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both these incidents to the letting of a commodious family mansion； and
the dead secret involved in the three occurrences； is the task of the writer
of this history。
A slim young man with spectacles； a large hat； drab gaiters； and a note…
book； sat late that night with a copy of the 〃Times〃 before him； and a
pencil which he rattled nervously between his teeth in the coffee…room of
the 〃Blue Dragon。〃
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CHAPTER I。
MARY JONES'S NARRATIVE。
I am upper housemaid to the family that live at No。 27 Limehouse
Road； Pultneyville。 I have been requested by Mr。 Wilkey Collings； which I
takes the liberty of here stating is a gentleman born and bred； and has
some consideration for the feelings of servants； and is not above rewarding
them for their trouble； which is more than you can say for some who ask
questions and gets short answers enough； gracious knows； to tell what I
know about them。 I have been requested to tell my story in my own
langwidge； though； being no schollard； mind cannot conceive。 I think my
master is a brute。 Do not know that he has ever attempted to poison my
missus；which is too good for him； and how she ever came to marry him；
heart only can tell；but believe him to be capable of any such hatrosity。
Have heard him swear dreadful because of not having his shaving… water
at nine o'clock precisely。 Do not know whether he ever forged a will or
tried to get my missus' property； although； not having confidence in the
man； should not be surprised if he had done so。 Believe that there was
always something mysterious in his conduct。 Remember distinctly how the
family left home to go abroad。 Was putting up my back hair； last Saturday
morning； when I heard a ring。 Says cook； 〃That's missus' bell； and mind
you hurry or the master 'ill know why。〃 Says I； 〃Humbly thanking you；
mem； but taking advice of them as is competent to give it； I'll take my
time。〃 Found missus dressing herself and master growling as usual。 Says
missus； quite calm and easy like； 〃Mary； we begin to pack to… day。〃 〃What
for； mem？〃 says I； taken aback。 〃What's that hussy asking？〃 says master
from the bedclothes quite savage like。 〃For the ContinentItaly；〃 says
missus〃Can you go Mary？〃 Her voice was quite gentle and saintlike； but
I knew the struggle it cost； and says I； 〃With YOU mem； to India's torrid
clime； if required； but with African Gorillas；〃 says I； looking toward the
bed； 〃never。〃 〃Leave the room；〃 says master； starting up and catching of
his bootjack。 〃Why Charles！〃 says missus； 〃how you talk！〃 affecting
surprise。 〃Do go Mary；〃 says she； slipping a half…crown into my hand。 I
left the room scorning to take notice of the odious wretch's conduct。
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Cannot say whether my master and missus were ever legally married。
What with the dreadful state of morals nowadays and them stories in the
circulating libraries； innocent girls don't know into what society they
might be obliged to take situations。 Never saw missus' marriage certificate；
though I have quite accidental…like looked in her desk when open； and
would have seen it。 Do not know of any lovers missus might have had。
Believe she had a liking for John Thomas； footman； for she was always
spiteful…likepoor lady when we were togetherthough there was
nothing between us； as Cook well knows； and dare not deny； and missus
needn't have been jealous。 Have never seen arsenic or Prussian acid in any
of the private drawersbut have seen paregoric and camphor。 One of my
master's friends was a Count Moscow； a Russian papistwhich I detested。
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CHAPTER II。
THE SLIM YOUNG MAN'S STORY。
I am by profession a reporter； and writer for the press。 I live at
Pultneyville。 I have always had a passion for the marvellous； and have
been distinguished for my facility in tracing out mysteries； and solving
enigmatical occurrences。 On the night of the 17th June； 1845； I left my
office and walked homeward。 The night was bright and starlight。 I was
revolving in my mind the words of a singular item I had just read in the
〃Times。〃 I had reached the darkest portion of the road； and found my self
mechanically repeating： 〃An elderly gentleman a week ago left his
lodgings on the Kent Road；〃 when suddenly I heard a step behind me。
I turned quickly； with an expression of horror in my face； and by the
light of the newly risen moon beheld an elderly gentleman； with green
cotton umbrella； approaching me。 His hair； which was snow white； was
parted over a broad； open forehead。 The expression of his face； which was
slightly flushed； was that of amiability verging almost upon imbecility。
There was a strange； inquiring look about the widely opened mild blue
eye；a look that might have been intensified to insanity； or modified to
idiocy。 As he passed me； he paused and partly turned his face； with a
gesture of inquiry。 I see him still； his white locks blowing in the evening
breeze； his hat a little on the back of his head； and his figure painted in
relief against the dark blue sky。
Suddenly he turned his mild eye full upon me。 A weak smile played
about his thin lips。 In a voice which had something of the tremulousness of
age and the self…satisfied chuckle of imbecility in it； he asked； pointing to
the rising moon； 〃Why？hush！〃
He had dodged behind me； and appeared to be looking anxiously down
the road。 I could feel his aged frame shaking with terror as he laid his thin
hands upon my shoulders and faced me in the direction of the supposed
danger。
〃Hush！ did you not hear them coming？〃
I listened； there was no sound but the soughing of the roadside trees in
the evening wind。 I endeavored to reassure him； with such success that in
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a few moments the old weak smile appeared on his benevolent face。
〃Why？〃 But the look of interrogation was succeeded by a hopeless
blankness。
〃Why！〃 I repeated with assuring accents。
〃Why；〃 he said； a gleam of intelligence flickering over his face； 〃is
yonder moon； as she sails in the blue empyrean； casting a flood of light
o'er hill and dale； like Why；〃 he repeated； with a feeble smile； 〃is yonder
moon； as she sails in the blue empyrean〃 He hesitated；stammered；and
gazed at me hopelessly； with the tears dripping from his moist and widely
opened eyes。
I took his hand kindly in my own。 〃Casting a shadow o'er hill and
dale；〃 I repeated quietly； leading him up the subject； 〃like Come； now。〃
〃Ah！〃 he said； pressing my hand tremulously； 〃you know it？〃
〃I do。 Why is it liketheehthe commodious mansion on the
Limehouse Road？〃
A blank stare only followed。 He shook his head sadly。 〃Like the young
men wanted for a light； genteel employment？〃
He wagged his feeble old head cunningly。
〃Or； Mr。 Ward；〃 I said； with bold confidence； 〃like the mysterious
disappearance from the Kent Road？〃
The moment was full of suspense。 He did not seem to hear me。
Suddenly he turned。
〃Ha！〃
I darted forward。 But he had vanished in the darkness。
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CHAPTER III。
NO。 27 LIMEHOUSE ROAD。
It was a hot midsummer evening。 Limehouse Road was deserted save
by dust and a few rattling butchers' carts； and the bell of the muffin and
crumpet man。 A commodious mansion； which stood on the right of the
road as you enter Pultneyville； surrounded by stately po