The Adventure of the Urbane Old Gentleman
The Adventure of the Urbane Old Gentleman is a short story written by Grant Allen in 1893. It tells the tale of an elderly gentleman who, while traveling on a train, encounters a young woman in distress and comes to her aid. The story explores themes of chivalry, honor, and the power of kindness.
By Grant Allen · First published 1895 · Genre: Mystery, Adventure, Comedy · 8,897 words
First lines
When Elsie's holidays -- I beg pardon, vacation -- came to an end, she proposed to return to her High School in London. Zeal for the higher mathematics devoured her. But she still looked so frail, and coughed so often -- a perfect _Campo Santo_ of a cough -- in spite of her summer of open-air exercise, that I positively worried her into consulting a doctor -- not one of the Fortescue-Langley order. The report he gave was mildly unfavourable. He spoke disrespectfully of the apex of her right lung. It was not exactly tubercular, he remarked, but he 'feared tuberculosis' -- excuse the long words; the phrase was his, not mine; I repeat _verbatim_. He vetoed her exposing herself to a winter in London in her present unstable condition. Davos? Well, no. _Not_ Davos: with deliberative thumb and finger on close-shaven chin. He judged her too delicate for such drastic remedies. Those high mountain stations suited best the robust invalid, who had dropped by accident into casual phthisis.
Similar titles
- The Adventure Of The Supercilious Attache by Grant Allen
- Crabbes Practice by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Adventure Of The Pea Green Patrician by Grant Allen
- The Adventure Of The Cantankerous Old Lady by Grant Allen
- The Croxley Master by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- A False Start by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Genres
- Mystery — The narrative involves elements of intrigue and suspense, particularly surrounding the will and the character of the Urbane Old Gentleman.
- Adventure — The story follows the protagonist's journey and experiences in different locations, including Florence, with various challenges and encounters.
- Comedy — The writing style includes humorous observations and witty dialogue, especially in the interactions between characters.
- Romance — There are romantic elements, particularly in the relationship dynamics and the protagonist's feelings towards Harold.
Tags
mystery · detective · crime · suspense · thriller · short story · literature · 19th century · British fiction · urban setting · character study · plot twist
What this Textopian page supports
The Adventure of the Urbane Old Gentleman is listed on Textopian as a short story by Grant Allen, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Grant Allen
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Social Commentary
- Length: 8,897 words
- Structure: 1 section, 160 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Adventure of the Urbane Old Gentleman by Grant Allen
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph