Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-08

sympathetic interest. There is no use
pointing the finger of proof at an unpop-
ular individual. else there would be no
particular concern on the part OF the
facts. In this tale Of French crime Mr..
Mason has followed tradition. presenting
at the. outset RS the most probable crina:-
nal. implicated in the murder of
wealthy woman. young girl whom she
has virtually adopted as companion, and
whose past lends color to the theory OF
her completely. An amusing variant upon
the usual detective tale is afforded BY the
play of wits in the case of Mr.. Ricardo.
an interested bystander. and NJ. Hanaud.
member of the Surete Of Paris. NJ.
Hanaud proves to be q masterful inveSti-
gator of crime, resourceful. capable, far
seeing and almost superhumanly analyti-
cal. He ia an attractive figure and 1t Is
hoped that he will appear again in equally
interesting circumstances.
THE LOST AMBASSADOR; or. The
Search for the MissisE Delora. BY
The Illustrious Prince etc. illus
trated in color by Howard Chand-
Ter Christy. Boston: Little. Brown
& Co.
Mr.. Oppenheim's fecundity does not
seem to lessen his power to make his
stories interesting. With unusual skill
he manages to set forth a new combina-
ton of conspirators every time he writes
a fresh title. THE Lost Ambassador" Is
different from all Of his NUMEROUS proceed
ing works. Its best feature, however, un-
fortunately occurs rather. early in the
tale, scene in the Cafe Des Deux
Epingles, resort of the aristocracy Of
French thievery Under the guidance Of
a most diverttng French head waiter of a
FY,O
himself in this place and precipitates a
serious crisis by thrashing literally within
an inch Of his life a man Of whom he
has been for some time in search, who
has unpardonably offended him and his
family. From that circumstance radiate
numerous influences which ultimately
come to q focus in London. 'the whole
situation turning Upon the impersonation
of a Brazilian envoy by his scoundrelly
brother. A well balanced romance adds
interest to this spright tale.
THE SWORD MAKER. BY Robert
Barr. author OF "Tekla." etc. New
York: Frederick 4. Stokes Com
pany.
In dealing with archbishops, princes,
counts, burghers, merchants, artisans and
peasants Of medieval Germany, Mr.. Barr
has adopted the expedient of translating
their speech into modern colloquial Eng
fish, avoiding the archaic style which Is
supposed to lend convincing color to the
historical romance. Thus Prince Roland,
the Archbishop Of Cologne. and all the
others who people this narrative talk a.
do the folks Of today. sometimes in a
rather disturbing tendency to up-to-date
slang. For instance, it is somewhat Of
shock to hear the Archbishop Of
Mayence thus address the heir presump-
tive: What your highness says, 50 far
from being drawback, I should seem
to imagine, is all to the good" There
are advantages in this method and per-
haps the historical novelist Of the future
will eschew the supposedly accurate re-
f1ecticns of medieval discourse which have
heretofore been regarded as essential. Tho
tale itself deals with the rescue OF the
city Of Frankfort from the exactions OF
the robber barons of the Rhine and the
tyranny Of the clerical electors consti-
tuting the power behind the throne. Prince