The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles
"The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles" by Henry Augustus Hering is a fictional novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative introduces the titular Burglars' Club, a whimsical society of men, chiefly ex-soldiers and sportsmen, who seek excitement through a unique pastime involving urban burglaries as a form of adventure. The reader is initially acquainted with Sir John Carder, an affluent merchant grappling with financial ruin, who inadvertently becomes embroiled with a burglar, setting the stage for unexpected camaraderie and twists of fate. At the start of the tale, Sir John Carder confronts his insolvency alone in his office at the warehouse, contemplating despair with a revolver at hand. Just as he contemplates a final act, a burglar enters, surprising him, and engages in a philosophical conversation, revealing the existence of the Burglars' Club and its peculiar entry fee—committing a burglary. The burglar, possessing a clever and charismatic demeanor, offers Sir John a lifeline by suggesting he could help with his financial troubles through connections with the affluent. This initial encounter blends humor, tension, and intrigue, leading to a farcical situation where both characters must navigate their circumstances together.