Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: https://archive.org/details/nineofheartsnove00farj (The Library of Congress) 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. _No. 107_ HARPER'S HANDY SERIES Issued Weekly ------------------------------------ Copyright,1885, by Harper & Brothers December 17, 1886 Subscription Price per Year, 52 Numbers, $15 ------------------------------------ Entered at the Post-Office at New York, as Second-class Mail Matter THE NINE OF HEARTS A Novel By B. L. FARJEON AUTHOR OF "GREAT PORTER SQUARE" "THE BRIGHT STAR OF LIFE" "GRIF" ETC. ------------------------------------ _Books you may hold readily in your hand are the most useful, after all_ Dr. Johnson NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS 1886 CONTENTS Part the First The Trial of Edward Layton. I. A Strange Decision. II. The Evidence of James Moorhouse, Coachman. III. The Evidence of Adolf Wolfstein, Waiter. IV. The Evidence of Lumley Rich, Detective Officer--The Nine of Hearts. V. The Evidence of Ida White, Lady's Maid. VI. Description of the Last Day's Proceedings--Extracted from a Daily Paper. Part the Second The Cable Message from America. Part the Third The Mystery of the Nine of Hearts. I. II. III. IV. V. VI. The Day after the Derby. VII. THE NINE OF HEARTS. PART THE FIRST. THE TRIAL OF EDWARD LAYTON. I. A STRANGE DECISION. This morning, at the Central Criminal Court, Mr. Justice Fenmore resumed the trial of Edward Layton for the wilful murder of his wife, Agnes Layton, on the morning of the 26th of March, by the administration of poisonous narcotics in such quantities as to produce death. Extraordinary as was the excitement caused by yesterday's proceedings, the public interest in this mysterious murder was intensified by the strange decision arrived at by the prisoner on this the third day of his trial. The Attorney-general, Mr. J. Protheroe, Q.C., and Mr. Standing conducted the case on behalf of the Crown. The widely spread rumor that an episode of a startling character was impending, received confirmation immediately upon the entrance of the prisoner in the dock. He presented a care-worn appearance, and while the usual formalities were in progress, it was observed that he and his counsel (Mr. Bainbridge, Q.C.) were in earnest consultation, and it appeared as if the learned gentleman were endeavoring to overcome some resolution which the prisoner had formed. At the termination of this conversation Mr. Bainbridge, turning to the Bench, said,