South African businessman Sir Charles Vandrift rose to the pinnacle of his field through his keen instincts and superb acumen -- but the roguish swindler Colonel Clay (Vandrift's long-time nemesis) is just smart enough to stay one step ahead. In this linked story cycle, the dashing Clay endeavours to relieve Vandrift of his money and property in a variety of amusing vignettes.

The gentleman thief known as Colonel Clay cons the same South African Millionaire, Sir Charles Vandrift again and again in a series of clever short stories. It is immensely satisfying to read how the pompous Vandrift and his equally demanding wife are tricked out of their money through their own greed, vanity and suspicion. Clay is a master of disguise and with his female partner, Madame Picardet, they follow the Vandrifts across Europe and America selling them their own diamonds or a stranger's castle.

In this present economic crisis it is is nice to see a millionaire of questionable morals get his comeuppance at the hands of a pair who freely admit they are preying on him specifically because he is a capitalist. Originally published in 1897, the stories are remarkably fresh and entertaining. With a social undercurrent that and clever plot construction that elevates above other specimens of the genre.