
PART I - CHAPTER I INTRODUCES A RED-FACED MAN
CHAPTER II CONCERNS CERTAIN SECRETS
CHAPTER III THE END OF THE WORLD
CHAPTER IV THE TOUCHSTONE OF MISFORTUNE
CHAPTER V AN ALLEGATION
CHAPTER VI STRANGE MATTERS OF FACT
CHAPTER VII THE CAPTAIN MAKES A SUGGESTION
CHAPTER VIII REVEALS THE SHADOW
CHAPTER IX THE ARCTIC WILDERNESS
CHAPTER X TOWARDS THE DOOM
Two men sit on the deck of a sleek steam yacht, the red‑cheeked industrialist Peter Sundt, who built a cod‑fishing empire from a humble harbor, and Jørgen Berentsen, a grizzled former whaler turned harbour‑master. Their conversation drifts between the glitter of Monte Carlo’s night and the stale scent of cigar smoke, as Sundt pushes his old friend toward a lucrative but morally dubious venture. Berentsen, guided by a lifetime of Arctic hardship, wrestles with the idea of compromising his honour for wealth.
The sun sets over Villefranche, casting long shadows on the water while the pair await a secretive rendezvous that promises fortune—and danger. As the yacht glides toward the mysterious Palmiers hotel, the uneasy alliance between ruthless ambition and steadfast integrity sets the stage for a gripping tale of greed, loyalty, and the harsh choices that define a man’s character.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (554K characters)
Release date
Jun 22, 2026
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1864–1927
A master of early spy fiction, this prolific journalist-novelist turned fears of invasion, secrecy, and political intrigue into page-turning popular fiction. His stories helped shape the modern thriller long before espionage became a genre of its own.
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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