AustLit

A sporting gentleman cuts the tails off a friend's evening coat for twice the wearing it in the smoking room - only to discover it is his own coat. (PB)

A drunken miner's sister travels for Tasmania to the diggings to housekeep for him - but when he finally appears he is warned by other diggers of his unfitness to associate with her. After one glimpse of the hut she has transformed and of her beauty he resolves to disappear again - and breaks his neck. She eventually marries a decent miner ... Women's refinement; men's base nature with alcohol; and love. (PB)

A miserly Florentine landlord in 1526 is paid for food and lodgings with a counterfeit painting of a valuable cloak. His rage turns to satisfaction when he receives many florins for the right to view a work by Titian. Pseudo-historical narrative. (PB)

Story of three Halloweens. Medelia Gailand receives a proposal from Charley Lester on the eve of his departure for a European singing career. Years later, still faithful, she receives custody of his son sent to her from Charley's death-bed, loves him and refuses custody to his sandalous divorced mother. Three years later Charley appears - recovered - and they are united at last ... (PB)

William Jay's revenge as a theology student in England when one of his professor's stole his sermon. Clerical humour. (PB)

A penniless gentleman has his revenge on a stockbroker's wife who blackmails him with letters he had written to her during their flirtation. He implicates her and buys the letter for £50 which she induced him to bet for her on a horse race, he backing a loser - only later she discovers he won a fortune on the race - backing the winner - and is about to marry an American heiress. (PB)

Domestic tiff originates in a husband's suggestion of amateur theatricals - both wish the leading parts and question the other's ability and attraction. Touch of jealousy. (PB)

A Wimmera stockman narrates a tale set in NSW Richmond River district around 1870 - of a bushfire set by Aborigines which threatens the proceeds of several months timber-getting. One of the most disreputable cedar-cutters risks his life to save an Aboriginal woman who dies in the fire - and adopts the baby son she had saved by covering him with her own body. Includes passing comments on the maternal instincts of Aboriginal women. (PB)

A nobleman is saved from murder by the landlord and staff of an isolated inn through the loyalty of a bull-mastiff he has ordered shot for sheep-killing years before. The nobleman's valet was in league with the landlord. Includes mechanically sinking bed routine. (PB)

Recalls a confrontation in the mid 1830s between escaped convicts and a settler's wife and daughter left alone on an island in D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Tasmania. The woman pick off the convicts slowly, promising to kill themselves if it looks like they will be captured. Their courage and the return of their menfolk save the day. (PB)

Set in the city and on an up-country station. The discovery of a decomposing body in an empty Melbourne house starts Sinclair on an investigation which uncovers - with the help of various passengers who came out on the same ship from England, the murder of a scapegrace rich Englishman by his own cousin for envy and greed. Includes a governess, a kindly squatter and wife, and loyal old family servants ... (PB)

A lawyer attempts to obtain a postponement of a hearing by pleading his mother's illness - but she is in the court and chastises him for lying. (PB)

A troop of the Irish Brigade stationed in France threatens to consume the entire supper at a grand masquerade ball in Paris by sharing a ticket and swapping a domino so that all may take turns at the table. The Regent Duke of Orleans unmasks the plan ... (PB)