Table of Contents

       CHAPTER I. A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

       CHAPTER II. THE INVESTIGATION OPENS

       CHAPTER III. AT THE GREENE MANSION

       CHAPTER IV. THE MISSING REVOLVER

       CHAPTER V. HOMICIDAL POSSIBILITIES

       CHAPTER VI. AN ACCUSATION

       CHAPTER VII. VANCE ARGUES THE CASE

       CHAPTER VIII. THE SECOND TRAGEDY

       CHAPTER IX. THE THREE BULLETS

       CHAPTER X. THE CLOSING OF A DOOR

       CHAPTER XI. A PAINFUL INTERVIEW

       CHAPTER XII. A MOTOR RIDE

       CHAPTER XIII. THE THIRD TRAGEDY

       CHAPTER XIV. FOOTPRINTS ON THE CARPET

       CHAPTER XV. THE MURDERER IN THE HOUSE

       CHAPTER XVI. THE LOST POISONS

       CHAPTER XVII. TWO WILLS

       CHAPTER XVIII. IN THE LOCKED LIBRARY

       CHAPTER XIX. SHERRY AND PARALYSIS

       CHAPTER XX. THE FOURTH TRAGEDY

       CHAPTER XXI. A DEPLETED HOUSEHOLD

       CHAPTER XXII. THE SHADOWY FIGURE

       CHAPTER XXIII. THE MISSING FACT

       CHAPTER XXIV. A MYSTERIOUS TRIP

       CHAPTER XXV. THE CAPTURE

       CHAPTER XXVI. THE ASTOUNDING TRUTH

      Murder most foul, as in the best it is;

       But this most foul, strange and unnatural.

      —Hamlet.

      TO

      NORBERT L. LEDERER

      Αγαθὴ δὲ παράφασίς ἐστιν ἐταίρου

      CHARACTERS OF THE BOOK

      Philo Vance

      John F.-X. Markham

      District Attorney of New York County.

      Mrs. Tobias Greene

      The mistress of the Greene mansion.

      Julia Greene

      The eldest daughter.

      Sibella Greene

      Another daughter.

      Ada Greene

      The youngest daughter.

      Chester Greene

      The elder son.

      Rex Greene

      The younger son.

      Dr. Arthur Von Blon

      The Greene family physician.

      Sproot

      The Greene butler.

      Gertrude Mannheim

      The cook.

      Hemming

      The senior maid.

      Barton

      The junior maid.

      Miss Craven

      Mrs. Greene’s nurse.

      Chief Inspector O’Brien

      Of the Police Department of New York City.

      William M. Moran

      Commanding officer of the Detective Bureau.

      Ernest Heath

      Sergeant of the Homicide Bureau.

      Snitkin

      Detective of the Homicide Bureau.

      Burke

      Detective of the Homicide Bureau.

      Captain Anthony P. Jerym

      Bertillon expert.

      Captain Dubois

      Finger-print expert.

      Dr. Emanuel Doremus

      Medical Examiner.

      Dr. Drumm

      An official police surgeon.

      Marie O’Brien

      A Police nurse.

      Swacker

      Secretary to the District Attorney.

      Currie

      Vance’s valet.