Chapter I: Front Matter

THE TICKENCOTE TREASURE

_The Tickencote Treasure_] [_Frontispiece_]

THE TICKENCOTE
TREASURE

BY
WILLIAM LE QUEUX

_Author of “A Secret Service,” “The Temptress,”_
_“In White Raiment,” etc._

WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED
LONDON, MELBOURNE AND TORONTO
1913

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I IN WHICH JOB SEAL BORROWS A FUSEE 7

II WHAT WE SAW AND WHAT WE HEARD 16

III THE MYSTERIOUS MAN 24

IV IN WHICH I EXAMINE THE PARCHMENTS 32

V WITH A STORY TO TELL 39

VI AN EXPERT OPINION 46

VII WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE VELLUM BOOK 56

VIII THE SEVEN DEAD MEN 65

IX ONE POINT IS MADE CLEAR 71

X THE GUARDIAN OF THE SECRET 79

XI FORESTALLED 88

XII JOB SEAL MAKES A PROPOSAL 96

XIII A CALL, AND ITS CONSEQUENCE 105

XIV REQUIRES EXPLANATION 114

XV REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE 122

XVI MRS. GRAHAM’S VISITOR 132

XVII THE SELLER OF THE SECRET 139

XVIII THE SILENT MAN’S WARNING 147

XIX THE LADY FROM BAYSWATER 154

XX PHILIP REILLY TELLS A STRANGE STORY 161

XXI WE MAKE A DISCOVERY IN THE MANOR HOUSE 171

XXII BLACK BENNETT 180

XXIII JOB SEAL RELATES HIS ADVENTURES 188

XXIV THE MYSTERY OF MARGARET KNUTTON 195

XXV REVEALS THE DEATH-TRAP 204

XXVI IN WHICH BEN KNUTTON GROWS CONFIDENTIAL 211

XXVII DOROTHY DRUMMOND PREFERS SECRECY 220

XXVIII WE RECEIVE MIDNIGHT VISITORS 228

XXIX DOROTHY MAKES A CONFESSION 237

XXX THE SILENT MAN’S STORY 245

XXXI THE HOUSE AT KILBURN 253

XXXII WHAT WE DISCOVERED AT THE RECORD OFFICE 261

XXXIII WE DECIPHER THE PARCHMENT 270

XXXIV OUR SEARCH AT TICKENCOTE AND ITS RESULTS 278

XXXV THE SPY, AND WHAT HE TOLD US 286

XXXVI “NINE POINTS OF THE LAW” 295

XXXVII CONTAINS THE CONCLUSION 299