The Piccadilly Puzzle

was being given by the Countess of Kerstoke. True, the season was long since over, and though the greater part of London Society had migrated swallow-like to t

tra hidden behind a gorgeous screen of tropical plants was playing the latest waltz, "A Friend of Mine," and the sigh and sob of the melody as it stole softly through the room seemed to inspire the dancers with a voluptuous languor as they glided over the

ere evidently far away. He was tall, dark-haired, with a short cut well-trimmed beard, piercing dark eyes, a firmly compressed mouth, and judging from his swarthy complexion together with a certain crisp curl in his hair he evidently ha

ton a well-known society man generally called The Town-crier, from the fact that he knew all the

formation "have you come back once more to England, home and beauty--hey? been

eryone who goes half-a-dozen miles now-a-days publishes a book of travels u

new grou

for me. I've done Africa in a superficial manner, called on our American cousins, passed the

what's

little tired of it--however I have satisfied your curiosity, now return the compliment. I've been away from England for two years so

by sermons and scandal, which being spiced with a little maliciousness proved quite an amusing discourse. Ellersby listened in s

ld be as gossiping as Pepys, as scandalous De Grammont, and as amus

s here to-night,

y in a surprised tone. "I thought he loved

he picked her up down in the country somewhere, but she's got n

gether, to a woman," interrupted El

off an auctioneer-li

ul complexion, magnificent figu

ecially the latter," murmured El

ace in Berkshire on business, tried to make her ladyship come to but she wouldn't because of this danc

e reciprocate her h

ows, rubbed his hands a

lied chuckling. "Calliston

he was in love with old Bal

just to keep his hand in--I wouldn't be s

r surmises," retorted Ellersby, "but

you she cares more for Myles Desmond's little fin

od fellow, was with him at Cambridge but we somehow never

s as secretary to his cousin Lord Calliston-

e to marry and have heirs, unless he kills himself in the meantime with drink--but

on account of Calliston--Lady B. is jealous of Calliston on account of Miss Penfold, and that

"Well, when I see Lady Balscombe, I'll give you my opinion of her looks;

" asked Marton, as they

ll I get my rooms fixed up; I've brought such a lot of things home th

seeing his companion with a small glass full of bran

mpatiently, "I'm only taking this to-ni

ent back to the ball-room, and meeting a friend, confided t

d habits these young fellows pick up abroad, hey! look us

d not intend to give the retur

as a queer, thin little woman, wearing a wig, a low-cut dress, and many jewe

ecided whether to take a cab to his hotel or to walk. The fog was very thick, and the gas-lamps shone through it like dull yellow stars, w

of amusement, akin somewhat to the unravelling of a puzzle, to find his way through the fog to Jermyn Street. Smiling at the oddity of the idea o

its jealous veil until the pedestrian finds himself adrift as it were on a lonely sea, and though on every side he is environe

unwary wanderers, but the nomadic life of Ellersby having wonderfully sharpened his faculties, he was always on his guard against the evil advances of these night-birds. Occasionally he could hear a cab drive slowly

street, and, by some miracle of dexterity which he placed at once to the credit of instinct, turned down St. James' Street, and it was here

anger quickly, "but the fog is so

way, when Ellersby, recogni

" he said, gaily, "and g

ply at the face of the other gave vent to an ejaculation of

t you were in Persia or in Patagonia. Who the deuce would have

ck to my hotel just to renew my acquaintance with London fogs. It w

urriedly, "but I can't. I'm--I'm i

tel, Jermy

tart. "Jermyn Street--all ri

y, detaining him. "Tell me, where

to-night down to Shoreham--yachting, you know. Wants to go to the Az

ual demeanour, as Ellersby knew, and as he went off quickly and was sw

long. "Fancy Venus on such a discouraging night as this--the rosy mi

o attempt to cross on the chance of his luck guiding him, when suddenly the tall form

a relieved tone. "I've got slightly astray in th

policeman, touching his helmet, and he step

ught he could now find the way for himself. He gave the policeman half-a-crown, and going along a few yards went up what he supposed were the steps of the hot

anding on the top when the policeman hurried up, whil

by in an agitated tone, "here i

" replied the policeman, sce

en her and she will not waken. He

t, and a silk dress, with a fashionably shaped hat on her head. Her well-gloved hands were tightly clenched, and her eyes, wide open, were staring straight up at the horrified discoverers. There did not seem to be any wound or blood abou

length, and blew a whistle. To this call there was an

llersby, who was much upset by the discovery, "h

at the neck of the corpse, but could see

queer sort of case. We'll take the body to

few minutes two more made their appearance with a stretcher, up

ard, so that he could be called on to appear at the inquest, and then w

ith the horrible sight he had witnessed, and all through the night his

l termination to a night'