
In the cramped, soot‑stained alleys of early‑20th‑century London, a fifteen‑year‑old named Philip fights to keep his ailing mother alive. When the local doctor delivers a cold verdict, the boy’s fierce independence and sharp wit surface, sparking a tense exchange that reveals both the harshness of poverty and the stubborn hope that drives him forward.
Philip’s hurried climb through a narrow, creaking loft uncovers a surprisingly tidy refuge amid the squalor—threadbare carpets, curtained windows, and a thin, ghost‑like figure lying in a small bed. As he tends to his mother, whispers of a hidden treasure known as the “King of Diamonds” begin to circulate, hinting at a larger mystery lurking beneath the grim streets. The promise of danger and adventure beckons, setting the stage for a quest that could change Philip’s fate and the lives of those around him.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (454K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by D Alexander, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2012-08-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1863–1928
Best known for fast-moving adventure and mystery fiction, this prolific English novelist wrote dozens of popular books in the late Victorian and Edwardian era. His stories often mix suspense, travel, romance, and a lively sense of danger.
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