Chapter I: Front Matter

The Opal Serpent

By

Fergus Hume

AUTHOR OF

"THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "THE RAINBOW FEATHER,"
"A COIN OF EDWARD VII.," "THE PAGAN'S CUP,"
"THE SECRET PASSAGE," "THE RED WINDOW,"
"THE MANDARIN'S FAN," ETC.

G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY
G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY.

_Issued July, 1905._

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. DON QUIXOTE IN LONDON 7

II. DEBORAH JUNK, DUENNA 19

III. DULCINEA OF GWYNNE STREET 32

IV. THE UNFORESEEN 44

V. TROUBLE 56

VI. A NOISE IN THE NIGHT 68

VII. A TERRIBLE NIGHT 80

VIII. THE VERDICT OF THE JURY 91

IX. CASTLES IN THE AIR 103

X. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE 115

XI. A CUCKOO IN THE NEST 126

XII. THE NEW LIFE 137

XIII. THE DETECTIVE'S VIEWS 148

XIV. MR. HAY'S LITTLE DINNER 161

XV. A NEW CLUE 172

XVI. SYLVIA'S THEORY 185

XVII. HURD'S INFORMATION 196

XVIII. AT CHRISTCHURCH, HANTS 208

XIX. CAPTAIN JESSOP 219

XX. PART OF THE TRUTH 228

XXI. MISS QIAN'S PARTY 241

XXII. FURTHER EVIDENCE 254

XXIII. WHAT PASH SAID 266

XXIV. MRS. KRILL AT BAY 278

XXV. A CRUEL WOMAN 291

XXVI. A FINAL EXPLANATION 306