28 JULY 1923, Page 19

The most ingenious of these short stories is " The

Octave of Jealousy," for which " The Circle of Jealousy " might have been a better name. There are eight sections, inch concerned with the envious feelings of the subject of the story for the man in the class just above him. At the 'nd the wheel comes full circle, and the millionaire envies the freedom of the tramp who figured in the opening episode. The Accident of Crime " in its own grim way is powerful, and gives a certain psychological insight into the ease and swiftness with which an innocent man may become a criminal. The collection would have been more effective as a whole if the author had not invested every story with so bitter a flavour.