13 JANUARY 1912, Page 26

The Bight Hand. By John Bloundelle-Burton. (Everett and Co. 6s.)—This

is an historical novel in which Mr. Bloundelle- Burton takes his readers to the Court of Louis XV. Tho account of the trial at the end of the book is extremely curious, and if the author's archeoology is to be trusted is very instructive to the English student of old French law. Some of the coincidences in the book are a little difficult to swallow, but on the whole the story is convincing.