The Gramercy Park Mystery

Toward the end of last autumn, Gramercy Park — which, as everybody knows, is one of the most charming localities in the city — has been oppressed with a mystery which no one could fathom. The most daring and inexplicable robberies were constantly taking place. Consternation reigned in the servant’s hall. Rings, spoons, brooches, shawl-pins, in short, every species of valuables, were being daily missed from a number of the houses in the Park. No one could tell how they went. Married ladies mourned over their diamonds. Demoiselles wept for lost pledges of affection. The services of a distinguished detective were called in. He watched, examined, catechized the servants, and put on spectacles and false whiskers, but all to no purpose. Intelligence-officers reaped a harvest, for everybody was discharging their servants and getting new ones.— One wealthy family had suffered such severe losses that they had almost come to the resolution of doing their own chores. Gramercy Park — usually so tranquil — was in a high state of fever. The very sidewalks would have baked Connecticut pies.

One of the servant sufferers among the many victims was Mrs. Y—, a lady who inhabited one of the handsomest houses in the Park, and who was rather distinguished in society from the fact of her being always accompanied in her carriage by a very beautiful and intelligent monkey. Other people carried lap dogs – she carried a monkey; and, as to be uncommon is, in nine cases out of ten, to be famous, she had an unblemished reputation for eccentricity. Her distinction did not, however, preserve her from the general calamity. She related, with tears in her eyes, the story of the loss of some family jewels of inestimable value which were stolen from her bedroom. She had the police on the track, but no clue could be obtained to the criminal. The mystery increased in intensity. Barrington and Jack Sheppard faded into… Read More