21 NOVEMBER 1903, Page 38

century, an excellent place for a tale of adventure, for

if the interests concerned in the history of the time were not of the largest kind, the personal element was present in large measure.

The picturesque adventurer was never more in prominence. Mr. Seellard's hero takes service with Gian Galeazzo Visconti, tyrant of Pavia, but finds before long a better way of disposing of his services. We shall not attempt to follow his career. He is a hard hitter who keeps his wits about him, and has morals above the average level of the professional fighter. Mr. Scollard does not make him too clever or too good, but idealises him just up to the -right point. We may say that the story is distinctly a success.