Devlin the Barber

The narrator describes becoming entangled in a London mystery after a young woman vanishes and her family is devastated. A mysterious barber named Devlin, whose uncanny performances and trance‑like influence unsettle several witnesses, becomes central to the inquiry as domestic testimony, strange visions, and hints of supernatural coercion complicate the facts. The narrator and Devlin form an uneasy partnership, follow clues that lead to a guardian called Kenneth Dowsett and a pursuit to Boulogne, and uncover revelations produced during trances that result in a rescue and the unmasking of a final scheme. The account blends detective procedure with sensational, psychological, and illusionary elements.