Produced by an anonymous volunteer. HTML version by Al Haines. THE SECRET PASSAGE by Fergus Hume CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE COTTAGE II. THE CRIME III. A MYSTERIOUS DEATH IV. DETAILS V. LORD CARANBY'S ROMANCE VI. A PERPLEXING CASE VII. THE DETECTIVE VIII. THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE IX. ANOTHER MYSTERY X. THE PARLOR-MAID'S STORY XI. ON THE TRACK XII. JENNINGS ASKS QUESTIONS XIII. JULIET AT BAY XIV. MRS. OCTAGON EXPLAINS XV. A DANGEROUS ADMISSION XVI. JULIET'S STORY XVII. JULIET'S STORY CONTINUED XVIII. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS XIX. SUSAN'S DISCOVERY XX. BASIL XXI. AN EXPERIMENT XXII. THE SECRET ENTRANCE XXIII. A SCAMP'S HISTORY XXIV. REVENGE XXV. NEMESIS XXVI. CUTHBERT'S ENEMY THE SECRET PASSAGE CHAPTER I THE COTTAGE "What IS your name?" "Susan Grant, Miss Loach." "Call me ma'am. I am Miss Loach only to my equals. Your age?" "Twenty-five, ma'am." "Do you know your work as parlor-maid thoroughly?" "Yes, ma'am. I was two years in one place and six months in another, ma'am. Here are my characters from both places, ma'am." As the girl spoke she laid two papers before the sharp old lady who questioned her. But Miss Loach did not look at them immediately. She examined the applicant with such close attention that a faint color tinted the girl's cheeks and she dropped her eyes. But, in her turn, by stealthy glances, Susan Grant tactfully managed to acquaint herself with the looks of her possible mistress. The thoughts of each woman ran as follows,-- Miss Loach to herself. "Humph! Plain-looking, sallow skin, rather fine eyes and a slack mouth. Not badly dressed for a servant, and displays some taste. She might turn my old dresses at a pinch. Sad expression, as though she had something on her mind. Honest-looking, but I think a trifle inquisitive, seeing how she examined the room and is stealing glances at me. Talks sufficiently, but in a low voice. Fairly intelligent, but not too much so. Might be secretive. Humph!" The thoughts of Susan Grant. "Handsome old lady, probably nearly sixty. Funny dress for ten o'clock in the morning. She must be rich, to wear purple silk and old lace and lovely rings at this hour. A hard mouth, thin nose, very white hair and very black eyebrows. Got a temper I should say, and is likely to prove an exacting mistress. But I want a quiet home, and the salary is good. I'll try it, if she'll take me." Had either mistress or maid known of each other's thoughts, a conclusion to do business might not have been arrived at. As it was, Miss Loach, after a few more questions, appeared satisfied. All the time she kept a pair of very black eyes piercingly fixed on the girl's face, as though she would read her very soul. But Susan had nothing to conceal, so far as Miss Loach could gather, so in the end she resolved to engage her.