THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB (British Mystery Series). Fergus Hume

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       Fergus Hume

      THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB

      (British Mystery Series)

      

       Published by

      

Books

      Advanced Digital Solutions & High-Quality eBook Formatting

       [email protected] 2017 OK Publishing ISBN 978-80-7583-169-9

      Table of Contents

       Preface

       I. What the Argus Said

       II. The Evidence at the Inquest

       III. One Hundred Pounds Reward

       IV. Mr. Gorby Makes a Start

       V. Mrs. Hamilton Unbosoms Herself

       VI. Mr. Gorby Makes Further Discoveries

       VII. The Wool King

       VIII. Brian Takes a Walk and a Drive

       IX. Mr. Gorby Is Satisfied at Last

       X. In the Queen’s Name

       XI. Counsel for the Prisoner

       XII. She Was a True Woman

       XIII. Madge Makes a Discovery

       XIV. Another Richmond in the Field

       XV. A Woman of the People

       XVI. Missing

       XVII. The Trial

       XVIII. Sal Rawlins Tells All She Knows

       XIX. The Verdict of the Jury

       XX. The “Argus” Gives Its Opinion

       XXI. Three Months Afterwards

       XXII. A Daughter of Eve

       XXIII. Across the Walnuts and the Wine

       XXIV. Brian Receives a Letter

       XXV. What Dr. Chinston Said

       XXVI. Kilsip Has a Theory of His Own

       XXVII. Mother Guttersnipe Joins the Majority

       XXVIII. Mark Frettlby Has a Visitor

       XXIX. Mr. Calton’s Curiosity Is Satisfied

       XXX. Nemesis

       XXXI. Hush-Money

       XXXII. De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bonum

       XXXIII. The Confession

       XXXIV. The Hands of Justice

       XXXV. “The Love That Lives”

      Preface

       Table of Contents

      In its original form, “The Mystery of a Hansom Cab” has reached the sale of 375,000 copies in this country, and some few editions in the United States of America. Notwithstanding this, the present publishers have the best of reasons for believing, that there are thousands of persons whom the book has never reached. The causes of this have doubtless been many, but chief among them was the form of the publication itself. It is for this section of the public chiefly that the present edition is issued. In placing it before my new readers, I have been asked by the publishers thoroughly to revise the work, and, at the same time, to set at rest the many conflicting reports concerning it and myself, which have been current since its initial issue. The first of these requests I have complied with, and the many typographic, and other errors, which disfigured the first edition, have, I think I can safely say, now disappeared. The second request I am about to fulfil; but, in order to do so, I must ask my readers to go back with me to the beginning of all things, so far as this special book is concerned.

      The writing of the book was due more to accident than to design. I was bent on becoming a dramatist, but, being quite unknown, I found it impossible to induce the managers of the Melbourne Theatres to accept, or even to read a play. At length it occurred to me I might further my purpose by writing a novel. I should at all events secure a certain amount of local attention. Up to that time I had written only one or two short stories, and the “Cab” was not only the first book I ever published, but the first book I ever wrote; so to youth and lack of experience must be ascribed whatever was wanting in the book. I repeat that the story was written only to attract local attention, and no one was more astonished than I when it passed beyond the narrow circle for which it had originally been intended.

      My mind made up on this point, I enquired of a leading Melbourne bookseller what style of book he sold most of. He replied that