02629cam a22003253u 450000100060000000300070000600500170001300600020003000700050003200800410003704000110007804100170008905000070010610000490011324500540016226400510021630000470026733600260031433700260034033800360036650000310040250503830043350801670081652011520098353400450213565300270218065300360220785600430224399900170228656579UtSlPG20260610134314.0mcr n260607r2018||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aPR1 aBenson, E. F.q(Edward Frederic),d1867-194014aThe Countess of Lowndes Square, and Other Stories 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2018  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 2018-02-160 aBlackmailing stories: The Countess of Lowndes square. The blackmailer of Park lane -- General stories: The dance on the beefsteak. The Oriolists. In the dark. The false step -- Spook stories: The case of Frank Hampden. Mrs. Andrew's control. The ape. "Through" -- Cat stories: "Puss-cat." There arose a king -- Crank stories: The tragedy of Oliver Bowman. Philip's safety razor.  aProduced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images available at The Internet Archive)  a"The Countess of Lowndes Square and Other Stories" by E. F. Benson is a collection of short stories likely written in the early 20th century. This anthology blends elements of crime, superstition, and social satire, reflecting on the complexities of human nature and the darker sides of society. Central to the titular story is Lady Hampshire, a countess who navigates her dual life as a seemingly innocent socialite and a cunning blackmailer.  The opening of the collection introduces Cyntha, Countess of Hampshire, as she indulges in a peculiar sour milk diet while sifting through her extensive correspondence. We learn of her tumultuous history, having been married to a spendthrift earl and now finding herself destitute after the deaths of her father and husband. As she juggles her social obligations, a threatening letter exposes her secret life as a blackmailer under the alias Agatha Ainslie. This precarious situation sets the stage for a blend of dark humor and social commentary, as Lady Hampshire must navigate her emerging threats while maintaining the façade of her lavish lifestyle. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  nOriginal publication data not identified  aShort stories, English  aEnglish fiction -- 20th century40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56579  c97410d97410