
In the sun‑blazed town of Dourville, a grand old mill once powered the fortunes of the Hadlow family. Sir Robert Hadlow, a young baronet with a scholar’s curiosity and a calm demeanor, spends his days wandering the estate’s shaded gardens and studying the local antiquities. One scorching July afternoon his routine is shattered by a sudden crash: a cyclist tumbles into a traction engine, and Sir Robert rushes to the scene, his quick thinking turning a chaotic accident into a moment of order.
The incident draws a crowd, but it also pulls the baronet into a deeper intrigue that lies hidden among the stone walls and overgrown grounds of the mill house. As he coordinates aid and gathers the onlookers, subtle clues hint at secrets long buried in the estate’s past. Listeners will find themselves drawn into Sir Robert’s measured world, where history, curiosity, and a sudden crisis converge to set the stage for a compelling mystery.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (325K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
London: Jarrold & Sons, 1911.
Credits
an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer
Release date
2024-03-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1857–1929
A prolific Victorian novelist with a flair for mystery, romance, and sensation, she wrote popular fiction that kept late-19th-century readers turning pages. Her books often mix suspense with lively social detail, making them an inviting doorway into the world of popular British storytelling.
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