Chapter I: Foreword

The sixth chapter in the third book of this story can hardly be called fiction. The notes upon which it is founded were placed in my possession by a brilliant man of letters some short time before he died. Serious students of the psychology of the Inebriate may use the document certain that it is genuine.

I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to the illuminating study in heredity of Dr. Archdall Reed, M.B., C.M., F.R.S.E. His book "Alcoholism" ought to be read by every temperance reformer in Europe and America.

"The Drink Problem," a book published by Messrs. Methuen and written in concert by the greatest experts on the subject of Inebriety, has been most helpful. I have not needed technical help to make my story, but I have found that it gives ample corroboration of protracted investigation and study.

My thanks are due to Mr. John Theodore Tussaud for assistance in the writing of chapter four, book three.

Lastly, I should be ungrateful indeed, if I did not put down my sincere thanks to my secretary Miss Ethel Paczensky for all she has done for me during the making of this tale. The mere careful typewriting, revision and arrangement of a long story which is to be published in America and Europe, requires considerable skill. The fact that the loyal help and sympathy of a young and acute mind have been so devotedly at my service, merits more thanks and acknowledgment than can be easily conveyed in a foreword.

G. T.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

PAGE

PART I A BOOK OF POEMS ARRIVES FOR DR. MORTON SIMS 3

PART II THE MURDERER 14

BOOK ONE

LOTHIAN IN LONDON

CHAPTER

I UNDER THE WAGGON-ROOF. A DINNER IN BRYANSTONE SQUARE 37

II GRAVELY UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCE IN MRS. AMBERLEY'S DRAWING
ROOM 58

III SHAME IN "THE ROARING GALLANT TOWN" 76

IV LOTHIAN GOES TO THE LIBRARY OF PURE LITERATURE 103

V "FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A GIRL FRIEND" 121

BOOK TWO

LOTHIAN IN NORFOLK

I VIGNETTE OF EARLY MORNING. "GILBERT IS COMING HOME!" 145

II AN EXHIBITION OF DOCTOR MORTON SIMS AND DOCTOR MEDLEY,
WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HOW LOTHIAN RETURNED TO MORTLAND
ROYAL 165

III PSYCHOLOGY OF THE INEBRIATE, AND THE LETTER OF JEWELLED
WORDS 204

IV DICKSON INGWORTH UNDER THE MICROSCOPE 237

V A QUARREL IN THE "MOST SELECT LOUNGE IN THE COUNTY" 246

VI AN _OMNES_ EXEUNT FROM MORTLAND ROYAL 269

BOOK THREE

FRUIT OF THE DEAD SEA

I THE GIRLS IN THE FOURTH STORY FLAT 283

II OVER THE RUBICON 295

III THIRST 318

IV THE CHAMBER OF HORRORS 330

V THE NIGHT JOURNEY FROM NICE WHEN MRS. DALY SPEAKS WORDS
OF FIRE 353

VI GILBERT LOTHIAN'S DIARY 367

VII INGWORTH REDUX: TOFTREES COMPLACENS 394

VIII THE AMNESIC DREAM-PHASE 409

IX A STARTLING EXPERIENCE FOR "WOG" 436

EPILOGUE

A YEAR LATER

WHAT OCCURRED AT THE EDWARD HALL IN KINGSWAY 453