The Diamond of Evil. By Fred. Whishaw. (J. Long. 6s.)—
Mr. Whishaw thinks it necessary to reassure his readers against a possible fear that he is going to tell them the story of the Matabele War. We are not sure that we would not as soon have had that as what our author has actually given us. As it is, the Kstabeles perform only the useful function of hurrying on the plot. This is curiously compounded of Wilkie Collins and Mr. Anstey, who may be jointly credited with the uncanny stone, stolen out of an idol's head and working mischief wherever it goes, and of Edgar Poe, who supplies the cryptogram. Mr. Whishaw is an adept at stories of this kind. The action moves briskly, and the denouement is well managed. We may remark, however, that Jake is an amazingly clever fellow. His energy and ubiquity are beyond belief ; when we meet him first as one of a trio of private soldiers he promises nothing more than exceptional rascality.
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