Chapter I: Front Matter

_The Sign of Silence_] [_Frontispiece_ ]

THE SIGN

OF SILENCE

BY

WILLIAM LE QUEUX

_Author of_

_"If Sinners Entice Thee," "The Room of Secrets," etc._

WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED

LONDON, MELBOURNE AND TORONTO

1917

"THE MASTER OF MYSTERY"

WILLIAM LE QUEUX'S NOVELS

_WORLD'S OPINIONS._

EUROPE.

"Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as 'The Master of Mystery.' ... He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book."--_Pall Mall Gazette._

"There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux."--_Daily Mail._

"Mr. William Le Queux is 'The Master of Mystery.' His reputation is world-famed."--_Le Matin_ (Paris).

"Mr. William Le Queux's romances are always enthralling. He is the Master of the Mystery-story."--_Berliner Tageblatt_ (Berlin).

"Mr. William Le Queux is the most entrancing and thrilling English novelist of to-day."--_Neue Freie Presse_ (Vienna).

ASIA.

"We always enjoy Mr. Le Queux's novels. His mysteries are perfect."--_Englishman_ (Calcutta).

"Mr. William Le Queux has justly earned the title of 'The Master of Mystery.'"--_Hong Kong Telegraph._

AFRICA.

"As a weaver of mysteries, Mr. William Le Queux has surely no equal. To dash about Europe in his company, hot on the heels of an enigma, is a pastime both exciting and exhilarating."--_Johannesburg Star._

AMERICA.

"Mr. William Le Queux's popularity is steadily increasing. No writer has brought mystery and adventure to such a high degree of art. He never fails to enthral and entertain us."--_New York Herald._

"Mr. William Le Queux's work is always excellent, and always exciting."--_San Francisco Examiner._

"Not without good cause has Mr. Le Queux earned his very apt title, 'The Master of Mystery.'"--_El Diario_ (Buenos Ayres).

AUSTRALIA.

"Mr. Le Queux is always fresh and original, and one can rely on being interested and amused by his stories."--_Sydney Morning Herald._

"For mystery and sensation Mr. Le Queux cannot be beaten."--_Melbourne Argus._

"Mr. Le Queux's large public are never satisfied. They always crave for more from his pen."--_Christchurch Weekly Press_ (New Zealand).

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I.--INTRODUCES A GENTLEMAN 7

II.--THE SCENT 20

III.--DESCRIBES THE TRYSTING-PLACE 35

IV.--"DEAR OLD DIG" 45

V.--"TIME WILL PROVE" 54

VI.--THE PIECE OF CONVICTION 63

VII.--FATAL FINGERS 71

VIII.--CONTAINS FURTHER EVIDENCE 80

IX.--DESCRIBES THE YELLOW SIGN 89

X.--CHERCHEZ LA FEMME 97

XI.--IN WHICH AN ALLEGATION IS MADE 108

XII.--PHRIDA MAKES CONFESSION 117

XIII.--THE FUGITIVE'S SECRET 126

XIV.--REVEALS A FURTHER DECEPTION 136

XV.--AN EFFACED IDENTITY 144

XVI.--REVEALS ANOTHER ENIGMA 153

XVII.--CONCERNS MRS. PETRE 162

XVIII.--DISCLOSES THE TRAP 170

XIX.--THE SEAL OF SILENCE 179

XX.--FROM THE TOMB 187

XXI.--RECORDS A STRANGE STATEMENT 195

XXII.--"MARIE BRACQ!" 203

XXIII.--LOVE'S CONFESSION 213

XXIV.--OFFICIAL SECRECY 222

XXV.--FRÉMY, OF THE SURETÉ 231

XXVI.--SHOWS EXPERT METHODS 239

XXVII.--EDWARDS BECOMES MORE PUZZLED 248

XXVIII.--FURTHER ADMISSIONS 256

XXIX.--THE SELLER OF SHAWLS 265

XXX.--FACE TO FACE 274

XXXI.--SHOWS THE TRUTH-TELLER 284

XXXII.--IS THE CONCLUSION 294

THE SIGN OF SILENCE.