A Prince of Swindlers

A Prince of Swindlers, first published in 1900, is a novel by an unknown author that follows Simon Carne, a masterful con artist who infiltrates London's high society. The story begins with Carne's introduction to a British Viceroy in India, leading to his arrival in London, where he executes a series of elaborate thefts while posing as a detective. This work is notable for being one of the earliest examples of the gentleman rogue archetype in literature, influencing later characters like Arsène Lupin and A. J. Raffles.