Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 43135-h.htm or 43135-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43135/43135-h/43135-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43135/43135-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through the Google Books Library Project. See http://www.google.com/books?id=mrAgAAAAMAAJ THE RIDDLE OF THE PURPLE EMPEROR [Illustration: "For even as the light streamed out and flung that circle into that impinging mist, there moved across it the figure of a woman"] The Scotland Yard Mystery Library THE RIDDLE OF THE PURPLE EMPEROR by MARY E. and THOMAS W. HANSHEW McKinlay, Stone & Mackenzie New York Copyright, 1918 1919, by Doubleday, Page & Company CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. Which Introduces a New Friend 3 II. The Home-Coming 16 III. In the Dark 27 IV. The House of Shadows 38 V. The Threads of Chance 51 VI. The Cry in the Night 62 VII. In the Tiger's Clutches 78 VIII. Complications and Complexities 90 IX. The House with the Shuttered Windows 101 X. A Shot in the Dark 111 XI. A Terrible Discovery 120 XII. The Woman in the Case 130 XIII. Tightening the Strands 142 XIV. The Plot Thickens 159 XV. Tangled Threads 175 XVI. In the Doctor's Surgery 185 XVII. Miss Cheyne Again 195 XVIII. Dollops Takes a Hand 203 XIX. The Twin Scarves 217 XX. A Twisted Clue 230 XXI. "'Tis a Mad World, My Masters" 240 XXII. The Trap 255 XXIII. Untwisting the Threads 267 XXIV. An Unexpected Contretemps 282 XXV. "A Tale Unfolded" 294 CHARACTERS HAMILTON CLEEK, the Man of Forty Faces, and once known to the police as "The Vanishing Cracksman." SUPERINTENDENT NARKOM, of Scotland Yard. LENNARD, his chauffeur. HAMMOND } Detective Sergeants. PETRIE }