A Master of Mysteries

Master of Mysteries, by L. T.
Meade and Robert Eustace

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Title: A Master of Mysteries
Author: L. T. Meade Robert Eustace
Illustrator: J. Ambrose Walton
Release Date: August 8, 2007 [EBook #22278]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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A MASTER OF MYSTERIES

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[Illustration: "He pulled the mare nearly up on her haunches." (Page
114). A Master of Mysteries.--Frontispiece]
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A MASTER OF MYSTERIES
By L. T. MEADE and ROBERT EUSTACE
Illustrated By J. AMBROSE WALTON
London Ward, Lock & Co Limited Warwick House Salisbury Square E
C New York And Melbourne
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Contents
I THE MYSTERY OF THE CIRCULAR CHAMBER
II THE WARDER OF THE DOOR
III THE MYSTERY OF THE FELWYN TUNNEL
IV THE EIGHT-MILE LOCK
V HOW SIVA SPOKE
VI TO PROVE AN ALIBI
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Introduction
It so happened that the circumstances of fate allowed me to follow my
own bent in the choice of a profession. From my earliest youth the
weird, the mysterious had an irresistible fascination for me. Having

private means, I resolved to follow my unique inclinations, and I am
now well known to all my friends as a professional exposer of ghosts,
and one who can clear away the mysteries of most haunted houses. Up
to the present I have never had cause to regret my choice, but at the
same time I cannot too strongly advise any one who thinks of following
my example to hesitate before engaging himself in tasks that entail time,
expense, thankless labour, often ridicule, and not seldom great personal
danger. To explain, by the application of science, phenomena attributed
to spiritual agencies has been the work of my life. I have, naturally,
gone through strange difficulties in accomplishing my mission. I
propose in these pages to relate the histories of certain queer events,
enveloped at first in mystery, and apparently dark with portent, but,
nevertheless, when grappled with in the true spirit of science, capable
of explanation.
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I
THE MYSTERY OF THE CIRCULAR CHAMBER
One day in late September I received the following letter from my
lawyer:--
"My Dear Bell,--
"I shall esteem it a favour if you can make it convenient to call upon
me at ten o'clock to-morrow morning on a matter of extreme privacy."
At the appointed hour I was shown into Mr. Edgcombe's private room.
I had known him for years--we were, in fact, old friends--and I was
startled now by the look of worry, not to say anxiety, on his usually
serene features.
"You are the very man I want, Bell," he cried. "Sit down; I have a great
deal to say to you. There is a mystery of a very grave nature which I
hope you may solve for me. It is in connection with a house said to be

haunted."
He fixed his bright eyes on my face as he spoke. I sat perfectly silent,
waiting for him to continue.
"In the first place," he resumed, "I must ask you to regard the matter as
confidential."
"Certainly," I answered.
"You know," he went on, "that I have often laughed at your special
hobby, but it occurred to me yesterday that the experiences you have
lived through may enable you to give me valuable assistance in this
difficulty."
"I will do my best for you, Edgcombe," I replied.
He lay back in his chair, folding his hands.
"The case is briefly as follows," he began. "It is connected with the
family of the Wentworths. The only son, Archibald, the artist, has just
died under most extraordinary circumstances. He was, as you probably
know, one of the most promising water-colour painters of the younger
school, and his pictures in this year's Academy met with universal
praise. He was the heir to the Wentworth estates, and his death has
caused a complication of claims from a member of a collateral branch
of the family, who, when the present squire dies, is entitled to the
money. This man has spent the greater part of his life in Australia, is
badly off, and evidently belongs to a rowdy set. He has been to see me
two or three times, and I must say frankly that I am not taken with his
appearance."
"Had he anything to do with the death?" I interrupted.
"Nothing whatever, as you will quickly perceive. Wentworth has