Transcriber's Note: 1. Source: This is an emended copy of this book as transcribed by Walter Moore for Project Gutenberg Australia. https://gutenberg.org.au/ebooks17/1700341h.html [Illustration: Front Cover] THE GENTLEMAN WHO VANISHED. A Psychological Phantasy. BY FERGUS HUME, Author of "THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "THE PICCADILLY PUZZLE," "MADAME MIDAS," "MISS MEPHISTOPHELES," "THE MAN WITH A SECRET," ETC. 'Tis ill to tamper with the unseen world Lest those habitate the sphere's invisible Should make us sport for their ironic jeers, And by some trick beyond the thought of man Entangle all the issues of our lives. _IN ONE VOLUME_ LONDON: F. V. WHITE & CO. 31, SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND. 1890. CONTENTS CHAP. I. Flying From Justice II. The Recluse III. The Dissection Of A Soul IV. A Curious Transformation V. New Wine In An Old Bottle VI. The Tortures Of Hell VII. The Woman He Loved VIII. The Man She Hated IX. The Philosophy Of Mr. Dentham X. Teddy Rudall's Ideas XI. A Modern Judas XII. A Perilous Situation XIII. A Startling Discovery XIV. Dentham Makes Terms XV. Resurgam Chapter I. Flying From Justice It was an oppressively hot night towards the end of June, and the heavy still atmosphere surcharged with electricity was full of premonitions of storm. Here in London the glare and glitter of myriad lamps seemed to be crushed down by a lowering sky, in which the stars were almost hidden by great masses of sombre clouds. Every now and then a thin thread of lightning flashed ghost-like through the murky air and the low hoarse roll of the thunder which followed, seemed to warn mankind that Nature was in one of her angry moods. So hot, terribly hot, one could hardly breathe in the crowded streets, where throngs of people, well-dressed and otherwise principally otherwise were sweeping along intent on business and pleasure, paying no attention to the sultry heavens pressing so cruelly down upon the panting earth. The signs and tokens of heaven were not for them, with their sordid souls longing for gold, or their empty stomachs yearning for bread, as they worked, danced, sang, and busied themselves with the material things of this life, the same to-day as their forefathers centuries ago on the eve of that Deluge they did not believe would ever come.