“No one can be dull who has a novel by Miss Braddon in hand. The most tiresome journey is beguiled, and the most wearisome illness is brightened, by any one of her books.” “Miss Braddon is the Queen of the circulating libraries.” _The World._ LONDON: SIMPKIN & CO., LIMITED, STATIONERS’ HALL COURT. _And at all Railway Bookstalls, Booksellers’, and Libraries._ CONTENTS =Book the First.= A RESPECTABLE YOUNG MAN. CHAP. PAGE I. THE GOOD SCHOOLMASTER 5 II. GOOD FOR NOTHING 10 III. THE USHER WASHES HIS HANDS 17 IV. RICHARD MARWOOD LIGHTS HIS PIPE 21 V. THE HEALING WATERS 28 VI. TWO CORONER’S INQUESTS 34 VII. THE DUMB DETECTIVE A PHILANTHROPIST 38 VIII. SEVEN LETTERS ON THE DIRTY ALPHABET 43 IX. “MAD, GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY” 48 =Book the Second.= A CLEARANCE OF ALL SCORES. I. BLIND PETER 58 II. LIKE AND UNLIKE 63 III. A GOLDEN SECRET 66 IV. JIM LOOKS OVER THE BRINK OF THE TERRIBLE GULF 71 V. MIDNIGHT BY THE SLOPPERTON CLOCKS 78 VI. THE QUIET FIGURE ON THE HEATH 82 VII. THE USHER RESIGNS HIS SITUATION 91 =Book the Third.= A HOLY INSTITUTION. I. THE VALUE OF AN OPERA-GLASS 95 II. WORKING IN THE DARK 99 III. THE WRONG FOOTSTEP 104 IV. OCULAR DEMONSTRATION 111 V. THE KING OF SPADES 116 VI. A GLASS OF WINE 124 VII. THE LAST ACT OF LUCRETIA BORGIA 129 VIII. BAD DREAMS AND A WORSE WAKING 133 IX. A MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE 141 X. ANIMAL MAGNETISM 145 =Book the Fourth.= NAPOLEON THE GREAT. I. THE BOY FROM SLOPPERTON 150