Waif of the river

A young woman, unconscious and near to drowning, rescued from the muddy waters of London's river 'Thames—an impetuous young man who, by quarelling with his adopted father and his best friend, nearly ruins his life—the disappearance of one of two sisters whose guardians employ a bodyguard of Italian thugs—the mysteries of the handsome "Bet" who can handle a boat like a man—and Jasper Shrig, the famous Bow Street runner, who despite "windictiveness" uncovers a conspiracy of intended murder and embezzlement; around these characters Jeffery Farnol has woven a story of love and hate, of mystery changed to happiness, of intrigue foiled and mystery uncovered, and through the whole pattern like a wide silver thread runs the 'Thames, for on and around it, and sometimes in it, the action of this very human story takes place.