The French Powder Mystery

Some Persons of Importance

WINIFRED MARCHBANKS FRENCH, Requiescat in pace. What cesspool of evil lies beneath her murder?

BERNICE CARMODY, a child of ill-fortune.

CYRUS FRENCH, a common American avatar — merchant prince and Puritan.

MARION FRENCH, a silken Cinderella.

WESTLEY WEAVER, amanuensis and lover — and friend to the author.

VINCENT CARMODY, l’homme sombre et malheureux. A dealer in antiquities.

JOHN GRAY, director. A donor of book-ends.

HUBERT MARCHBANKS, director. Ursine brother to the late Mrs. French.

A. MELVILLE TRASK, director. Sycophantic blot on a fair ’scutcheon.

CORNELIUS ZORN, director. An Antwerpian nabob, potbelly, inhibitions and all.

MRS. CORNELIUS ZORN, Zorn’s Medusa-wife.

PAUL LAVERY, the impeccable français. Pioneer in modern art-decoration. Author of technical studies in the field of fine arts, notably L’Art de la Faïence, publié par Monserat, Paris, 1913.

ARNOLD MACKENZIE, General Manager of French’s, a Scot.

WILLIAM CROUTHER, chief guardian of the law employed by French’s.

DIANA JOHNSON, a model of fear.

JAMES SPRINGER, Manager of the Book Department, a mysterioso.

PETER O’FLAHERTY, leal head nightwatchman of the French establishment.

HERMANN RALSKA, GEORGE POWERS, BERT BLOOM, night-watchmen.

HORTENSE UNDERHILL, genus housekeeper tyranna.

DORIS KEATON, a maidenly minion.

THE HON. SCOTT WELLES, just a Commissioner of Police.

DR. SAMUEL PROUTY, Assistant Medical Examiner of New York County.

HENRY SAMPSON, District Attorney of New York County.

TIMOTHY CRONIN, Assistant District Attorney of New York County.

THOMAS VELIE, Detective-Sergeant under the wing of Inspector Queen.

HAGSTROM, HESSE, FLINT, RITTER, JOHNSON, PIGGOTT, sleuths attached to the command of Inspector Queen.

SALVATORE FIORELLI, Head of the Narcotic Squad.

“JIMMY,” Headquarters fingerprint expert who has ever remained last-nameless.

DJUNA, The Queens’ beloved scull, who appears far too little.

Detectives, policemen, clerks, a physician, a nurse, a Negro caretaker, a freight watchman, etc., etc., etc., etc.

and

INSPECTOR RICHARD QUEEN

who, being not himself, is sorely beset in this adventure

and

ELLERY QUEEN

who is so fortunate as to resolve it.