Cover of The Black Abbot

The Black Abbot

  • Free to read
  • 6 hours to read
  • 65 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"The Black Abbot" by Edgar Wallace is a mystery novel written in the late 1920s. Set in an English estate, the story opens with the Earl of Chelford, who is embroiled in a discussion surrounding the myth of the Black Abbot, a ghost said to haunt Fossaway Manor. As the plot unfolds, themes of family secrets, treasure hunting, and romance intertwine, particularly involving Harry Alford and his brother Dick, along with the enigmatic figure of Leslie Gwyn. At the start of the narrative, we are introduced to Lord Chelford and his footman Thomas as they discuss the sending of treasury notes, along with the eerie legend of the Black Abbot, which visibly agitates Chelford. He sternly warns Thomas against discussing the ghost and reveals his own fears, indicating that there might be more than just superstition at play. Meanwhile, the presence of the disgruntled former secretary, Miss Wenner, introduces a layer of romantic tension and intrigue, especially concerning the Earl’s upcoming marriage and the potential for hidden treasures within the manor's lore. The beginning deftly sets up a blend of mystery, personal drama, and supernatural elements that will surely engage readers intrigued by tales of haunted estates and the complexities of familial relationships.

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  • Detective and mystery stories
  • Treasure troves
  • Sussex (England)
  • Thrillers (Fiction)
  • Abbeys

Read the opening

Chapter I

“Thomas!” … “Yes, m’lord.”

Thomas the footman waited, a look of concentrated interest on his unprepossessing face, whilst the pale man behind the big library desk sorted out a small pile of treasury notes. The battered steel box from which they were taken was full to the brim with bank and treasury notes of all denominations in hopeless confusion.

“Thomas!” absently.

“Yes, m’lord.”

“Put this money in that envelope—not that one, you fool, the gray one. Is it addressed?”

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Contents

Show all 65 chapters
  1. Chapter I
  2. Chapter II
  3. Chapter III
  4. Chapter IV
  5. Chapter V
  6. Chapter VI
  7. Chapter VII
  8. Chapter VIII
  9. Chapter IX
  10. Chapter X
  11. Chapter XI
  12. Chapter XII
  13. Chapter XIII
  14. Chapter XIV
  15. Chapter XV
  16. Chapter XVI
  17. Chapter XVII
  18. Chapter XVIII
  19. Chapter XIX
  20. Chapter XX
  21. Chapter XXI
  22. Chapter XXII
  23. Chapter XXIII
  24. Chapter XXIV
  25. Chapter XXV
  26. Chapter XXVI
  27. Chapter XXVII
  28. Chapter XXVIII
  29. Chapter XXIX
  30. Chapter XXX
  31. Chapter XXXI
  32. Chapter XXXII
  33. Chapter XXXIII
  34. Chapter XXXIV
  35. Chapter XXXV
  36. Chapter XXXVI
  37. Chapter XXXVII
  38. Chapter XXXVIII
  39. Chapter XXXIX
  40. Chapter XL
  41. Chapter XLI
  42. Chapter XLII
  43. Chapter XLIII
  44. Chapter XLIV
  45. Chapter XLV
  46. Chapter XLVI
  47. Chapter XLVII
  48. Chapter XLVIII
  49. Chapter XLIX
  50. Chapter L
  51. Chapter LI
  52. Chapter LII
  53. Chapter LIII
  54. Chapter LIV
  55. Chapter LV
  56. Chapter LVI
  57. Chapter LVII
  58. Chapter LVIII
  59. Chapter LIX
  60. Chapter LX
  61. Chapter LXI
  62. Chapter LXII
  63. Chapter LXIII
  64. Chapter LXIV
  65. Chapter LXV

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About this edition

This free edition of The Black Abbot by Edgar Wallace comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #75643, released 2025-03-17. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Crime, Thrillers and Mystery, Novels, British Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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