The Chase of the Golden Plate
"'You really do not love him, anyway,' he ventured"The Chase of the
Golden Plate
By
Jacques Futrelle
With Illustrations by Will Grefé
and Decorations by E. A. Poucher
New York
Dodd, Mead & Company
1906
THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
Copyright, 1906, by
DODD, MEAD & COMPANY
Published, October, 1906
Three Women I Love:
and
Mayzie,
and
Berta
The Chase of the Golden Plate
PART I
THE BURGLAR AND THE GIRL
CHAPTER I
Cardinal Richelieu and the Mikado stepped out on a narrow balconyoverlooking the entrance to Seven Oaks, lighted their cigarettes andstood idly watching the throng as it poured up the wide marble steps.Here was an over-corpulent Dowager Empress of China, there an Indianwarrior in full paint and toggery, and mincing along behind him twogiggling Geisha girls. Next, in splendid robes of rank, came the Czar ofRussia. The Mikado smiled.
"An old enemy of mine," he remarked to the Cardinal.
A Watteau Shepherdess was assisted out of an automobile by ChristopherColumbus and they came up the walk arm-in-arm, while a Pierrette ranbeside them laughing up into their faces. D'Artagnan, Athos, Aramis, andPorthos swaggered along with insolent, clanking swords.
"Ah!" exclaimed the Cardinal. "There are four gentlemen whom I knowwell."
Mary Queen of Scots, Pocahontas, the Sultan of Turkey, and Mr. Micawberchatted amicably together in one language. Behind them came a figurewhich immediately arrested attention. It was a Burglar, with darklantern in one hand and revolver in the other. A black mask was drawndown to his lips, a slouch hat shaded his eyes, and a kit of the toolsof his profession swung from one shoulder.
"By George!" commented the Cardinal. "Now, that's clever."
"Looks like the real thing," the Mikado added.
The Burglar stood aside a moment, allowing a diamond-burdened QueenElizabeth to pass, then came on up the steps. The Cardinal and theMikado passed through an open window into the reception-room to witnesshis arrival.
"A figure which immediately arrested attention""Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth!" the graven-faced servantannounced.
The Burglar handed a card to the liveried Voice and noted, wit