LADY MOLLY OF SCOTLAND YARD BY THE BARONESS ORCZY Author of “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” etc. WITH SIXTEEN FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS BY CYRUS CUNEO, R.I. _FIFTH EDITION_ CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD. London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne 1910 _ALL RIGHTS RESERVED_ [IMAGE: images/img319.jpg CAPTION: “He held out his hands for the irons”] CONTENTS I. The Ninescore Mystery II. The Frewin Miniatures III. The Irish-Tweed Coat IV. The Fordwych Castle Mystery V. A Day’s Folly VI. A Castle in Brittany VII. A Christmas Tragedy VIII. The Bag of Sand IX. The Man in the Inverness Cape X. The Woman in the Big Hat XI. Sir Jeremiah’s Will XII. The End LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS “He held out his hands for the irons” “‘You swear to that, Mr. Lydgate?’ asked the Coroner” “The woman gave a shriek which unmistakably was one of fear” “He had been found dead in the garden of his villa” “‘Well,’ said Lady Molly, ‘… what is it that you want us to do in the matter?’” “She was ashy-pale, staring straight before her” “‘I sent Pegram to her room with orders to break open the locks of her hand-bag and dressing-case’” “Ten minutes later the dainty clouds of lace and chiffon were finally wafted out” “‘Not too late, I think,’ she whispered hurriedly. ‘Break it open, Danvers’” “Confronting the old woman, with a look of hate gleaming in his eyes” “Now we could distinctly see the glimmer of white paper” “‘Go and pack your boxes and leave the house this instant’” “Still talking shrilly … the pseudo Mrs. Stein dragged her into our own sitting-room” “Lady Irene, with a cry of agony, fell senseless in my dear lady’s arms” “Philip Baddock looked defiant, and Felkin taciturn and sulky” “‘Ask Philip Baddock if my threats are paltry’” LADY MOLLY OF SCOTLAND YARD I. THE NINESCORE MYSTERY Well, you know, some say she is the daughter of a duke, others that she was born in the gutter, and that the handle has been soldered on to her name in order to give her style and influence. I could say a lot, of course, but “my lips are sealed,” as the poets say. All through her successful career at the Yard she honoured me with her friendship and confidence, but when she took me in partnership, as it were, she made me promise that I would never breathe a word of her private life, and this I swore on my Bible oath--“wish I may die,” and all the rest of it. Yes, we always called her “my lady,” from the moment that she was put at the head of our section; and the chief called her “Lady Molly” in our presence. We of the Female Department are dreadfully snubbed by the men, though don’t tell me that women have not ten times as much intuition as the blundering and sterner sex; my firm belief is that we shouldn’t have half so many undetected crimes if some of the so-called mysteries were put to the test of feminine investigation.