Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team. RED MONEY BY FERGUS HUME Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," "The Solitary Farm," "The Peacock of Jewels," "The Red Window," "The Steel Crown," etc. 1911 CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE DRAMA OF LITTLE THINGS II. IN THE WOOD III. AN UNEXPECTED RECOGNITION IV. SECRETS V. THE WOMAN AND THE MAN VI. THE MAN AND THE WOMAN VII. THE SECRETARY VIII. AT MIDNIGHT IX. AFTERWARDS X. A DIFFICULT POSITION XI. BLACKMAIL XII. THE CONSPIRACY XIII. A FRIEND IN NEED XIV. MISS GREEBY, DETECTIVE XV. GUESSWORK XVI. THE LAST STRAW XVII. ON THE TRAIL XVIII. AN AMAZING ACCUSATION XIX. MOTHER COCKLESHELL XX. THE DESTINED END XXI. A FINAL SURPRISE RED MONEY CHAPTER I. THE DRAMA OF LITTLE THINGS. "Gypsies! How very delightful! I really must have my fortune told. The dear things know all about the future." As Mrs. Belgrove spoke she peered through her lorgnette to see if anyone at the breakfast-table was smiling. The scrutiny was necessary, since she was the oldest person present, and there did not appear to be any future for her, save that very certain one connected with a funeral. But a society lady of sixty, made up to look like one of forty (her maid could do no more), with an excellent digestion and a constant desire, like the Athenians of old, for "Something New!" can scarcely be expected to dwell upon such a disagreeable subject as death. Nevertheless, Mrs. Belgrove could not disguise from herself that her demise could not be postponed for many more years, and examined the faces of the other guests to see if they thought so too. If anyone did, he and she politely suppressed a doubtful look and applauded the suggestion of a fortune-telling expedition. "Let us make up a party and go," said the hostess, only too thankful to find something to amuse the house-party for a few hours. "Where did you say the gypsies were, Garvington?" "In the Abbot's Wood," replied her husband, a fat, small round-faced man, who was methodically devouring a large breakfast. "That's only three miles away. We can drive or ride." "Or motor, or bicycle, or use Shanks' mare," remarked Miss Greeby rather vulgarly. Not that any one minded such a speech from her, as her vulgarity was merely regarded as eccentricity, because she had money and brains, an exceedingly long tongue, and a memory of other people's failings to match.