[Illustration: William Smith 1754 Pinx. Mac Ardell. Mezzo.
London: Smith, Elder & Co., 15 Waterloo Place, S.W.]
These Essays, which appeared, with two exceptions, in _The Cornhill
Magazine_, 1904, have been revised, and some alterations, corrections,
and additions have been made in them. 'Queen Oglethorpe,' in which
Miss Alice Shield collaborated, doing most of the research, is
reprinted by the courteous permission of the editor, from _Blackwood's
Magazine_. A note on 'The End of Jeanne de la Motte,' has been added
as a sequel to 'The Cardinal's Necklace:' it appeared in _The Morning
Post_, the Editor kindly granting leave to republish.
The author wishes to acknowledge the able assistance of Miss E.M.
Thompson, who made researches for him in the British Museum and at the
Record Office.
I. THE CASE OF ELIZABETH CANNING 1
II. THE MURDER OF ESCOVEDO 32
III. THE CAMPDEN MYSTERY 55
IV. THE CASE OF ALLAN BRECK 75
V. THE CARDINAL'S NECKLACE 99
VI. THE MYSTERY OF KASPAR HAUSER: THE CHILD OF EUROPE 118
VII. THE GOWRIE CONSPIRACY 143
