Christard managed to substitute himself for the French detective?

Where was Peugeot? Was he lying somewhere in a crumpled heap with a tiny wound upon his hand? But that could not be. Grady and Simmons had been with him all the evening. And could that aged Frenchman, with a white, fine, wrinkled skin, be also the bronze and verile personage, whom I had known as Felix Armand, my reason reeled before the seeming impossibility of it, and yet somehow I knew that Godfrey was right. The wagon came to a stop so suddenly that I was thrown violently against a man next to me,

and the reserves, leaping out, swept me before them. We were in front of the day and night bank, and at a word from Grady, the men spread into a close cordon before the building. another police-wagon stood at the curb with the driver still on the seat but as grady started thwart it a figure appeared at the door of the bank and shouted to us shouted in an inarticulate words which i could not understand but grady seemed to understand them and went up the steps two at a time with an agility surprising and so large a man and which i was hard put to it to match a little group stood at one side of the vestibule looking down at someone extended on a cushioned seat and an instant later i saw that it was simmons lying on his back his eyes open and staring apparently at the ceiling but at the second glance i saw that the eyes were sightless grady elbowed his way savagely through the group where's kelly he demanded at the words a white-faced man in uniform arose from a chair into which he had plainly dropped exhausted oh there you are and grady glowered at him ferociously now tell me what happened and tell it quick why sir stammered kelly there wasn't anything happened Only when we stopped out there at the curb and I got down and opened the door, there wasn't

nobody in the wagon but Mr. Simmons. I spoke to him, and he didn't answer. And then I touched him, and he kind of fell over. And then I rushed in here and phoned the station. But they said you'd already started for the bank, and then we went out and brought him in here, and that's all I know, sir. You didn't hear anything, no sound of a struggle? Not a sound, sir, not a single sound.

and you haven't any idea where the other man got out? No, sir. Mr. Simmons had a little of the lease with him. Did you notice it? Yes, sir, and I looked for it in the wagon, but it ain't there. Grady turned away with a curse as four or five men ran in from the street. The men from headquarters, I told myself. I could hear him talking to them in sharp, low tones, and then they departed as suddenly as they had come. The reserves also hurried away, and I concluded that Grady was trying to throw a net about the territory in which the fugitive was probably concealed.

But my interest in that maneuver was overshadowed, for the time being, by my anxiety for Simmons. I picked up his right hand and looked at it, then I drew a deep breath of relief, for it was uninjured. Has anyone sent for a doctor, I asked? Yes, sir, one of the bank attaches answered. We telephoned for one at once. here he is now, he added, as a little black-bearded man entered, carrying the inevitably identifying medicine case. The newcomer glanced at the body, waved the spack, fell on one knee, stripped away the clothing from the breast, and applied his ear to the heart. Then he looked

into the staring eyes, drew down the lids, and watched them snap up again, and then hastily opened his case. Let's have some water, he said. Then he's not dead, I questioned, as one of the clerk sprang to obey. Dead, no, but he's had a taste or whiff of something that has stopped the hard action. With a queer, creepy feeling over my scalp, I remembered the little flask half full of blood-red liquid which Koschard carried in his pocket. But he had not meant to murder this time. I remembered that Godfrey had said he never killed an adversary.

The doctor worked briskly away, and at the end of a few minutes, Simmons' eyes suddenly closed. He drew a long breath and sat erect. Then his eyes opened, and he sat swaying unsteadily, and staring amazingly about him. Best lie down again, said the doctor soothingly. You're a little wobbly yet, you know. Where am I? Gasp Simmons.

Then his eyes encountered mine. Lester, he said. Where is he? Pigot? Not? He stopped short, looked once around at the gleaming marble of the bank, fumbled for something at his side and fell senseless on the seat. I have no recollection of how I got back to the marathon.

I suppose I must have walked, but my first distinct remembrance is of finding myself sitting in my favorite chair, pipe in hand. The pipe was lit, so I suppose I must have lighted it mechanically, and I found that I had also mechanically changed into my lounging coat. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was nearly full. four o'clock. The top of my head was burning as though with fever, and I went into the bathroom and turned the cold water on it. The shock did me a world of good, and by the time I had finished

the vigorous towling, I felt immensely better, so I returned to my chair and sat down to review the events of the evening, but I found that somehow my brain refused to work, and black circles began to whirl before my eyes again. I told Gottfrey I couldn't stand in Any more of this I muttered, and stumbled into my bedroom, undressed with difficulty, and turned out the light. Then as I lay there, staring up into the darkness, a stinging thought brought me upright. Godfrey, where was Godfrey? Was he on the track of Creschard?

Was he daring a contest with him? Perhaps even at this moment. Scarcely knowing what I did, I groped my way to the telephone and asked for Godfrey's number, hoping against hope absurdly. at last, to my intense surprise and relief, I heard his voice, not a very amiable voice. "'Hello,' he said. "'Gotfrey I began. It's Lester.

He got away. Of course he got away. He didn't call me out of bed to tell me that, I hope. Then you knew about it? I knew he'd get away. When the wagon got to the bank there was nobody inside but Simmons. Simmons went along, you know. Was he hurt?

He was unconscious, but he came around all right. That's good, but Grouchard wouldn't hurt him. He got away with the jewels, of course. Of course I assented, surprised that Gottfrey should take it so coolly. When you rushed out that way, I added, I thought maybe you were going after him. With him twenty minutes in the lead? I'm no such fool. He got away from me the other day with a start of about half a second.

I tried to get you, I explained. As soon as Simmons told me they were going to look at the cabinet. I phoned the office. The city editor said he had sent you out into Westchester. Godfrey laughed shortly. It was a wild goose chase, he said, cooked up by our friend, Krishard. But even then, I'd have got back if we hadn't punctured attire when we were five miles from anywhere. I knew what was up, but there I was. Always made fools of us all, Lester. I told you he would. Then you didn't get my message? Yes, they gave it to me. me when I phoned in that the Westchester business was a fake. I rushed for the station,

though I knew I'd be too late. But Godfrey, I said, I can't understand even yet how he did it. Grady and Simmons left the boat with Peugeot and were with him all evening, showing him the sights. How did Christard get into it? What did he do with Peugeot? Where is Peugeot? He's on the Savoy. I rushed the wireless down to her as soon as I left the station. They made a search, and found Peugeot bound and gagged under the berth in his stateroom. I could only gasp. And to think I didn't suspect, added Godfrey bitterly, we stood there and saw that yacht with a French flag walk away from us.

We saw her put a man aboard the Savoy, and we saw that man talking to Peugeot. Yes, I said breathlessly, yes. Well, that man was Christard. He got Peugeot in a stateroom, gave him a whiff of the same stuff he used on Simmons, no doubt. put him out of the way under the berth got into his clothes made up his face put on a wig and all that while we were kicking our heels outside waiting for him but it was a tremendous risk i said there were so many people on board who knew pejo it would have to be a perfect disguise grisard wouldn't stop for that but it wasn't much of a risk none of us had seen pejor closely all we had seen of him was the back of his head and the passengers were all out of his own on deck watching the quarantine men. And yet, of course, the disguise was a perfect one.

Grouchard is an artist in that line, and he was, no doubt, thoroughly familiar with Peugeot's appearance. He deceived the purser, but the purser wouldn't suspect anything. So it really was Grichard? But we ought to have suspected. We ought to have suspected everything, questioned everything. Ah, to have looked up that visitor, and found out what became of him. Instead of which, Christard put Peugeot's papers in his pocket, set his bag outside the stateroom door, and then came out calmly to meet his dear friends of the press, and I stood there talking to him like a little schoolboy. No wonder he thinks I'm a fool.

But nobody would have suspected, I gasped. Why that man is, is? A genius, said Godfrey, an absolute and unquestioned genius. But I knew that all the time. I ought to have been on guard. You remember he said he would come today? Yes, and you didn't believe it. I can't believe it yet.

There's one consolation it will break Grady. But Godfrey, I said, if you could have seen those diamonds, those beautiful diamonds, and to think that he should be able to get away with them from right under our noses. It's pretty bad, isn't it? But there's no use crying over spilt milk, Lester, he added in another tone.

I want you to be in your office at noon tomorrow, or rather today. all right i promised i'll be there don't fail me there's one act of the comedy still to be played i'll be there i said again but i'm afraid the last act will be an anti-climax look here godfrey Now go to bed, he broke in. You're talking like a sonambulist. Get some sleep. Have you arranged for that vacation? Godfrey, I said, tell me.

I won't tell you anything, only I've got one more bomb to explode, Lester, and it's a big one. It will make you jump. I could hear him chuckling to himself. Good night, he said, and hung up. End of Chapter 26. Chapter 27 of the Mystery of the Bull Cabinet, it by Burton Egbert Stevenson. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. The last act of the drama. I overslept next morning so outrageously that it was not until I had

got a seat in a subway express that I had time to open my paper. My first glance was for the big head that would tell of the diamond robbery, and then I realized that no morning paper would have a word of it, for the robbery was only a few hours old, and yet, it seemed to me an age had passed since that moment when godfrey had rushed in upon grady and me so the city moved on as yet blissfully unconscious of the sensation which would be sprung with the first afternoon editions and over which reporters and artists and photographers were even now no doubt laboring i promised myself a happy half-hour in reading godfrey's story it was then that i remembered the appointment for twelve o'clock the last act of the drama was yet to be staged godfrey had said and he had also spoken of a bomb a big one i wondered what it could be one thing was certain if godfrey had prepared it its explosion would be startling enough There were a number of things at the office demanding my attention, and I was so late in getting there, and the morning passed so rapidly, that when the office boy came in and announced that Mr. Grady

and Mr. Simmons were outside and wished to see me, I did not, for a moment, connect their visit with Godfrey. Then I looked at my watch, saw that it was five minutes of twelve, and realized that the actors were assembling. Show them in, I said, and they entered together a minute later. Grady was evidently much perturbed. His usually floored face was drawn and haggard. His cheeks hung in ugly lines. There were dark pouches under his eyes, and the eyes themselves were bloodshot.

I guessed that he had not been to bed, that he had spent the night searching for Chris Chard, and it was easy enough to see that the search had been unsuccessful. Simmons, too, was looking rather shaky, and no doubt still felt the after-effects of that whiff of poison. I'm glad to see you were better, Simmons, I said, shaking hands with him. That was a close call. It certainly was, Simmons agreed, sinking into a chair.

If I had got a little more of it, I'd have never waked up. Do you remember anything about it? Not a thing. One minute we were sitting there talking together, as nice as you please, and the next thing I knew was when I woke up in the bank. Where's that man, Godfrey, broke in Grady? He said he'd be here at noon, I said, and glanced at my watch. It's noon now.

Were you to meet him here? Grady glanced at me suspiciously. Don't you know nothing about it, he asked? I only know that Godfrey asked me to be here at noon today. What's up? Blamed if I know, said Grady sulkily. I got word from him that I'd better be here, and I thought maybe he might know something.

I'm so dizzy over last night's business that I'm running around in circles this morning, but I won't wait for him. He can't make me do that. Come along, Simmons. Wait a minute I broke in, as the outer door opened. Perhaps that's Godfrey now. And so it proved.

He came in, accompanied by a man whom I knew to be Arthur Shiro, Chief Counsel for the record. Godfrey nodded all around. I think you know Mr. Shiro, he said, placing on my desk, a small leather bag he was carrying. This is Mr. Lester, Mr. Shiro, he added, and we shook hands. The object of this conference, Lester, he concluded,

is to straighten out certain matters connected with the Mikhailovich diamonds, and, incidentally, to give the record the biggest scoop it has had for months. I ain't here to fix up no scoop for the record, broke in, Grady, that paper never did treat me right. It has treated you as well as you deserved, reported Gophrie. I'm going to talk plainly to you, Grady.

Your goose is cooked. You can't hold on for an hour after last night's getaway becomes public. We'll see about that, growled Grady, but the fight had evidently been taken out of him. I understand you wouldn't let Simmons telephone for me last night, queried Godfrey. That's right, it wasn't none of your business. Perhaps not, and yet if I had been there,

the cleverest thief in Paris, if not in the world, would be safe behind those chrome-nickel steel bars at the 23rd Street station, instead of at liberty to go ahead and rob somebody else. "'Your mighty cock, sure,' retorted Grady. "'It's easy to be wise, after all is over.' "'Well, I'm not going to argue with you,' said Godfrey. "'I admit it was a good disguise and a clever idea,

but just the same. You ought to have seen through it. That's your business.' Grady mopped his face. "'Oh, of course he sneered. I ought to have seen through it. I ought to have suspected, even when I found you trying to interview him, even when i got him off the boat myself even when i went through his papers and found them all right yes even to the photograph on his passport that's plain enough now ain't it if people only had as good foresight as they have hindsight how easy it would be

look here grady said gotfrey more kindly i haven't anything against you personally and i admit that it was foolish of me to stand there talking to crouchard and never suspect who he was but that's all beside the mark you're at the head of the detective bureau and you're the man who's responsible for all this you're energetic enough and all that but you're not fit for your job it's too big for you and you know it take my advice and go to the phone there and send in your resignation Grady stared at him as though unable to believe his ears. Phone in my resignation, he echoed. What kind of fool do you think I am? I see you're a bigger one than I thought you were. Your pull can't help you any longer, Grady. Was it to tell me that that you got me over here?

No, said Godfrey. All this is just incidental. You began the discussion yourself, didn't you? I got you here to meet. The outer door opened again, and Godfrey looked toward it smiling. monsieur peggot announced the office boy and then i almost bounced from my seat for i would have sworn that the man who stood on the threshold was the man who had opened the secret drawer he came forward looking from face to face then his eyes met godfrey's and he smiled behold i am here monsieur he said and i started anew at the voice for it was the voice of chrychard i hope that i have not kept you waiting not at all m pigo gawfrey assured him and placed a chair for him i could see grady and simmons gripping the arms of their chairs and staring at the newcomer their mouths open

and i knew the thought that was flashing through their brains was this peugeot or was the man who had opened the cabinet peuge or was neither peuge was it possible that this could be a different man than the one who had opened the cabinet i confess that some such thought flashed through my own mind the suspicion that godfrey in some way was playing with us godfrey looked about at us smiling as he saw our expressions i went down to the bay this morning and met the savoy he said i related to m pigo last night's occurrences and begged him to be present at this meeting he was good enough to agree i assure you he added seeing grady's look that this is monsieur pegoe of the paris the Paris Service du Serret, and not Grichard. Oh, yes, said Mr. Peugeot, with a deprecating shrug, I am myself, and greatly humiliated, that I should have fallen so readily into the trap which Grichard set for me, but he is a very clever man. It was certainly a marvelous disguise, I said, it was more than that, it was an impersonation.

Grichard has had occasion to study me, explained Monsieur Peugeot dryly, and he is an artist in whatever he does, but some day I shall get him, every pitcher, to the well goes once too often. There is no hope of finding him here in New York. I'm afraid not, said Godfrey. Don't be too sure of that broke in Grady ponderously. I ain't done yet, not by no manner of means. Pardon me for not introducing you, Monsieur Pagot, said Godfrey. This gentleman is Mr. Grady, who has been the head of our detective bureau. This is Mr. Simmons, a member of his staff. This is Mr. Lester, an attorney and friend of mine,

and this is Mr. Chirobe, my personal counsel. Mr. Grady, Mr. Simmons, and Mr. Lester were present last night, he added blandly, when Crouchard opened the secret drawer. Grady reddened visibly, and even I felt my face grow hot. Monsieur Pagot looked at us with a smile of amusement. It must have been a most interesting experience, he said, said, to have seen Creschard at work. I have never had the privilege, but I regret that he should have made good his escape. More especially, since he took the Mikhailovich Diamonds with him,

I added. Before we go into that, said Godfrey with a little smile, there are one or two questions I should like to ask you, Monsieur Pagot, in order to clear up some minor details, which are as yet a little obscure. Is it true that the theft of the Mikhailovich Diamonds was planned by Creschard? undoubtedly no other thief in france would be capable of it is it also true that no direct evidence could be found against him that also is true monsieur he had arranged the affair so cleverly that we were wholly unable to convict him unless we should find him with the stolen brilliance in his possession and you were not able to do that no we could discover no trace of the brilliance though we searched for them everywhere but you did not know of the bull cabinet and of the secret drawer no of that we knew nothing i must examine that famous cabinet it's worth examining and it has an interesting history but you did know of course that richard would seek a market for the diamonds here in america we knew that he would try to do so and we did everything in our power to prevent it we especially relied upon your customs department to search most thoroughly the belongings of every person with whom they were not personally acquainted the customs people did their part said godfrey with a chuckle they have quite upset the country but the diamonds got in in spite of them for of course a cabinet imported by a man so well known and so above suspicion as mr van tyne was passed without question

yes agreed m pigo a little bitterly it was a most clever plan and now no doubt crouchard can sell the brilliance at his leisure not if you've got a good description of them protested grady i'll make it a point to warn every dealer in the country i'll keep my whole force on the job i'll get chief wilkie to lend me some of his men oh there's no use in taking all that trouble broke him godfrey negligently crissard won't try to sell them won't try to sell them echoed grady what's the reason he won't because he hasn't got them answered godfrey smiling with evidently deep enjoyment of grady's dazed countenance oh come off said that worthy disgustedly if he hasn't got em i'd like to know who has i have said godfrey and cleared my desk with a sweep of his arm spread out your handkerchief lester and as i dazedly obeyed he picked up the little leather bag opened it and poured out its contents in a sparkling flood there he added turning the grayety are the michelovitch diamonds end of chapter twenty seven chapter twenty eight of the mystery of the bull cabinet by burton agbert stevenson this librivox recording is in the public domain chrychard writes an epilogue for an instant we gazed at the glittering heap with dazzled eyes then grady with an inarticulate cry sprang to his feet and picked up a handful of the diamonds as though to convince himself of their reality but i don't understand he gasped have you got chrychard too no such luck said godfrey do you mean to say he's given these up without a fight the same thought was in my own mind if godfrey had run down chrard and got the diamonds without a life and death struggle that engaging rascal must be much less formidable than i had supposed my dear grady said godfrey i haven't seen chrychard since the minute you took him off the boat

i would have had em if you had let simmons call me that's what i had planned but he was too clever for us i knew that he would come to-day you knew that he would come to-day repeated grady blankly how did you know that or is it merely hot air i knew that he would come said godfrey curtly because he wrote and told me so m pigo laughed the dry little laugh that is a favorite divisive is he said and he always keeps his word the trouble was continued godfrey that i didn't look for him so early in the day and so he was able to send me on a wild goose chase after a sensation that didn't exist that's where i was the fool but i discovered the secret drawer ten days ago while the cabinet was still at van tines the evening after the veiled lady got her letters it was easy enough i am surprised you didn't think of it lester think of what i asked of the key to the mystery the drawer containing the letters was on the left side of the desk i saw at once that there must be another drawer opened in the same way on the right side i didn't see it i said i don't see it yet think a minute why was dera killed because he opened the wrong drawer he pressed a combination at the right side of the desk instead of that at the left side the fair julie must have thought the drawer was on the right side instead of the left it was a mistake very easy to make since her mistress doubtless had her back turned when julie saw her open the drawer the suspicion that it was julie's mistake became certainty when she shows the combination to van tine and he has killed two besides the veiled lady herself made a remark which revealed the whole story

i didn't notice it i said resignedly what was it that she was accustomed to opening the drawer with her left hand instead of with her right after that there could be no further doubt so i discovered the drawer very simply it had to be there yes i said and then then i removed the jewels took him down to a dealer in paste gems and duplicated them as closely as i could i had a hard time getting a good copy of this big rose diamond he picked it up from the heap and held it up between his fingers it's a beauty isn't it he asked m pigo smiled a dry smile it is the mazarin he said and it's worth three million francs there is a copy of it at the louvre so that's true is it i asked chrashard told us the story it is unquestionably true said m bejo it is not a secret it is merely something which every one has forgotten well continued godfrey after i got the duplicates i rolled them up in the cotton packets and placed them back in the drawer being careful to put the mazarin at the bottom where i had found it it was lucky you thought of that i said or grishard would have suspected something godfrey looked at me with a smile my dear lester he said he knew that the game was up the instant he opened the first packet do you suppose he would be deceived not by the best reproduction ever made and then I remembered the slow flush which had crept into Creschard's cheeks as he opened that first packet. I didn't expect to deceive him, Godfrey explained. I just wanted to give him a little surprise,

and to think I wasn't there to see it. But if he knew they were imitations, I protested, why should he go to all that trouble to steal them? That is what puzzled me last night, said Godfrey, and for that matter it puzzles me yet. Maybe he's got the real stones after all, suggested Grady, who had been listening to all this with incredulous countenance. The story sounds fishy to me. Maybe these are the imitations. Monsieur Pigo came forward and picked up the mazarin and looked at it. This one at least is real, he said after a moment, and I have no doubt. The others are, he added, turning them over with his finger.

Grady, still incredulous, picked up one of the brilliance, went to the window, and drew it down the pain. It left a deep, deep scratch behind it. Yes, he admitted reluctantly. I guess they're diamonds all right, and he sat down again. And now, gentlemen, continued Godfrey, who had watched Grady's by-play with a tolerant smile,

I'm ready to turn these diamonds over to you. I should like you to count them and give me a receipt for them. And then, of course, you'll write the story, sneered Grady, and give yourself all the credit. Well, asked Godfrey, looking at him, do you think you deserve any? and Grady could only crimson and keep silent. As for the story, it is already written.

It will be on the streets and ten minutes, and it will create a sensation. Please count the diamonds. You will find two hundred and ten of them. That is the exact number stolen from the Grand Duke, remarked Monsieur Pigo and fell to counting. The number was two hundred and ten. Mr. Chiro has a receipt, Goughy added,

and Chirot took a paper from his pocket unfolded it, and read the contents. It proved not only a receipt, but a full statement of the facts of the case, without omitting the details of the robbery and the credit due the record for the recovery of the diamonds. Grady's face grew redder and redder as the reading proceeded. I won't sign no such testimonial as that, he blustered. Not on your life, I won't. You will sign it, will you not, Monsieur Pagot asked Godfrey. Certainly, said the Frenchman. It is a reference. recognition of your service very well deserved, and he stepped forward and signed it with a flourish.

Now Simmons, said Godfrey. No, you don't, broke in, Grady. Stay where you are, Simmons. I forbid you to sign that. Remember, I'm your superior officer. No, he's not, Simmons, said Godfrey quietly. He hasn't been an officer at all for an hour or more. Grady sprang to his feet, his eyes blazing, and strolled toward Godfrey. What do you mean by that, he shouted? I mean, said Godfrey, looking him squarely in the eye, that Mr. Chiroe and myself had

a talk with the mayor this morning, and laid before him certain evidence in our possession, this latest case among others, and that your resignation was accepted at noon today. My resignation snorted Grady, I never wrote one. Tell the public that if you want to, retorted Godfrey coldly. That's your affair. You ought to have phoned it in when I told you to. Now, Simmons. Grady stood glaring about him an instant like an enraged bull, and I half expected him to hurl himself

on Godfrey. Instead, he crushed his hat upon his head, strode to the door, jerked it open, and banged it behind him. Now Simmons, Godfrey repeated, as the echo died away, and Simmons came forward and signed. I witnessed the signatures, and Godfrey, with more eagerness than he had shown in the whole affair, caught up the paper, and sprang with it to the door. Get that down to the office as quick as you can, he said to a man outside. I'll phone instructions.

That he added, closing the door and turning it back to us, is my reward for all this, or rather, the record's reward, and now, gentlemen, Mr. Chiroe has his car below, and I think we would better drive around to some safe deposit box with his plunder. It was perhaps ten days afterward that Godfrey dropped in to see me one evening. I was just back from a week on Cape Cod, which had done me a world of good, and, I need hardly say, was glad to see him. You're looking normal again, he said, surveying me as he sat down. I was worried about you for a while.

I never felt better. I told you that all I needed was to have that mystery solved. And it was solved on scheduled time, wasn't it? he smiled, though not quite in the way I had anticipated. Do you know Lester he added? I am going to claim the cabinet. On what grounds I demanded, because the man who owned it gave it to me, and he got a paper out of his pocketbook and handed it across to me. I opened it and recognized a delicate and feminine writing,

which I had seen once before. My dear sir, the letter ran. I find that I made the mistake of underestimating you, and I present you my sincere apologies. I trust that at some future time it may be my privilege to be again engaged with you. The result is certain to be most interesting, but at present I find I must return to Europe by Labratain.

Since, after the trouble I have taken, it is impossible that I should consent to part with the brilliance of His Highness the Grand Duke. As a slight souvenir of my high regard, I trust you will be willing to accept the cabinet Boole, which I am certain that good Monsieur Lester will surrender to you if you show him this letter. The cabinet is not only interesting in itself, but will be doubly so to you because of the part it has played in our little comedy, and I should like to know that it adorns a corner

of your home. Till we meet again, dear sir, believe me, your sincere admirer, Christard, the Invincible. he's a good sport isn't he asked godfrey as i silently handed the letter back to him what do you say about the cabinet i suppose there is no doubt that richard bought it i said so that it is mine now yes but i'm going to solicit a bribe go ahead and solicit it i want a souvenir too i said i'd like awfully well to have that letter besides i added it will be kind of a receipt you know if anybody ever questions my giving you in you the cabinet. Gottfrey laughed and threw the letter across the table to me. It's yours, he said, and I'll send for the cabinet tomorrow. I suppose it is still at the station.

Yes, I haven't had time to put in a claim for it, but Gottfried, I added, when did La Pretain sail? A week ago today, she is due at halve in the morning. Did you warn them? Warn them of what? That Christard is after the diamonds. They went back on La Prattang, I suppose. Yes, and Peugeot went with them, so why should I warn anyone?

Surely they know that Grishard will get those diamonds if he can. It has become a sort of point of honor with him, I imagine. It is up to them to take care of them. That oughtn't be too difficult, I said. The strong room of a liner is about the safest place on earth. Yes, Godfrey agreed, and blew a meditative ring toward the ceiling. And presently he went away without saying anything more. But the more I thought of it, the more the inflection he had given the word seemed an interrogation rather than an affirmation.

And when I opened my paper the next morning, I more than half expected to be greeted with a black headline announcing the looting of the strong room of La Bertang. But there was no such headline, and with a sigh, half of relief and half of disappointment, I turned to the other news. But two weeks later, a black headline did catch my eye. Mikhailovich Jules Foss. French detective takes back paste imitations from America. Fraud discovered when the Grand Duke Michael sends them to a jeweler to be reset. I had no need to read the article which followed, for I saw in a flash what had occurred.

I saw, too, like Richard had retained the paste jewels. He had a use for them. How or where the substance? had been made i could only guess but one thing was certain the two weeks which had elapsed before the theft was discovered had given him ample opportunity to dispose of his plunder i felt sorry for the grand duke sorry or still for that admirable monsieur pigo but after all one could not but admire the cleverness of the man who had despoiled them who i wondered had bought the mazarin surely that there was a diamond most difficult to sell. It could, of course, be cut up, but that would be sacrilege.

That question was answered, before long, in an unexpected way, a way which filled many columns in the papers, which delighted the comedy-loving French, and which gave Christchard a unique advertisement. One morning, in the personal column of Le Matan, appeared a notice of which this is the English. To Monsieur, the director of the Museum of the Lou.

it has been my good fortune to come into possession of the rose diamond known as the mazarin it is my wish to restore it to your collection in order that it may no longer be necessary to dilute the public with an imitation of colored glass it will give me great pleasure to present this brilliant to you with my compliments provided his highness the grand duke michael who preceded me in possession of the diamond will join me in the gift should he refuse it will be my melancholy duty to cleave the diamond into a number of smaller stones as it is too large for my use but i hope that he will not refuse chrychard the invincible what could the grand duke do to have refused would have made him the butt of the boulevards besides he was after all losing nothing which had not already been lost so with a better grace than one might have expected he consented to join in the restoration two days later the director of the louvre discovered a packet upon his desk he opened it and found within the mazarin when you visit the louvre you will see it in the place of honor in the glass case in the centre of the gallery of apollo with an attendant on guard beside it but already the circumstances of its restoration are fading from the public memory and chrychard i do not know each morning i first read the news from paris searching for the invincible in some new incarnation i have his letter framed and hanging above my desk and every day i read it over one sentence especially is forever running in my head i trust that at some future time it may be my privilege to be again engaged with you the result is certain to be most interesting

and i trust that it may be my privilege also be present at that engagement end of chapter twenty eight end of the mystery of the bull cabinet by burton egbert stevenson