The Mingrelian Conspiracy

The Mingrelian Conspiracy
Michael Pearce

A classic historical mystery from the award-winning Michael Pearce, set in the Egypt of the 1900s. When gang violence strikes the city, the inimitable Mamur Zapt is called in to investigate.In 1908, the city of Cairo lives – and dies – by its cafe culture. But for restaurant businesses, the protection rackets pose a problem. And the city’s cafes are experiencing a sudden upsurge in threats from various gangs.When one cafe proprietor is attacked, his legs broken for noncompliance, everyone is worried. Then the Russian Charge files a complaint – the Mingrelians may be targeting a Russian Grand Duke. Now the Mamur Zapt, Head of the Secret Police, must find a way to prevent an international incident…

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First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 1995

Copyright © Michael Pearce 1995

Michael Pearce asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Source ISBN: 9780008259426

Ebook Edition © JUNE 2017 ISBN: 9780008257255

Version: 2017-08-31

Contents

Cover (#u6f054194-3318-5055-9d75-efc25d429bc9)

Title Page (#ued27ee8e-672c-52e4-a286-ae2c61f4c1e8)

Copyright (#ud63fa177-c168-5a02-aa8b-cf218adb1d5a)

Chapter 1 (#ulink_17386b82-26a7-50bd-a83b-2c2e5f5155d9)

Chapter 2 (#ulink_b08be88e-cba0-54ac-9e49-e4e21f249c1c)

Chapter 3 (#ulink_b9cfa046-41a8-50e8-9247-b4c3e17e1812)

Chapter 4 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

Keep Reading (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

Also by Michael Pearce (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

1 (#ulink_fb9749e9-2f8c-5db1-a3c1-28292dff3b60)

‘Once upon a time there was a woman called Rice Pudding and –’

‘One moment,’ said the Chief of the Secret Police: ‘Rice Pudding?’

‘Yes. And one day she was sitting at her window –’

‘Rice Pudding?’ said the Chief of Police warningly.

‘It was a long time ago,’ said the storyteller defensively.

‘Very well. Proceed.’

‘And suddenly she saw, down in the street below, a dervish looking very important and wearing round his neck a huge necklace made of the spouts off clay water jars strung together like beads. “What do you have for sale?” she called down to him. “Names,” he said. “How much does a name cost?” “A hundred piastres.” Now –’

‘Perhaps you could just tell me,’ suggested the Chief of Police, ‘where you had got to?’

‘He had got to the bit,’ said one of the bystanders helpfully, ‘when she had lost her new name and a blind man had found it and tied it up in a sack –’

‘Hey!’ said the storyteller angrily. ‘Who’s telling the story? You or me?’

‘And was just about to carry it up the stairs –’

‘When Mustapha cried out,’ said the constable excitedly, unable to keep quiet any longer.