The Florentine Dagger E-Book

Ben Hecht

• Herausgeber: Edizioni Savine
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Exotic, strange, and powerful, this thrilling mystery will keep you guessing until the end."The five illustrations contained in the following pages are the work of the new phenomenal black and white artist, Wallace Smith. In making the drawings Mr. Smith chose to illustrate the spirit of the text rather than its letter. The result is this series of Renaissance pictures whose dark opulence curiously interprets the moods of the story's hero, Prince Julien de Medici — of Broadway."  (1923 - Ben Hecht) 

Leseprobe

THE FLORENTINE DAGGER

A Novel for Amateur Detectives

_______________

by BEN HECHT

_______________

with illustrations by Wallace Smith

New digital edition of:

The Florentine Dagger

by Ben Hecht

© 1923 by Boni and Liveright

Copyright © 2017 - Edizioni Savine

email: [email protected]

web: www.edizionisavine.com

ISBN 978-88-99914-44-8

CONTENTS

THE FLORENTINE DAGGER

CHAPTER I - VELVET SOULS

Containing a nervous cavalier with frightened eyes— Introducing a mysterious and puritanical satyr—And discussing the tired ghosts that haunted the heart of Julien De Medici.

CHAPTER II - THE VEILED APHRODITE

In which a lady of barbaric eyes smiles, sighs, and weeps —In which Eros obliges with a saxophone solo—A morning of golden shadows and an off-stage pizzicato.

CHAPTER III - MURDER

In which Julien De Medici collides with a tantalizing corpse—In which a dagger, a candlestick, a crucifix, and a false beard mumble incoherently.

CHAPTER IV - THE EMPTY WEB

In which a detective weaves a theory—In which Julien De Medici stares at a clew—In which Pandora raises a warning finger to her lips—A table set for two, an initialed purse, an ancient theater program—but the story waits.

CHAPTER V - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

In which the world wags its callous tongue—In which denouements thumb their noses at each other—In which Julien De Medici succumbs to a delicious madness—A Jesuitical policeman and an ambitious coroner flirt coyly with an Enigma.

CHAPTER VI - LABYRINTHS OF BLOOD

In which a detective attaches a pair of asses' ears to his head—In which Julien De Medici removes for a moment a mask—In which a glimpse, incredible and disturbing, is caught of the soul of Florence Ballau— Who blew out the candle of the salamanders ?

CHAPTER VII - THE HAUNTED BOOM

In which an apoplectic scientist explodes—In which invisible footsteps sound in a dark corridor—In which Julien De Medici opens a letter—The woman of the hidden eyes—Floria, the lady of the dagger, appears —In which underworlds collide—The staircase to Hell and a strange passion—A voice that spoke over the telephone.

CHAPTER VIII - DENOUEMENT NO.1

In which Nemesis babbles cheerfully—In which the Dead Flower adopts new petals—Postmarks and timetables and a false beard that sneers mischievously— Also a scrawl of vengeance, enigmatic ashes and a half signature.

CHAPTER IX - THE HIDDEN VOICE

In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur— "It was ... it was . . .''—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.

CHAPTER X - THE DAGGER OF MIST

In which a pathologist reasons himself into a railroad trip—Francesca of the spiral eyes—The ancient science of demonology—The visiting shadow—The dagger that glistened against the moon.

CHAPTER XI - ELUSIVE CLIMAXES

In which Julien De Medici finds himself grewsomely decorated—In which he passes triumphantly on his own innocence—The exonerating wound—Candlestick and cross again and the laugh of a new Francesca— A new doubt—A telegram both absurd and bewildering—Cinematographic clews.

CHAPTER XII - THE WOMAN WITH THE CACKLING LAUGH

Treasures for sale—Bidders and buyers and candlesticks —In which an old woman makes an exciting purchase—In which Julien De Medici pursues an aged Alice in Wonderland—The beginning of a story.

CHAPTER XIII - THE TWO FLORIAS

In which Julien De Medici meets a train and grapples with a skyrocket—The triumphant phantoms again— In which Dr. Lytton relates an incredible story concerning dawn in Rollo, Maine—"Come at once—she is dying.''

CHAPTER XIV - ACT II

The burning-eyed visitor—An old favorite—Amateur theatricals—"Light the candles!"—In which Julien De Medici reveals himself as an effective playwright.

CHAPTER XV - HEARTS AND FLOWERS

In which Florence takes up the drama—A taxicab, as in the beginning—In which what is left of the reader's suspense and curiosity is carefully removed.

TO JOSEPHINE DITRICHSTEIN,

who graciously promised to read my next book, providing, of course, it was a mystery story

WALLACE SMITH'S ILLUSTRATIONS

The five illustrations contained in the following pages, and the jacket design, are the work of the new phenomenal black and white artist, Wallace Smith. In making the drawings Mr. Smith chose to illustrate the spirit of the text rather than its letter. The result is this series of Renaissance pictures whose dark opulence curiously interprets the moods of the story's hero, Prince Julien de Medici—of Broadway.