A Bid for Fortune Or Dr Nikola's Vendetta

📘 About This Book

This is the first in Boothby's series of Dr. Nikola novels. It opens with the manager of a fine London restaurant preparing for a dinner reserved in an odd letter originating from Brazil 3 months prior, for 4 persons in a private room, where 3 guests will arrive showing cards with a red dot. One will be from China, one from South Africa, one from England, plus the host, Dr Nikola, who is of unknown nationality but is later revealed to travel the world widely. The letter specifies certain preparations, such as no electric lighting but rather candles with red shades, a small jug of fresh milk, and a porcelain saucer.After the 3 guests arrive, Dr Nikola makes his appearance. He is a somewhat tall slim man, "irreproachably dressed, with a neatness that bordered on the puritanical." After they dine and the servants leave the room, Dr Nicola opens a strange basket and removes a mysterious black cat, for whom the milk had of course been requested.Dr Nikola explains why he called them together -- to execute his plans of revenge against a very wealthy someone who did him great harm. He offers each of them a large sum of money if they perform as he asks: "I demand from you your whole and entire labour. While you are serving me you are mine body and soul. I know you are trustworthy. I have had good proof that you are--pardon the expression--unscrupulous, and I flatter myself you are silent. What is more, I shall tell you nothing beyond what is necessary for the carrying out of my scheme, so that you could not betray me if you would. Now for my plans!"

📖 Summary

A Bid for Fortune Or Dr Nikola's Vendetta by Guy Newell Boothby serves as the thrilling introduction to the famous Dr Nikola series. Originally published in the late nineteenth century and brought to modern readers in this 2019 edition spanning 214 pages, the book immediately establishes a mysterious and captivating atmosphere. The narrative opens in London, focusing on the meticulous manager of a fine restaurant who is preparing for an unusual and highly specific dinner reservation. This booking was arranged three months prior through an odd letter originating from Brazil, detailing plans for four people in a private dining room. According to the instructions, three guests will arrive carrying cards marked with a red dot, originating from distinct parts of the world namely China, South Africa, and England. The fourth participant is the host himself, the enigmatic Dr Nikola, a man of uncertain nationality whose extensive global travels are unveiled as the story unfolds. The letter outlines precise demands for the evening, instructing that there be no electric lighting and instead requiring candles fitted with red shades, alongside a small jug of fresh milk and a porcelain saucer. As the suspense builds, the three international guests arrive as anticipated, setting the stage for the dramatic entrance of Dr Nikola. Described as a somewhat tall, slim man who is irreproachably dressed with a neatness bordering on the puritanical, Dr Nikola commands immediate attention and curiosity. Through this gripping opening sequence, Boothby lays the groundwork for a sweeping tale of global intrigue, secret agendas, and vendettas. The book takes readers on a journey driven by the intellectual dominance and mysterious motives of its central character, establishing tropes of early thriller fiction that continue to influence modern suspense writing. As the plot thickens beyond this atmospheric dinner, the vendetta takes shape, involving international stakes and clever manipulation. This 214 page volume offers a compact yet deeply engaging window into classic adventure writing, blending exotic locales, meticulous planning, and an unforgettable mastermind at the helm.

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