Cover of The Yellow Streak

The Yellow Streak

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

"The Yellow Streak" by Valentine Williams is a mystery novel likely written in the early 20th century. Set in an English country house, the story revolves around the sudden death of Hartley Parrish, a wealthy entrepreneur, who is found shot in his library. The narrative introduces us to several key characters, including Robin Greve, who has a complicated emotional connection with Mary Trevert, a young woman betrothed to Parrish. The opening of the book establishes an atmosphere of tension and intrigue, as we witness the details leading up to Parrish's death. It begins with a portrayal of his butler, Bude, who takes pride in his service at the estate, and gradually shifts to a developing romantic subplot involving Robin Greve and Mary Trevert. Their dynamics are complicated by Mary’s engagement to the wealthy Parrish. As the events unfold, Mary hears a shot coming from the library, triggering a chaotic response from the household which leads to the revelation of Parrish's lifeless body. This twist sets the stage for a deeper investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, raising questions about motives and secrets that will likely unravel throughout the story.

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  • Detective and mystery stories

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Chapter I: The Master of Harkings

Of all the luxuries of which Hartley Parrish’s sudden rise to wealth gave him possession, Bude, his butler, was the acquisition in which he took the greatest delight and pride. Bude was a large and comfortable-looking person, triple-chinned like an archdeacon, bald-headed except for a respectable and saving edging of dark down, clean-shaven, benign of countenance, with a bold nose which to the psychologist bespoke both ambition and inborn cleverness. He had a thin, tight mouth which in itself alone was a symbol of discreet reticence, the hall-mark of the trusted family retainer.

Bude had spent his life in the service of the English aristocracy. The Earl of Tipperary, Major-General Lord Bannister, the Dowager Marchioness of Wiltshire, and Sir Herbert Marcobrunner, Bart., had in turn watched his gradual progress from pantry-boy to butler. Bude was a man whose maxim had been the French saying, “Je prends mon bien où je le trouve.”

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Contents

Show all 28 chapters
  1. Chapter I: The Master of Harkings
  2. Chapter II: At Twilight
  3. Chapter III: A Discovery
  4. Chapter IV: Between the Desk and the Window
  5. Chapter V: In Which Bude Looks at Robin Greve
  6. Chapter VI: The Letter
  7. Chapter VII: Voices in the Library
  8. Chapter VIII: Robin Goes to Mary
  9. Chapter IX: Mr. Manderton
  10. Chapter X: A Smoking Chimney
  11. Chapter XI: “... Speed the Parting Guest!”
  12. Chapter XII: Mr. Manderton Is Nonplussed
  13. Chapter XIII: Jeekes
  14. Chapter XIV: A Sheet of Blue Paper
  15. Chapter XV: Shadows
  16. Chapter XVI: The Intruder
  17. Chapter XVII: A Fresh Clue
  18. Chapter XVIII: The Silent Shot
  19. Chapter XIX: Mr. Manderton Lays His Cards on the Table
  20. Chapter XX: The Code King
  21. Chapter XXI: A Word with Mr. Jeekes
  22. Chapter XXII: The Man with the Yellow Face
  23. Chapter XXIII: Two’s Company
  24. Chapter XXIV: The Metamorphosis of Mr. Schulz
  25. Chapter XXV: The Reading of the Riddle
  26. Chapter XXVI: The Figure in the Doorway
  27. Chapter XXVII: An Interruption from Beyond
  28. Chapter XXVIII: The Death of Hartley Parrish

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About this edition

This free edition of The Yellow Streak by Valentine Williams comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #9974, released 2006-02-01. 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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