MR. ALLENY LOSES THE WAY

The author of Miss Hargreaves tells of a man's search for the identity of his parents, his own background, and the truth -- as he seeks it. Allenby's uncertainties are intensified when he has a strange visitor who promises him five wishes. Allenby tests the promise -- and the first wishes come true -- though he is judged queerer and queerer. A famous, hardworking psychologist houses a young actor and an old actor, and an interlocking series of incidents bring to light the pattern of Allenby's heritage and the psychologist's past. Allenby leaves his wife, goes to Scotland to trace further the mystery of his past, meets the psychologist on Orkney -- and they discover that they are father and son. Allenby achieves not only the end of his search, but revenge...The artful trickery of plot, motive and character hold the interest, though the story itself falls short of the potentialities.