Chapter I: Front Matter

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ILLUSTRATIONS

“Prudence.”

“Old-fashioned Matrons Clustered Round to Watch Him Cleaning the
Doorstep.”

“He Took Mr. Chalk in a Firm Grasp and Lowered Him.”

“Sometimes the Captain Took Him to Palm-studded Islands In The
Southern Seas.”

“‘How Could You Have Found Them Again?’ Inquired Mr. Chalk, With
the Air of One Propounding a Poser.”

“A Small Boy Treading the Same Road.”

“He Ransacked an Old Lumber-room.”

“Selina Vickers.”

“He Pops in and out of My Office Like a Figure on A
Cuckoo-clock.”

“The Others Drew Near and Inspected It.”

“All She Says is She’s Not Afraid of You, Nor Six Like You.”

“He Waylaid Him on Several Occasions to Inquire Into The
Progress he Was Making.”

“‘Done With It?’ Repeated the Girl, in a Startled Voice.”

“Mr. Chalk Entered, Leading Mr. Stobell.”

“He Moved It out Bodily and Looked Behind And Beneath It.”

“She Stood Face to Face With the Stern Realities Of Life.”

“He Made out a Girl’s Head Surmounted by A Large Hat.”

“He Passed his Cup up for More Coffee.”

“‘This is a New Client of Mine,’ Said Tredgold.”

“Mr. Tredgold Prepared to Draw up the Required Agreement.”

“‘Fine Day, Gentlemen,’ Said the Stranger, As he Raised His
Glass.”

“His Three Patrons, With a Hopeless Attempt to Appear
Unconcerned, Were Coming Down the Road.”

“Captain Brisket Waving Farewells from the Quay As They
Embarked.”

“Mr. Vickers Had Been for a Stroll With Mr. William Russell.”

“‘Why, You Must Have Been Stinting Me for Years,’ Continued Mr.
Vickers.”

“They Were Anxious for Particulars.”

“Mr. Vickers Rose and Stood Regarding the Ignoble Creature With
Profound Contempt.”

“He Became Intent on a Derelict Punt.”

“Aided by Mr. Tredgold and a Peal of Thunder, She Managed To
Clamber Over.”

“She Threw Herself Thoughtlessly Into That Famous Old
Chippendale Chair.”

“Instructed Their Retainers to Make Untruthful Statements As to
Their Whereabouts.”

“You Said to My Husband: ‘the Fair Emily is Yours.’”

“The Captain Walked Home Deep in Thought.”

“Mrs. Stobell.”

“‘It Wouldn’t Be Nice to Be Buried at Sea,’ Remarked Mr. Chalk.”

“He Pointed to a Thin, Dismal-looking Man.”

“There’s More in This Than Meets the Eye.”

“Purchasing Firearms, With Which he Practised in The Garden.”

“Mrs. Chalk Stood by a Pile of Luggage, Discoursing to An
Admiring Circle of Friends.”

“A Slight Nautical Roll.”

“‘Is It Mutiny?’ he Faltered.”

“She Enacted, to the Great Admiration of a Small Crowd, The Part
of a Human Semaphore.”

“‘Mr. Tredgold!’ Said a Sharp Voice from Above.”

“‘I Never Want to Hear Another Word About That Treasure As Long
As I Live.’”

“He Aimed Hastily at a Face Which Appeared There.”

“‘It’s Pointing Towards Me,’ Said the Mate.”

“He Felt Less Heroic Next Morning.”

“The Captain and Mr. Duckett Discussed With Great Earnestness
the Nature of The Secret.”

“‘I Found ’im Inside the Horse and Groom,’ he Said.”

“Selina Was Standing in Front of Mr. Tasker In the Manner Of a
Small Hen Defending an Overgrown Chicken.”

“‘I Was Going to Ask Him To Give Me a Cup of Tea,’ He Said.”

“The ‘Fair Emily’”

“He Led the Reluctant Man As Far from The Helmsman As Possible
and Whispered the Information.”

“Mr. Duckett Took the Helm.”

“The ‘Fair Emily’ Had Disappeared.”

“Mr. Chalk, With the Air of an Old Campaigner, Made A Small Fire
and Prepared Breakfast.”

“Her Friend Gazed Long and Mournfully at a Large Photograph of
Mr. Stobell.”

“Miss Vickers Stood Wiping Her Hands on Her Coarse Apron.”

“Selina Gives Twopence on Account.”

“I Told Him That You Would Like to Hear It.”

“Half Binchester Had Congregated to Welcome Their
Fellow-townsmen.”

“‘Halloa! What Do You Want?’ he Inquired.”

“‘It’ll Be All Right,’ Said Brisket, Puffing at His Cigar.”

“Then Tredgold, With his Back to the Others, Caught His Eye and
Frowned Significantly.”

“They Stared Solemnly up Dialstone Lane.”