An African Millionaire: Episodes in the Life of the Illustrious Colonel Clay

Seymour Wilbraham Wentworth serves as secretary to a self‑made South African magnate, a man whose fortunes have turned Cape Town law practice into a sprawling mining empire. Their friendship is the thread that strings together a series of vivid, loosely linked adventures, ranging from high‑stakes poker tables in Monte Carlo to mysterious castles in the Tyrol. The narrative moves with a light, almost conversational tone, letting the reader wander through each colourful vignette without needing a single overarching mystery.

In the opening episode the pair find themselves at the Hôtel des Anglais on the French Riviera, where rumors swirl about a charismatic Mexican seer who claims to possess second sight. Intrigued and skeptical in equal measure, the financier offers a modest sum to witness a private séance, hoping to expose the charlatan’s tricks. What follows is a clever blend of social observation and gentle satire, as the characters navigate the thin line between belief and deception amidst the glitter of the Riviera.