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June 9, 2025 • 14 mins
In The Just Men of Cordova (1917), a series of European financiers from London to Cordova are dying under mysterious circumstances, falling victim to an unidentified poison. Edgar Wallace, in his previous novel, introduced us to a group of vigilantes known as the Four Just Men, who are renowned for their ingenuity, persistence, lock breaking skills, and mastery of disguise. They operate in the shadowy realm beyond the law, their lethal justice instilling terror in their targets. But who are these men and who supports their cause? Edgar Wallace, a prolific author from the golden age of detective fiction, penned over 170 novels, including King Kong. With over 160 films based on his work, and a publishers claim that a quarter of all books read in England at the time were his, Wallaces influence is undeniable. - Summary by ASharma
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter fifteen of The Just Men of Cordoba by Edgar Wallace.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by
A Toolsharma, Winnipeg, Canada. Chapter fifteen, Sir Isaac's fears under
the bright light of a bronze lamp. All that was
mortal of Jacob's lay extended upon the operating table about

(00:23):
the body moved swiftly. The shirt sleeved figures of the doctors.
I don't think there's much we can do for him,
said Gonzalez. He's had an arterial perforation. It seems to
me that he's bleeding internally. They had made a superficial
examination of the wound, and Pochard had taken so serious
a view of the man's condition that he had dispatched

(00:43):
a messenger for a magistrate. Willie was conscious during the examination,
but he was too weak and too exhausted to give
any account of what had happened. There's just a chance,
said Gonzalez, if we could get a j p up
in time, that we could give him sufficient stre to
enable him to tell us who had done this. It's murder,

(01:04):
I think, said Gonzalez. The cut's a clean one. Look
there's hardly half an inch of wound. The man who
did this used a stiletto, i should say, and used
it pretty scientifically. It's a wonder he wasn't killed on
the spot. The hastily summoned Justice of the Peace appeared
on the scene, much sooner than they had anticipated. Gonzalez

(01:26):
explained the condition of the man. He tried to tell
me after we had got him on the table. Who
had done it, he said, But I couldn't catch the name.
You know him, asked the j P. I know him,
he said, and I've rather an idea as to who
has done it, but I can't give any reasons for
my suspicions. Jacobs was unconscious, and Gonzalez seized the first

(01:49):
opportunity that presented itself of consulting with his colleague. I
believe this is Black's work, he said, hurriedly. Why not
send for him. We know Jacobs has been in his
employ and was pensioned by him, and that's sufficient excuse. Possibly,
if we can get him down before this poor chap dies,
we shall learn something. I'll get on the telephone, said

(02:11):
the other. He drew from his pocket a memoranda book
and consulted its pages. Black's movement and his resorts were
fairly well tabulated, but the telephone failed to connect the
man they wanted. At a quarter to two in the morning,
Jacobs died without having regained consciousness, and it looked as
though yet another mystery had been added to a list

(02:32):
which was already appallingly large. The news came to May
Sanford that afternoon. The tragedy had occurred too late that
night to secure descriptions in the morning papers, but from
the earlier editions of the afternoon Journal she read with
a shock of the man's terrible fate. It was only
by accident that she learned of it from this source,

(02:54):
for she was still reading of his death in the
paper when Black, ostentatiously agitated, called upon her. Isn't it dreadful?
Miss Sandford? He said, he was quite beside himself with grief.
The girl thought, I shall give evidence, of course, but
I shall take great care to keep your name out
of it. I think the poor man had very bad associates. Indeed,

(03:16):
he said frankly, I had to discharge him for that reason.
Nobody need know who ever came here. He suggested, it
wouldn't be pleasant for you to be dragged into a
sordid case like this. Oh no, no, she said, I
don't want to be mixed up in it at all.
I'm awfully sorry, but I can't see how my evidence
would help. Of course, agreed Black. It had only occurred

(03:40):
to him that morning, how damning might be the evidence
that this girl was in a position to give, and
he had come to her in a panic lest she
had already volunteered it. She thought he looked ill and worried,
as indeed he was. For Black had slept very little
that night. He knew that he was safe from detection.
None had seen him meet the man, and although he

(04:01):
had visited the resorts which the man frequented, he had
not inquired after him. Yet. Black was obsessed by the
knowledge that Annette was drawing round him. Who were the hunters?
He could not guess. There came to him at odd moments,
a strange feeling of terror. Nothing was going exactly right
with him. Sir Isaac had showed signs of revolt. Before

(04:24):
the day was out. He found that he had quite
enough to bother him without the terrors which the unknown held.
The police had made most strenuous inquiries regarding his whereabouts.
On the night of the murder, they had even come
to him and questioned him with such persistence that he
suspected a directing force behind them. He had not bothered
over much with the four just men. He had accepted

(04:45):
the word of his informant that the four had separated
for the time being, and the fact that Wilkinson despart
had left for America confirmed all that the man had
told him he was getting short of money again. The
settlement of his bets had left him short. Stanford must
be persuaded. Every day it was getting more and more
of a necessity. One morning, Sir Isaac had telephoned him,

(05:08):
asking him to meet him in the park. Why not
come here, asked Black. No, said the baronet's voice. I'd
rather meet you in the park. He named the spot,
and at the hour Black met him, a little annoyed
that his day's program should be interrupted by this eccentricity
on the part of Sir Isaac Tramber, The baronet himself

(05:29):
did not at once come to the point. He talked around,
hummed and hawed, and at last blurted out the truth.
Look here, Black, he said, you and I have been
good pals We've been together in some queer adventures, but
now I am going to I want, he stammered and spluttered.
What do you want? Asked Black, with a frown. Well

(05:51):
to tell the truth, said Sir Isaac, with a pathetic
attempt to be firm. I think it is about time
that you and I dissolve partnership. What do you mean,
asked Black. Well, you know I'm getting talked about, said
the other, disjointedly. People are spreading lies about me, and
one or two chaps recently have asked me what business
you and I are engaged in, And it's worrying me. Black,

(06:14):
he said, with the sudden exasperation of a weak man.
I believe I have lost my chance with Verlon because
of my association with you. I see, said Black. It
was a favorite expression of his. It meant much, It
meant more than usual. Now I understand, he said that
you think the ship is sinking, and rat like you

(06:35):
imagine it is time to swim to the shore. Don't
be silly, dear old fellow, protested the other. And don't
be unreasonable. You see how it is. When I join you,
you were going to do big things, big amalgamations, big trusts,
stuffin and all that sort of thing. Of course, he
admitted apologetically, I knew all about the bucket shop, but

(06:58):
that was a sideline, Black's smiled grimly. A pretty profitable
sideline for you, he said, dryly. I know, I know,
said Ikey, patient to an offensive degree. But it wasn't
a matter of millions and all that, now, was it?
Black was thoughtful, biting his nails and looking down at
the grass at his feet. People are talking, dear, old fellow.

(07:20):
Tramber went on, saying, the most awful, rotten things you've
been promised in this combination with Sandford's foundries, and you've
practically issued shares and amalgamated foundries of Europe without heaven
the goods. Sandford won't come in, said Black, without looking up,
unless I pay him a quarter of a million cash.
He'll take the rest in shares. I want him to

(07:42):
take his price in shares. He's no mug, said the
baronet coarsely. Old Sandford isn't a mug, and I'll bet
he's got verloon behind him. He's no mug either. There
was a long and awkward silence, awkward for Sir Isaac,
who had an unaccountable desire to bolt, So you want
to sneak out of it, do you, said Black, meeting

(08:03):
his eyes with a cold smile. Now, my dear old Chap,
said Sir Isaac hastily. Don't take that uncharitable view. Partnerships
are always being dissolved. It's what they're for, he said,
with an attempt at humor. And I must confess I
don't like some of your schemes. You don't like, Black

(08:23):
turned round on him with a savage oath. Do you
like the money you've got for it? The money paid
in advance for touting new clients, the money given to
you to settle your debts at the club. You've got
to go through with the ikey. And if you don't,
I'll tell the whole truth to Verlan into every pal
you've got. They wouldn't believe you, said Sir Isaac calmly.

(08:45):
You see, my dear Chap, you've got such an awful reputation,
and the worst of having a bad reputation is that
no one believes you. If it came to a question
of believing you or believing me, who do you think
society would believe a man of some position? One in
a baronage of Great Britain, or a man well not

(09:05):
to put too fine a point on it, like you.
Black looked at him long and steadily. Whatever view you take,
he said, slowly, you've got to stand your corner. If
as a result of any of the business we are
now engaged in, I am arrested. I shall give information
to the police concerning you. We are both in the

(09:25):
same boat. We sink or swim together. He noticed the
slow spreading alarm on Sir Isaac's face. Look here, he said,
I'll arrange to pay you back that money I've got.
I'll give you bills. Black laughed. You're an amusing devil,
he said, you and your bills. I can write bills myself,
can't I I'd as soon take a crossing sweeper's bills

(09:49):
as yours. Why there's enough of your paper in London
to feed Sanford's furnaces for a week. The words suggested
a thought. Let's say no more about this matter till
after the amalgamation. It's coming off next week. It may
make all the difference in our fortune. Ikey, he said,
in gentler tones. Just drop the idea of ratting. I'm

(10:11):
not ratting protested the other. I'm merely, I know, said Black,
You're merely taking precautions. Well, that's all the rats do.
You're in this up to your neck. Don't deceive yourself.
You can't get out of it until I say go.
It will be awkward for me if the game is exposed,
said Sir Isaac, biting his nails. It will be jolly

(10:33):
unpleasant if it is discovered I am standing in with you,
it will be more awkward for you, answered Black ominously,
if at the psychological moment you are not standing in
with me. Theodore Sandford, a busy man, thrust his untidy
gray head into the door of his daughter's sitting room.

(10:54):
May said he don't forget that. I'm giving a dinner
to night in your honor. For unless my men memory
is at fault and the check you found on your
breakfast tray was missupplied. You were twenty two to day.
She blew him a kiss. Who is coming, she asked?
I ought really to have invited everybody myself. Can't stop
to tell you, said her father, with a smile. I'm

(11:16):
sorry you quarreled with young fellow. I should like to
have asked him. She smiled. Gaily, I shall have to
get another policeman, she said. He looked at her for
a long time. Fellow, isn't an ordinary policeman, he said quietly.
Do you know that I saw him dining with the
Home secretary the other day? Her eyebrows rose in uniform,

(11:37):
she asked, He laughed, No, you goose, he chuckled in
his dressing gown. She followed him down the corridor. You've
learned that from Lord Verlande, she said, reproachfully. She waited
till the car had carried her father from view, then
walked back to her room, happy with the happiness which

(11:58):
anticipates happiness. The night before had been a miserable one
till acting on an impulse, she had humbled herself and
found strange joy in the humiliation. The knowledge that this
young man was still her ideal all she would have
him to be had so absorbed her that for the
time being she was oblivious of all else. She recalled

(12:19):
with a little star at the occasion of their last meeting,
and how they had parted. The recollection made her supremely
miserable again, and jumping up from her stool, she had
opened her little writing bureau and scribbled a hurried, penitent,
autocratic little note, ordering and imploring him to come to
her the instant he received it. Frank came promptly. The

(12:42):
maid announced his arrival. Within ten minutes of mister Sandford's departure.
May ran lightly downstairs and was seized with a sudden
fit of shyness. As she reached the library door. She
would have paused, but the maid who was following her
regarded her with so much sympathy interest that she was
obliged to assume a nonchalance that she was far from feeling,

(13:04):
and entered the room. Frank was standing with his back
to the door, but he turned quickly on hearing the
light rustle of her gown. May close the door, but
she made no effort to move away from it. How
do you do? She began, the effort she was making distill.
The wild beating of her heart made her voice sound
cold and formal. I am very well, thank you. Frank's

(13:28):
tone reflected her own. I wanted to see you, she continued,
with an effort to appear natural, so I gathered from
your note. He replied, it was good of you to come.
She went on, conventionally. I hope it is not inconvenience
to you at all, not at all. Again, Frank's voice
was an expressive echo. I was just on the point

(13:51):
of going out, so came at once. Oh, I am sorry.
Won't you keep your other appointment first? Any time will
suit me? It is nothing important. Well, I hadn't an
appointment exactly. It was the young man's turn to hesitate,
to tell the truth. I was coming here. Oh Frank,

(14:11):
were you really? Yes, really, and truly? Little girl May
did not answer, but something Frank saw in her face
spoke more plainly than words could do. Mister Sandford returned
that afternoon to find two happy people sitting in the
half darkness of the drawing room, and ten members of
the Criminal Investigation Department waited at Scotland Yard, alternately swearing

(14:34):
and wringing their hands. End of Chapter fifteen.
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