The Argosy, Vol. 45

This installment of Mrs. Henry Wood's serial "The Story of Charles Strange" centers on the mysterious death of Mr. Brightman and the disappearance of thirty pounds in gold. Brightman dies suddenly in the protagonist's Essex Street room; when examining his locked desk drawer, the money—placed there in a canvas bag an hour earlier—is missing. A policeman reports seeing a woman exit the house running toward the river, while servant Leah displays suspicious agitation. Despite these circumstances, the protagonist, confident in his legal acumen, doubts Leah's guilt but recognizes the case presents a genuine mystery requiring investigation. Other characters present include doctors, police, and fellow solicitor Lennard, each contributing observations about the sequence of events surrounding the death and theft.