Blankensee, Theo von
"Lord Lister No. 0039: De krankzinnige van Hanwell" by Matull and Blankensee is a pulp crime-adventure novella written in the early 20th century. It follows gentleman-thief John Raffles (Lord Lister) and his aide Charly Brand as they take aim at a Dutch millionaire and his French accomplice whose wealth rests on sordid trafficking, while Inspector Baxter struggles to catch them. Expect audacious disguises, a daring bank ruse, a nocturnal abduction-rescue, and a twist that turns one villain into the titular “madman of Hanwell.” The tale mixes high-society intrigue in London with a tender subplot around Van Brixen’s daughter Antje and her true love.The opening of the story shows Raffles, posing as “markies d’Armand,” infiltrating a lavish party at Van Brixen’s house, where he overhears a cash dispute between Van Brixen and Jean Fournier and learns that Antje loves the young merchant Fred Herbes. Raffles befriends Fournier, tricks him into providing a notarized specimen of his signature, witnesses the payoff of 50,000 pounds, and—after a staged detour in the fog—persuades Fournier to hand over the cash “for deposit,” then uses the notarized signature to draw a further 40,000 at the Bank of England. He coordinates with Fred, scales the house at night, and spirits Antje away via a rope ladder, sending the couple off by train with her 20,000-pound dowry and her father’s necklace. In the morning he reveals himself by telephone, leaving Van Brixen and Fournier a letter that explains…
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