SHOCKING BAD HAT

Victorian adventure -- 1850 period perils -- good of its kind. Attractive Bartis, on the verge of becoming engaged to wealthy Lavinia, is attacked, robbed and beaten. Sidetracked by the accident, he finds himself enlisted by the police in tracking down a master thief and betrayer. They find their prey -- and Berte finds his ""ideal woman"" but the source of true love is sadly roughened by interference on the part of Lavinis, and complications involving the criminal and his child. The story comes to a head just before the Crystal Palace opening and ends in the London sewers. Nice details -- plus adventure with Victorian trimmings.