Robert Barr 
The Triumphs Of Eugène Valmont 

"The Triumphs of Eugène Valmont" is a collection of short stories by Robert Barr, first published in 1906. The stories feature the titular character, Eugène Valmont, a French detective who solves crimes in the late 19th century. Valmont is portrayed as a confident and clever detective, who often outsmarts the criminals he is investigating. The stories are full of humor and satire, with Valmont being portrayed as a parody of the typical fictional detective of the time. In the first story, "The Mystery of the Five Hundred Diamonds, " Valmont is hired by a wealthy American to find a missing necklace. Valmont quickly realizes that the American is not telling the truth, and uncovers a complicated plot involving multiple suspects. In another story, "The Siamese Twin of a Bomb-Thrower, " Valmont investigates a bomb-throwing anarchist who is believed to have a Siamese twin. Valmont uses his wit and charm to gain the trust of the anarchist and ultimately uncovers the truth about his accomplices. Overall, "The Triumphs of Eugène Valmont" is a witty and entertaining collection of stories that showcase the intelligence and charm of its protagonist, Eugène Valmont.