Lord Lister No. 0046: Vereeniging ter bevordering der goede zeden

About this book

"Lord Lister No. 0046: Vereeniging ter bevordering der goede zeden" by Kurt Matull et al. is a pulp crime serial written in the early 20th century. It follows the gentleman-thief Lord Lister (John C. Raffles) and his aide Charly Brand as they target the hypocrisy of a London morality society, baiting the vain Inspector Baxter and circling a dubious banker and his actress mistress. Expect capers, disguises, and satirical jabs at prudish reformers and corrupt elites.

The opening of the story shows Baxter absurdly elevated to vice-chair of a “morality” league, then celebrating with its president Harper at a secret champagne haunt, exposing their hypocrisy. Raffles returns to London, reads of Baxter’s new honor, and decides to make sport of the league; he perfects a Chinese disguise, teases Baxter into granting him a dinner invitation, and observes from a theater box the cozy ties among Harper, Baxter, and actresses Martha Raabe and Miss Hansch. Calling on Harper, Raffles secures a recommendation; calling on Martha, he wins her favor with a lavish cheque and hides in a concealed wardrobe when Harper arrives. From there he overhears Harper admit he has embezzled clients’ money to fund Martha, notes her cache of cash and jewels, and reemerges when the banker leaves—setting the stage for Raffles’s planned unmasking of the clique.