30 APRIL 1892, Page 11

Darrell's Dream. By Christopher Horner. (Ward and Downey.) —We have

seldom read of a more improbable crime than that of the first villain in Darrell's Dream, or a more clumsy villain than his tool. Indeed, William Welby is the moat pitifully weak creation of the kind we have ever seen. Such an absurdity would spoil any novel, and Darrell's Dream has nothing to set off against this silly ruffian. From an artistic point of view, a " penny dread- ful" would give Mr. Horner some useful hints.