14 DECEMBER 1901, Page 22

The Betlaley Jewels. By E. M. G. Balfour-Browne. (E. Arnold..

6s.)—The plot of this novel is interesting, but its working out depends too much on chance meetings and lucky coincidences to. make it quite satisfactory. Squire Girling was entrusted by a friend with a wonderful necklace of jewels consisting of a crystal, a diamond, a pearl, a beryl, and a jacinth. He and his five daughters, fancifully called after the stones, were the last repre- sentatives of the family at Bettaley. These jewels had mysteri- ously disappeared before the beginning of tbe story, and Crystal Girling, the eldest daughter, was convinced that the ill-luck_ which beset the family arose from their loss. Their misfortunes were many, and form the subject of the story.