Lord Lister No. 0036: De mooie jongedame

In a stately manor that still bears the echo of the Stuart era, the enigmatic Raffles—known as “the Great Unknown”— begins his day with an exacting routine of bathing, gymnastics, and a meticulous massage, all performed in a room he calls the “foxhole.” His trusted companion, Charly Brand, watches the agile feats with admiration, while the two men share a breakfast punctuated by a freshly arrived bundle of crisp £10 notes, the newest issue from the Bank of England that Raffles reveres as a newborn child of possibility.

The conversation drifts from the latest political headlines to a bold, covert ambition: to intercept the war chest of a foreign power before a continent‑wide conflict can erupt. Raffles muses that without money, no nation can wage war, and he hints at a daring plan to travel to London, perhaps even to Belgrade, to redirect those funds. His eyes glitter with a mix of daring intellect and calculated risk, while Charly, ever the loyal sidekick, prepares for the sudden upheaval of their tranquil countryside life.

As they ready themselves for departure, the story promises a blend of high‑society intrigue, daring heists, and the delicate balance between friendship and the relentless pursuit of a grand, unseen scheme.