
Chapter One. - Zertho.
Chapter Two. - A Beggar on Horseback.
Chapter Three. - “We must not Marry!”
Chapter Four. - Hairpins.
Chapter Five. - Captain Brooker’s Objection.
Chapter Six. - Outsiders.
Chapter Seven. - The Missing Mariette.
Chapter Eight. - The Promenade des Anglais.
Chapter Nine. - The Way of Transgressors.
Chapter Ten. - Mask and Domino.
In a sleepy English village, a disgraced Captain returns with his spirited daughter Liane and their loyal companion. Their arrival rattles the tight‑knit community, especially when a charismatic stranger named Zerzero—whose sharp mind and enigmatic presence set everyone on edge—enters the picture. Old grudges, whispered rumors, and a lingering gamble with fate surface as the newcomers try to find their footing amid ivy‑clad cottages and watchful neighbors.
While Liane’s yearning for happiness collides with Zerzero’s relentless ambition, the Captain wrestles with his own past misdeeds and the alluring promise of a new partnership. Tensions rise as each character balances loyalty, desire, and the weight of unspoken secrets, all framed by the fragrant roses of the garden and the distant clatter of a village smithy. The opening act sets the stage for a tangled dance of love, betrayal, and the quiet longing for a better life.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (414K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2012-10-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1864–1927
Best known for sensational tales of spies, invasion scares, and international intrigue, this hugely popular Edwardian writer helped shape the modern thriller. His fiction mixed journalism, politics, and breathless suspense in ways that captivated a mass audience.
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by William Le Queux

by William Le Queux

by William Le Queux

by William Le Queux

by William Le Queux

by William Le Queux