The Avenger (Oppenheim)

by Edward Phillips Oppenheim

"There flashed across her face a quiver, as though of pain."
(Page 52)

[Frontispiece

The Avenger

By
E. Phillips Oppenheim

Author of "The Matter Mummer," "A Maker of Hiitory,"
"The Malefactor," "The Lost Leader,"
"The Great Secret," Etc.

Illustrated by
ALEC BALL

Boston
Little, Brown, and Company
1908

Copyright, 1907, 1908,
By Little, Brown, and Company.

---

All rights reserved

Published May, 1908

CONTENTS

I.

A Mysterious Visitor ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

1

II.

The Horror of the Hansom ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

9

III.

Discussing the Crime ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

15

IV.

Under a Cloud ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

24

V.

On the Telephone ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

28

VI.

One Thousand Pounds' Reward ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

36

VII.

The Colonel's Daughter ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

42

VIII.

The Baroness Intervenes ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

50

IX.

A Box at the Alhambra ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

57

X.

Outcast ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

64

XI.

False Sentiment ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

71

XII.

Tidings From the Cape ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

79

XIII.

Searching the Chambers ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

86

XIV.

The Dead Man's Brother ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

92

XV.

The Lawyer's Suggestion ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

100

XVI.

A Dinner in the Strand ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

108

XVII.

A Confession of Love ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

117

XVIII.

An Amateur Detective ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

124

XIX.

Desperate Wooing ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

129

XX.

Stabbed through the Heart ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

136

XXI.

The Flight of Louise ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

143

XXII.

The Château of Étarpe ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

150

XXIII.

A Passionate Pilgrim ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

157

XXIV.

An Invitation to Dinner ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

163

XXV.

The Man in the Yellow Boots ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

171

XXVI.

Madame De Melbain ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

179

XXVII.

The Spy ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

186

XXVIII.

The Scene in the Avenue ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

193

XXIX.

A Substantial Ghost ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

199

XXX.

The Queen of Mexonia ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

206

XXXI.

Returned From the Tomb ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

213

XXXII.

At the Hôtel Splendide ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

220

XXXIII.

A Hand in the Game ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

227

XXXIV.

An Ill-Assorted Couple ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

234

XXXV.

His Wife ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

242

XXXVI.

The Murdered Man's Effects ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

249

XXXVII.

The Widow's Ultimatum ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

256

XXXVIII.

Ineffectual Wooing ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

265

XXXIX.

The Colonel's Mission ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

271

XL.

Blackmail ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

278

XLI.

The Colonel Speaks ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

284

XLII.

Love Remains ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

293

ILLUSTRATIONS

"There flashed across her face a quiver, as though of pain" ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Frontispiece

PAGE

"At the sight of the two men, the Baroness stopped short" ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

92

"He was there on his knees, with his arms around the terrified woman" ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

212

"'To the nearest police station! That's where I'm off.'" ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

289