Hugh Glynn,self-styled Secret Investigator is visited by a mysterious Spaniard,Jose Casteno . After swearing him to secrecy Casteno engages him to attend an auction of rare books and manuscripts and bid for a particular Lot. This Glynn does, but is foiled before he manages to acquire the manuscripts in question. In the midst of the crowd attending the auction,he is surrounded and bundled into a packing case which is then carried away to an unknown destination.
Thus begins a long series of adventures in pursuit of these mysterious manuscripts,which various factions are set on acquiring.
Regretfully the story-line is like unto a tangled skein with to many twists and turns. There are some good characters which are too little used,such as the Hunchback of the title and the sinister women in black,Joan Virtue Hand. There are also some splendid set-pieces such as the episode of the flying-machine,which do not really come to anything. This is one of Le Queux's poorer efforts I'm afraid and is not to be compared with most of his books. ( )