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THE BLACK BAG


By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE



WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY THOMAS FOGARTY


1908




TO MY MOTHER




CONTENTS


CHAPTER

    I. DIVERSIONS OF A RUINED GENTLEMAN

   II. "AND SOME THERE BE WHO HAVE ADVENTURES THRUST UPON THEM"

  III. CALENDAR'S DAUGHTER

   IV. 9 FROGNALL STREET, W. C.

    V. THE MYSTERY OF A FOUR-WHEELER

   VI. "BELOW BRIDGE"

  VII. DIVERSIONS OF A RUINED GENTLEMAN--RESUMED

 VIII. MADAME L'INTRIGANTE

   IX. AGAIN "BELOW BRIDGE"; AND BEYOND

    X. DESPERATE MEASURES

   XI. OFF THE NORE

  XII. PICARESQUE PASSAGES

 XIII. A PRIMER OF PROGRESSIVE CRIME

  XIV. STRATAGEMS AND SPOILS

   XV. REFUGEES

  XVI. TRAVELS WITH A CHAPERON

 XVII. ROGUES AND VAGABONDS

XVIII. ADVENTURERS' LUCK

  XIX. i--THE UXBRIDGE ROAD

      ii--THE CROWN AND MITRE

     iii--THE JOURNEY'S END


THE BLACK BAG




I


DIVERSIONS OF A RUINED GENTLEMAN

Upon a certain dreary April afternoon in the year of grace, 1906, the
apprehensions of Philip Kirkwood, Esquire, _Artist-peintre_, were enlivened
by the