The Grey Monk by T. W. Speight By The Author Of “The Mysteries Of Heron Dyke.” RICHARD BENTLEY & SON, 8, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, LONDON, W. 1894 Contents Chapter I. Alec’s Sentence Chapter II. An Old Family and its Home Chapter III. Alec’s Proposition Chapter IV. An Offer and its Acceptance Chapter V. At One Fell Blow Chapter VI. Alec’s Fate Chapter VII. Too Late Chapter VIII. The Ebony Casket Chapter IX. Ethel and Tamsin Chapter X. Launce Keymer Chapter XI. Hopes and Fears Chapter XII. A Recreant Lover Chapter XIII. Captain Verinder and his Visitor Chapter XIV. The Captain Takes a Little Journey Chapter XV. Conspirators Three Chapter XVI. How Sir Gilbert received the News Chapter XVII. Sir Gilbert and Giovanna Chapter XVIII. The False Heir Chapter XIX. Luigi Acknowledged Chapter XX. Sir Gilbert’s Decision Chapter XXI. Affairs at St. Oswyth’s Chapter XXII. Father and Son Chapter XXIII. Ethel’s Confession Chapter XXIV. Tamsin Speaks her Mind Chapter XXV. Lady Pell Chapter XXVI. Giovanna at Maylings Chapter XXVII. “Mr. Lewis Clare” Chapter XXVIII. The Progress of Events Chapter XXIX. Arrivals at the Chase Chapter XXX. An Unexpected Meeting Chapter XXXI. Luigi’s Escapade Chapter XXXII. Sir Gilbert’s Decision Chapter XXXIII. Uncle and Nephew Chapter XXXIV. A Desperate Resolve Chapter XXXV. Matters at the Chase Chapter XXXVI. A Deed of Darkness Chapter XXXVII. The Defeat of Roguery Chapter XXXVIII. Unanswered Questions Chapter XXXIX. The Counsel of Experience Chapter XL. “Love took up the Harp of Life” Chapter XLI. Sir Gilbert’s Strange Experience Chapter XLII. Sir Gilbert’s Theory Chapter XLIII. The Root of the Mystery Chapter XLIV. Back at St. Oswyth’s Chapter XLV. “Come Back to Me” Chapter XLVI. Unknitted Threads Chapter XLVII. Husband and Wife Chapter XLVIII. Sir Gilbert’s Great Surprise Chapter XLIX. Payment in Full Chapter L. The Veiled Stranger Chapter LI. Safe in Port CHAPTER I. ALEC’S SENTENCE It was a wild and stormy October night. The big moon-faced clock in the entrance-hall, in its slow and solemn fashion, as of a horologe that felt the burden of its years, had just announced the hour of eleven. In his study alone, busy among his coins and curios, sat Sir Gilbert Clare of Withington Chase, Hertfordshire, and Chase Ridings, Yorkshire, a handsome, well-preserved man, in years somewhere between fifty and sixty. He had a tall, thin, upright figure, strongly marked features of an aquiline type, a snow-white moustache, and an expression at once proud and imperious.