THE MAGIC CASKET BY R. AUSTIN FREEMAN HODDER AND STOUGHTON LIMITED LONDON CONTENTS I. THE MAGIC CASKET II. THE CONTENTS OF A MARE’S NEST III. THE STALKING HORSE IV. THE NATURALIST AT LAW V. MR. PONTING’S ALIBI VI. PANDORA’S BOX VII. THE TRAIL OF BEHEMOTH VIII. THE PATHOLOGIST TO THE RESCUE IX. GLEANINGS FROM THE WRECKAGE I. THE MAGIC CASKET It was in the near neighbourhood of King’s Road, Chelsea, that chance, aided by Thorndyke’s sharp and observant eyes, introduced us to the dramatic story of the Magic Casket. Not that there was anything strikingly dramatic in the opening phase of the affair, nor even in the story of the casket itself. It was Thorndyke who added the dramatic touch, and most of the magic, too; and I record the affair principally as an illustration of his extraordinary capacity for producing odd items of out-of-the-way knowledge and instantly applying them in the most unexpected manner. Eight o’clock had struck on a misty November night when we turned out of the main road, and, leaving behind the glare of the shop windows, plunged into the maze of dark and narrow streets to the north. The abrupt change impressed us both, and Thorndyke proceeded to moralize on it in his pleasant, reflective fashion. “London is an inexhaustible place,” he mused. “Its variety is infinite. A minute ago we walked in a glare of light, jostled by a multitude. And now look at this little street. It is as dim as a tunnel, and we have got it absolutely to ourselves. Anything might happen in a place like this.” Suddenly he stopped. We were, at the moment, passing a small church or chapel, the west door of which was enclosed in an open porch; and as my observant friend stepped into the latter and stooped, I perceived, in the deep shadow against the wall, the object which had evidently caught his eye. “What is it?” I asked, following him in. “It is a handbag,” he replied; “and the question is, what is it doing here?” He tried the church door, which was obviously locked, and coming out, looked at the windows. “There are no lights in the church,” said he; “the place is locked up, and there is nobody in sight. Apparently the bag is derelict. Shall we have a look at it?” Without waiting for an answer, he picked it up and brought it out into the mitigated darkness of the street, where we proceeded to inspect it. But at the first glance it told its own tale; for it had evidently been locked, and it bore unmistakable traces of having been forced open. “It isn’t empty,” said Thorndyke. “I think we had better see what is in it. Just catch hold while I get a light.”