A Coin of Edward VII: A Detective Story Read online

  A COIN OF EDWARD VII.

  by

  FERGUS HUME

  * * * * * *

  Popular Novels by Fergus Hume

  THE SECRET PASSAGE

  The _Albany Evening Journal_ says: "Fully as interesting as his formerbooks, and keeps one guessing to the end. The story begins with themurder of an old lady, with no apparent cause for the crime, and inunraveling the mystery the author is very clever in hiding the realcriminal. A pleasing romance runs through the book, which adds to theinterest."

  12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25

  THE YELLOW HOLLY

  _The Philadelphia Public Ledger_ says: "'The Yellow Holly' outdoes anyof his earlier stories. It is one of those tales that the average readerof fiction of this sort thinks he knows all about after he has read thefirst few chapters. Those who have become admirers of Mr. Hume cannotafford to miss 'The Yellow Holly.'" 12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25

  A COIN OF EDWARD VII.

  _The Philadelphia Item_ says: "This book is quite up to the level of thehigh standard which Mr. Hume has set for himself in 'The Mystery of aHansom Cab' and 'The Rainbow Feather.' It is a brilliant, stirringadventure, showing the author's prodigious inventiveness, his well ofimagination never running dry."

  12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25

  THE PAGAN'S CUP

  _The Nashville American_ says: "The plot is intricate with mystery andprobability neatly dovetailed and the solution is a series of surprisesskillfully retarded to whet the interest of the reader. It isexcellently written and the denouement so skillfully concealed thatone's interest and curiosity are kept on edge till the very last. Itwill certainly be a popular book with a very large class of readers."

  12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25

  THE MANDARIN'S FAN

  _The Nashville American_ says: "The book is most attractive andthoroughly novel in plot and construction. The mystery of the curiousfan, and its being the key to such wealth and power is decidedlyoriginal and unique. Nearly every character in the book seems possibleof accusation. It is just the sort of plot in which Hume is at his best.It is a complex tangle, full of splendid climaxes. Few authors have acharm equal to that of Mr. Hume's mystery tales."

  12mo, Cloth bound, $1.25

  G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY

  PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

  * * * * * *

  "HE SAW THE FIGURE OF A WOMAN LYING FACE DOWNWARD ON THESNOW."--_Page 45._]

  A COIN OF EDWARD VII.

  A Detective Story

  by

  FERGUS HUME

  Author of"The Mystery of a Hansom Cab"; "The Pagan's Cup";"Claude Duval of 95"; "The Rainbow Feather," Etc.

  G. W. Dillingham CompanyPublishers New York

  Copyright, 1903, ByG. W. Dillingham Company

  CONTENTS

  CHAP. PAGE

  I. THE CHRISTMAS TREE 7

  II. AN ANONYMOUS LETTER 16

  III. A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR 26

  IV. THE CHURCHYARD 37

  V. AFTERWARDS 46

  VI. THE CASE AGAINST ANNE 55

  VII. OLIVER MORLEY 65

  VIII. THE IRONY OF FATE 74

  IX. A STRANGE DISCOVERY 84

  X. ON A FRESH TRAIL 96

  XI. PRINCESS KARACSAY 106

  XII. MRS. PARRY'S TEA 118

  XIII. MRS. BENKER REAPPEARS 129

  XIV. TREASURE TROVE 139

  XV. AN AWKWARD INTERVIEW 148

  XVI. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 159

  XVII. PART OF THE TRUTH 169

  XVIII. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT 180

  XIX. THE CLUE LEADS TO LONDON 190

  XX. MANY A SLIP 'TWIXT CUP AND LIP 201

  XXI. A STORY OF THE PAST 212

  XXII. OLGA'S EVIDENCE 223

  XXIII. MARK DANE 233

  XXIV. A RAT IN A CORNER 245

  XXV. A CATASTROPHE 259

  XXVI. THE END OF THE TROUBLE 272