Produced by E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg [Illustration: frontispiece] THE AVENGER BY E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM Author of "The Master Mummer," "A Maker of History," "The Malefactor," "The Lost Leader," "The Great Secret," Etc. _Illustrated by_ ALEC BALL 1908 CONTENTS I. A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR II. THE HORROR OF THE HANSOM III. DISCUSSING THE CRIME IV. UNDER A CLOUD V. ON THE TELEPHONE VI. ONE THOUSAND POUNDS' REWARD VII. THE COLONEL'S DAUGHTER VIII. THE BARONESS INTERVENES IX. A BOX AT THE ALHAMBRA X. OUTCAST XI. FALSE SENTIMENT XII. TIDINGS FROM THE CAPE XIII. SEARCHING THE CHAMBERS XIV. THE DEAD MAN'S BROTHER XV. THE LAWYER'S SUGGESTION XVI. A DINNER IN THE STRAND XVII. A CONFESSION OF LOVE XVIII. AN AMATEUR DETECTIVE XIX. DESPERATE WOOING XX. STABBED THROUGH THE HEART XXI. THE FLIGHT OF LOUISE XXII. THE CHÂTEAU OF ÉTARPE XXIII. A PASSIONATE PILGRIM XXIV. AN INVITATION TO DINNER XXV. THE MAN IN THE YELLOW BOOTS XXVI. MADAME DE MELBAIN XXVII. THE SPY XXVIII. THE SCENE IN THE AVENUE XXIX. A SUBSTANTIAL GHOST XXX. THE QUEEN OF MEXONIA XXXI. RETURNED FROM THE TOMB XXXII. AT THE HÔTEL SPLENDIDE XXXIII. A HAND IN THE GAME XXXIV. AN ILL-ASSORTED COUPLE XXXV. HIS WIFE XXXVI. THE MURDERED MAN'S EFFECTS XXXVII. THE WIDOW'S ULTIMATUM XXXVIII. INEFFECTUAL WOOING XXXIX. THE COLONEL'S MISSION XL. BLACKMAIL XLI. THE COLONEL SPEAKS XLII. LOVE REMAINS ILLUSTRATIONS "THERE PLASHED ACROSS HER FACE A QUIVER, AS THOUGH OF PAIN" "AT THE SIGHT OF THE TWO MEN, THE BARONESS STOPPED SHORT" "HE WAS THERE ON HIS KNEES, WITH HIS ARMS AROUND THE TERRIFIED WOMAN" "'TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION! THAT'S WHERE I'M OFF.'" CHAPTER I A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR