Colonel Thorndyke's Secret. by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1823-1902 - 1901

The Mershon Company, Rahway & NY [c1901]. "'Colonel Thorndyke's Secret' is a story so far out of the ordinary that it will not be inappropriate to speak a few words regarding the tale... The plot of the story hinges upon the possession of a valuable bracelet of diamonds, stolen from a Hindoo idol by a British soldier in India. This bracelet falls into the possession of Colonel Thorndyke... The secret concerning the bracelet is told to the Colonel's brother, a country squire, and the treasure is left to younger members of the Thorndyke family. As is well known to-day, the theft of anything from a Hindoo temple is considered an extraordinary crime in India, and when this occurs it becomes a religious duty for one or more persons to hunt down the thief and bring back the property taken from the heathen god. The members of the Thorndyke family soon learn that they are being watched. ...They would give the bracelet up, but do not know where it is hidden... In this quandary the young hero of the tale rises to the occasion and determines to join the London police force and become a detective, with the hope of ultimately clearing up the mystery. Thrilling adventures of a most unusual kind follow... The bracelet and other jewelry are unearthed, and it is decided to take the bracelet to Amsterdam... But the carrying of the bracelet is both difficult and dangerous. How the mission is brought to a conclusion, and what part the Lascars played in the final adventure, will be found in the pages that follow. ...The present story is of peculiar value as giving a good insight into country and town life in England over a hundred years ago, when railways and telegraph lines were unknown and when the 'knights of the road' were apt to hold up any stagecoach... It also gives a truthful picture of the dark and underhanded work accomplished at times by those of East Indian blood, especially when on what they consider a religious mission." (Publishers' Introduction). Hard Cover. iv, 341 pages, frontispiece by Stanley L. Wood, 19 cm.; grey cloth decorated in mustard & black, all edges grey; pages darkened; spine & rear cover waterstained with internal gutter stain diminishing to p. 14, minor scuffing & edgewear; red-ink stamp inside front cover; good. Stock#34111.