
In a modest lunchroom, Miss Manvers sits alone, absorbed in a glossy illustration while a weary waitress juggles orders and sarcasm. She orders a modest meal, aware that the few coins in her purse will be spent in a single, fleeting transaction, and she muses on the thin line between indulgence and ruin. The scene crackles with a quiet tension, hinting that her seemingly ordinary day is a prelude to something far more unsettling.
The narrative unfolds through a succession of sharply titled chapters—Anarchy, Burglary, Blackmail, Conspiracy—each promising a fresh twist in a world of scams, double‑crosses and hidden motives. As Miss Manvers becomes entangled in a web of deceit, listeners are drawn into a compact, fast‑moving tale that probes the fragility of ambition and the allure of danger. The story balances crisp dialogue with keen observations, offering a gritty, character‑driven journey that keeps the mystery alive long after the first act.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (408K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Don Kostuch. (This text was produced from files obtained from The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2009-08-12
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1879–1933
Best remembered for creating the gentleman thief turned detective Michael Lanyard, he wrote brisk, popular adventures that moved easily between crime, romance, and high society intrigue. His stories helped shape early 20th-century suspense fiction and inspired a long run of film adaptations.
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