The Piccadilly Puzzle

t the corners betokened a lachrymose nature. He wore greyish clothes always a little threadbare, and large thick-soled boots chosen rather for utility t

thing of beauty, was never arrived at, and his general appearance was dismal in the extreme. He wore a beard, that is several tufts of straggly hair were planted in patches ove

s not invariably the index of his mind, and the Puritan physiognomy of Mr. Dowker was a very serviceable mask to the acuteness and brilliancy of his intellect. Consequently, when the Piccadilly Puzzle case promised to be such a difficult one to unravel,

riminal. The clothing was not marked in any way, but on examining the hat, Dowker found from a ticket on the inside that it had been purchased at the shop of Madame Rêne in Regent Street; s

which could have been bought much cheaper elsewhere, but then they would not have been stamped with Madame Rêne's approval, and that omission was to declare that the article was

t once, for the detective was well-known there, haying been frequently employed by Madame

ound of Bow Bells, but took her French name for trade purposes. Her voice was sharp and shrill, and her black

ken his seat in her private office and closed the door, "

d Dowker with a si

lliston, and she owes me a lot of money, so

?" inquired t

me with a shrill laugh. "I've got a diamond necklace, but I think it belongs to Si

would be the

ay kick up a row, and I don't want my dealings in this way made public. I'd have a whole army of husbands down on me--just like men--

sell the

divorced, and marry Calliston--more fool she, for he's a scamp--then she'll want to rede

ker, who knew everything; "they'll turn up

ldly point of view. "She was nobody when Sir Rupert picked her up, and he gave her everything--she made ducks and drak

id Dowker, who had no hesitation in talking plainly to

will be a row when she hears his latest escapade; but he'll get tired of Lad

ant to see you about this," and taking the hat out of the parcel, he laid it before Madame. It was rather striking-lo

lancing at it. "Rather good style,

the person yo

e one might have bought it and taken it away with t

bell, and a

l had vanished. "Such a wonderful memory, forgets nothing. I find her useful in my

ponded Dowker with as near an approa

ppearance, and decide

out two months ago--somew

eal lady?"

t," responded Miss Brail doubtful

" asked Madam

Miss Brail, and went out to get the book.

eopatra Villa, S

wker started, on perceiving which,

e asked curiously, whe

t his handkerchief, twisted it up into a hard ba

la is Lord Cal

urious thing we should have been speaking about him!

's maid," cor

do you

it, "was sold by you to

ea

m of the Jermyn

sprang to her feet

rapidly, "this hat was on the head when the body was discovered. It had a mark inside showing it was bought here, so I came

but it may not be Lydia Fenny at all. Other hats might have been made similar

that out," said Dowker, wrapping

tha

ood-day," and the detective went out, le

r if Lord Calliston's got anything to