"MR. LOFTUS DEACON LAY IN A POOL OF BLOOD"
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
THE DORRINGTON DEED-BOX
THE NARRATIVE OF MR. JAMES RIGBY
I
I shall here set down in language as simple and straightforward as Ican command, the events which followed my recent return to England;and I shall leave it to others to judge whether or not my conduct hasbeen characterised by foolish fear and ill-considered credulity. Atthe same time I have my own opinion as to what would have been thebehaviour of any other man of average intelligence and courage in thesame circumstances; more especially a man of my exceptional upbringingand retired habits.
I was born in Australia, and I have lived there all my life till quiterecently, save for a single trip to Europe as a boy, in company withmy father and mother. It was then that I lost my father. I was lessthan nine years old at the time, but my memory of the events of thatEuropean trip is singularly vivid.
My father had emigrated to Australia at the time of his marriage, andhad become a rich man by singularly fortunate speculations in land inand about Sydney. As a family we were most uncommonly self-centred andisolated. From my parents I never heard a word as to their relativesin England; indeed to this day I do not as much as know what wasthe Christian name of my grandfather. I have often supposed thatsome serious family quarrel or great misfortune must have precededor accompanied my father's marriage. Be that as it may, I was neverable to learn anything of my relatives, either on my mot