A Singular Accusation by M. E. Penn — The Argosy

A Singular Accusation, by M. E. Penn

A mystery and suspense tale set in Paris during Carnival season. Fred Weston, a cash-strapped medical student, faces imprisonment by his creditor, the moneylender Isaac Ulbach, who threatens debtor's prison if Weston cannot settle his substantial gambling debts within a week. After his friend Louis Delattre visits in an orangutan costume, Weston encounters his wealthy uncle Probyn unexpectedly on the Boulevards. His uncle, initially furious at learning of the debts, eventually agrees to send a cheque by evening. Newly hopeful, Weston visits Ulbach's shop to taunt him with news of his imminent financial relief. The narrative establishes the central conflict between Weston's predicament and his uncle's intervention, with OCR degradation obscuring the text's conclusion.