










[Illustration: "MR. LOFTUS DEACON LAY IN A POOL OF BLOOD" (_p. 209_).]




  THE DORRINGTON DEED-BOX




  THE

  DORRINGTON DEED-BOX

  BY

  ARTHUR MORRISON

  AUTHOR OF

  "A CHILD OF THE JAGO," "TALES OF MEAN STREETS,"
  "MARTIN HEWITT: INVESTIGATOR," ETC.

  _ILLUSTRATED_.

  LONDON:
  WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED,

  WARWICK HOUSE, SALISBURY SQUARE, E.C.
  NEW YORK AND MELBOURNE.




CONTENTS


                                                                 PAGE

  I. THE NARRATIVE OF MR. JAMES RIGBY                                  1

  II. THE CASE OF JANISSARY                                           53

  III. THE CASE OF THE "MIRROR OF PORTUGAL"                          101

  IV.  THE AFFAIR OF THE "AVALANCHE BICYCLE AND TYRE CO., LIMITED"   151

  V.  THE CASE OF MR. LOFTUS DEACON                                  199

  VI. OLD CATER'S MONEY                                              255




  _THE NARRATIVE OF MR. JAMES RIGBY_




THE DORRINGTON DEED-BOX




I

The Narrative of Mr. James Rigby


I shall here set down in language as simple and straightforward as I
can command, the events which followed my recent return to England;
and I shall leave it to others to judge whether or not my conduct has
been characterised by foolish fear and ill-considered credulity. At
the same time I have my own opinion as to what would have been the
behaviour of any other man of average intelligence and courage in the
same circumstances; more especially a man of my