The Traitors. By E. Phillips Oppenheim. (Ward, Lock, and Co.
6s.)—" Arms and the man" are as much the subject of this novel as of the book noticed above. Mr. Oppenheim, however, chooses (under a thin disguise) one of the Balkan States as his battlefield, and gives his readers an ingenious mixture of mock-Royal romance and European diplomacy. Captain Erlito, of the Egyptian Field Force, becomes very early in the book King trghtred of Theos, and by means of a fortunate likeness to one of his friends is able to get safely back to his kingdom. Russia's most unscrupulous diplomacy—Russia is usually cast for the villain of the piece in fiction of this kind—is thus completely baffled. Afterwards there are plots and counterplots, a Turkish invasion and much fighting, and to give a real touch of modernity to the whole the King espouses the inevitable American heiress in the last chapter. The public appetite for the trappings of Royalty has grown so enormous that even fictitious Kings and Queens are entrancing company, and a feeling of warm complacency is aroused by the dwelling of modern authors on the formal bows and " respectful silence" with which the reigning Sovereigns of fictitious European kingdoms are saluted on their appearance in public. Mr. Oppenheim gives his reader a judicious taste of this rich flavouring, while the more active parts of the book are well managed and written with a good deal of vigour.
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