The Man from Downing Street. By William Le Queux. (Hurst
and Blackett. 6s.)—People who get this book thinking that it has a hidden bearing on the political problems of the day will find themselves very much disappointed. The book is a six- shilling " shocker " of the most unequivocal description, and, as such, is not bad reading. The "Man from Downing Street' is a political "secret agent" who manages his business with extra- ordinary success, considering how few precautions he takes not to be found out. For instance, he pervades Anglo-Roman society under an alias, although there are plenty of people in Rome who know him under his own name. True, these people are his friends ; but in mixed society it would be difficult for a well-known man to intimate to his acquaintance that they must not greet him by name, and it creates suspicion for a gentleman to be even casually addressed in two ways. The adventures in the book are decidedly thrilling, and all (except the escape from a Russian prison) quite sufficiently credible not to spoil the reader's pleasure.
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