This book was very lighthearted and fun. A whimsical celebration of spring and freedom from the constraints of society, even if momentary. The protagonist agonizes over recovering stolen bonds and receives help from an unlikely source that teaches him life lessons along the way. Very witty and breezily paced.

I have read this book twice now. It's great! An engrossing tale of financial intrigue, full of shadowy characters and shady dealings, its best feature is Virginia Longworth, who proves a truly memorable heroine. Though out of her element, she shows remarkable courage, audacity, and resourcefulness. It goes to show that women were not always portrayed as damsels in distress at this time. It keeps you going until the end.

This is one of the best books I've read by Oppenheim. The narrative is interesting all the way through, and he creates a memorable character in Laverick, the everyman protagonist who gets caught up in something bigger than he can imagine. Oppenheim was also remarkably prescient about the events leading up to WWI. Anyone who likes old-fashioned intrigue will find this book to their liking. As they put it back in the day, a cracking good story!