Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books 1. Page scan source: http://books.google.com/books?id=gD4PAAAAQAAJ A MASTER OF DECEPTION [Illustration: "'You see, uncle--this one; as it were, death reduced to its lowest possible denomination'" (_see page_ 99).] A MASTER OF DECEPTION By Richard Marsh Author of "Twin Sisters," "The Lovely Mrs. Blake," "The Interrupted Kiss," etc., etc. With a Frontispiece by DUDLEY TENNANT CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne 1913 CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. The Inclining of a Twig. 2. His Uncle And His Cousin. 3. Rodney Elmore the First. 4. The Three Girls and the Three Telegrams. 5. Stella. 6. Gladys. 7. Mary. 8. By The 9.10: The First Part of the Journey. 9. The Second. 10. In the Carriage--Alone. 11. The Stranger. 12. Marking Time. 13. Spreading His Wings. 14. Business First, Pleasure Afterwards. 15. Mabel Joyce. 16. Thomas Austin, Senior. 17. The Acting Head of the Firm. 18. The Perfect Lover. 19. The Few Words at the End of the Evening. 20. The First Line of an Old Song. 21. The Dead Man's Letter. 22. Philip Walter Augustus Parker. 23. Necessary Credentials. 24. Lovers Parting. 25. Stella's Betrothal Feast. 26. Good Night. 27. The Gentleman's Departure and the Lady's Explanation. 28. A Conspiracy of Silence. A MASTER OF DECEPTION CHAPTER I THE INCLINING OF A TWIG When Rodney Elmore was eleven years old, placards appeared on the walls announcing that a circus was coming to Uffham. Rodney asked his mother if he might go to it. Mrs. Elmore, for what appeared to her to be sufficient reasons, said "No." Three days before the circus was to come he went with his mother to Mrs. Bray's house, a little way out of Uffham, to tea. The two ladies having feminine mysteries to discuss, he was told to go into the garden to play. As he went he passed a little room, the door of which was open. Peeping in, as curious children will, something on a corner of the mantelpiece caught his eye. Going closer to see what it was, he discovered that there were two half-crowns, one on the top of the other. The desire to go to the circus, which had never left him, gathered sudden force. Here were the means of going. Whipping the two coins into the pocket of his knickerbockers, he ran from the room and into the garden.