Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: http://www.archive.org/details/cowardbehindcur00marsgoog (Oxford University) 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. THE COWARD BEHIND THE CURTAIN BY THE SAME AUTHOR The Girl and the Miracle In the Service of Love A Duel The Marquis Of Putney The Twickenham Peerage A Metamorphosis Both Sides of the Veil Marvels and Mysteries The Seen and the Unseen The Goddess: A Demon The Joss: A Reversion The Romance of a Maid of Honour The Beetle: A Mystery A Woman Perfected THE COWARD BEHIND THE CURTAIN BY RICHARD MARSH METHUEN & CO. 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. LONDON _First Published in 1908_ CONTENTS CHAPTER I. DOROTHY SETS OFF WITH HER GUARDIAN. II. THE CURTAIN. III. THE COWARD. IV. THE MAN IN THE CHAIR. V. DOROTHY IS LEFT ALONE WITH HER GUARDIAN FOR THE NIGHT. VI. HOW DOROTHY MADE HER EXIT. VII. THE CARAVAN. VIII. MR FRAZER GOES SHOPPING. IX. WHAT THE GIRL TOLD THE MAN. X. WHAT THE CARAVAN LEFT BEHIND. XI. DANGER AHEAD. XII. HEADLINES. XIII. THE VERNONS--PARTICULARLY FRANCES. XIV. STRATHMOIRA. XV. DOROTHY GILBERT OF NEWCASTER. XVI. THE SPREADING OF THE NEWS. XVII. A FRIEND'S ADVICE. XVIII. THE MAN WHO DID IT. XIX. AN INTERLUDE. XX. THE HOUSEBOAT. XXI. WHY HE KILLED HIM. XXII. THE TELEGRAM. XXIII. THE SURGEON AND THE LAWYER. XXIV. TIDINGS. THE COWARD BEHIND THE CURTAIN CHAPTER I DOROTHY SETS OFF WITH HER GUARDIAN The girls were in the convent garden, when word came that Dorothy Gilbert was wanted. Dorothy was walking with Frances Vernon. Ever since she could remember her world had been that garden, with its shaded walks and its high walls; never before had a visitor come to her. The moment she was told that someone desired her presence she turned to Frances, exclaiming: "It is he!" With characteristic impetuosity Frances threw her arms about her, remarking as she did so: "Just as we were speaking of him!" As if there were anything strange in that. The strangeness would have been if he had come when they had not been speaking of him; for, of late, they had spoken of little else. Elsie Farquhar, who had brought the message, pressed it home. "You had better be quick, Dorothy. Sister Celestine said you were to hurry."