His Adventures in Search of the Truth
BY
BERNARD CAPES
WITH EIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS
BY CYRUS CUNEO
TORONTO
THE COPP CLARK COMPANY, LIMITED
1911
[All Rights Reserved]
I. The Quest of the Sleeping Beauty
II. The Quest of the Sleeping Beauty (continued)
III. The Quest of the Empty House
V. The Quest of the Marble Statuette
VI. The Quest of the Rose-Ring
VII. The Quest of the Wax Hand
VIII. The Quest of the Red-Morocco Handbag
IX. The Quest of the Registered Parcel
XI. The Quest of the Veiled Woman
XII. The Quest of the Obese Gentleman
XIII. The Quest of the Obese Gentleman (continued and concluded)
“A Little Old Man, shrewd and withered,”
“A Soft, Seal-Like Head was seen driving across the shining Flood,”
“He dabbed at the Reply Form, fuming and sputtering,”
“‘I desire to be put into communication with this,’”
“‘This is a Pleasantry, Mr Balm,’ he said,”
“A Little Monkey-Like Figure of a Man balancing on a Window-sill,”
“The Young Lady gave a scream which ‘shivered to the Stars,’”
“‘Look, Sir,’ he said, ‘Them Cushions where She sat!’”
Gilead Balm had most things to recommend him—youth, comeliness, abright intelligence, an excellent heart, a flawless digestion; best ofall, an indestructible capacity for interesting himself in the affairsof the world into which he was born. He was fresh, fair, shapely, andof that graceful height which, as representing the classic perfectionof symmetry, disposes the vision at the most reasonable level forcontemplating the true stature of things, and their relative, mundane,proportions. His eyes were calm and fearless, his voice soft, hiscourtesy unimpeachable. If he had a weakness, it was for seeing twosides to a question, one or the other of which was apt to tickle hissense of humour. But humour, after all, is the saving grace ofmankind, and, without it, there may be much achievement but little