Chapter I: Front Matter

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Produced by Annie McGuire. This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Internet Archive.

THE IVORY GATE

_Sunt geminae Somni portae: quarum altera fertur
Cornea, qua veris facilis datur exitus umbris:
Altera candenti perfecta nitens elephanto:
Sed falsa ad caelum mittunt insomnia manes._

VIRGIL, _AEn._ VI.

NOTE.

After this novel was commenced in _Chambers's Journal_ it was discovered that the title had already been used by the late Mr. Mortimer Collins, for a novel published in the year 1865. The Author communicated with Mr. Collins's representatives, and has to thank them for making no opposition to the use of this title.

THE IVORY GATE

BY WALTER BESANT

AUTHOR OF 'ALL SORTS AND CONDITIONS OF MEN' ETC.

_A NEW EDITION_

London CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY 1893

_TO_ _S. SQUIRE SPRIGGE, ESQ., M.D._

_MY DEAR SPRIGGE,_

_Since it was you who first instructed me in the existence
of the brain disease which forms the motif of this story,
and furnished me with such illustrations of its working as
enabled me to write the story, I am in honour bound to make
the most public acknowledgment possible of this fact._

_I therefore beg to inscribe your name on the title page of
this volume in grateful recognition of an obligation which
is not by any means discharged by such recognition. I am
also moved to do so in remembrance of another kind of work
in which I have been so fortunate as to have your invaluable
collaboration._

_Very sincerely yours,_
_WALTER BESANT._

UNITED UNIVERSITY CLUB, S.W.
_September 12, 1892._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
PROLOGUE: WHO IS EDMUND GRAY? 1
I. UP THE RIVER 29
II. IN THE OFFICE 37
III. THE SELECT CIRCLE 47
IV. A REBELLIOUS CHILD 56
V. SOMETHING HAPPENS 65
VI. SOMETHING MORE HAPPENS 74
VII. SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS 83
VIII. IN HONOUR OF THE EVENT 93
IX. AT THE GATES OF PARADISE 102
X. A MYSTERIOUS DISCOVERY 110
XI. A MYSTERIOUS DISCOVERY 118
XII. THE FIRST FIND 134
XIII. THINGS MORE REMARKABLE 142
XIV. CHECKLEY'S CASE 152
XV. WHO IS EDMUND GRAY? 162
XVI. THE VOICE OF DUTY 172
XVII. WAS HE IN RAGS? 180
XVIII. THE PRODIGAL AT HOME 188
XIX. THE WHISPER OF CALUMNY 195
XX. HE COMES FROM EDMUND GRAY 205
XXI. I AM EDMUND GRAY 213
XXII. MASTER AND DISCIPLE 223
XXIII. THE HALL OF THE NEW FAITH 231
XXIV. CAN HE REMEMBER? 240
XXV. WILL HE REMEMBER? 248
XXVI. THE LESSON OF THE STREET 255
XXVII. 'I KNOW THE MAN' 272
XXVIII. ATHELSTAN'S DISCOVERY 280
XXIX. CHECKLEY SEES A GHOST 288
XXX. THE DAY AFTER THE GHOST 296
XXXI. THE THREE ACCOMPLICES 304
XXXII. ELSIE AND HER MOTHER 315
XXXIII. PLENARY CONFESSION 320
XXXIV. LE CONSEIL DE FAMILLE 338
XXXV. THE LAST 355