The Blotting Book. By E. F. Benson. (W. Heinemann. 2s.
6d.) —Mr. E. F. Benson has his own idea of a villain of melodrama. He pictures him as a gentleman of middle age and respectable habits whose attitude to life is that of a mild and affable benevolence. Such was the villain in his former meloaramatic story, " The Luck of the Vitas," and such is his villain in the present little sketch, The Blotting Book. There is no compromise about either of these gentlemen. They hesitate at no crime in order to accomplish their wicked ends. Mr. Tayntou, of The Blotting Book, does, however, allow his conscience to force hint into betraying one weak joint of his armour, and through this weakness his whole scheme of villainy is detected and exposed. The little story is exciting, it marches rapidly to its conclusion, and, further, it is singularly unlike the usual work of Mr. Benson, the student of social manners.
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