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Monsieur Zenith the Albino
NOTE: This criminal profile is being constructed as the stories are read and must therefore be regarded as incomplete and work in progress.
Introduction to this Popular Old Character for the Benefit of New Readers
"Zenith's crimson-irised eyes were reflective. He stood there long of leg and broad of shoulder, immaculately dressed, groomed to perfection, cold as an icicle; and dangerous; transcendently dangerous." Monsieur Zenith is an albino and, as such, an outsider. Furthermore, he is an aristocrat who exists during a time when the aristocracy is dying. He feels, therefore, that he does not quite belong to this world. It should come as no surprise, then, that he has turned to crime — for what else can offer greater risks or more heady excitement? What else can bring forgetfulness? Arrayed in full evening dress and habitually smoking his opium-laced cigarettes, Zenith repeatedly outwits the police by doing what no sane man would dare. Such considerations as death have no influence upon his conduct. What is life to him that he should fear to lose it? Yet, though an ambitious criminal, the albino has a strict code of conduct. Zenith's honour, which would allow him to steal or even, upon occasion, to kill, would not permit of treachery. His word is his bond and so, strangely, there are times when he can be trusted. Where does he come from? There are those who address this most deadly of Sexton Blake's foes as Excellency. Whether the albino is in any way entitled to the rank implied by the term it is impossible to say — he may be. For in his time the albino, Prince of Crooks, has served and had the friendship of important people. In the lapel of his coat, just under the white camellia which he wears, is the ribbon of a foreign order. The insignia of another such distinction depends from his neck upon a ribbon, and is visible just beneath his white bow. Some say that he has royal blood in his veins, but it is doubtful whether anybody really knows anything. It is a matter about which Zenith himself will not speak. Sooner or later someone, whether it might be a police constable on the beat or his arch-enemy, Sexton Blake, the private detective of Baker Street, will succeed in arresting him and conducting him towards a police station. Then he will simply smoke one of the tiny opium cigarettes which he carries in a platinum case within his waistcoat pockets. Nobody smokes those cigarettes save himself, and one of them is marked by a crimson ring. That is death; and if all else fails and he sees that he is doomed to imprisonment, there is always that cigarette which he might smoke and thus obtain release. What does it matter? Only those who enjoy life fear death; and to Zenith life is a constant reminder of his abnormality. Chronology: 1. A Duel to the Death (UNION JACK issue 837, 1919) Sexton Blake discovers that Zenith is the head of an international crime ring. The albino bombs Blake's Baker Street chambers but can't prevent the detective from smashing his operation. 2. The Tenth Case (UNION JACK issue 842, 1919) James Verity is accused of murdering one of his business partners. Sexton Blake uncovers a murderous business rivalry involving the other partners. Zenith helps the detective to find the real killer. 3. The Case of the Man in Motley (UNION JACK issue 844, 1919) Sexton Blake and Zenith compete for possession of a priceless diamond. 4. The League of the Cobblers' Last (UNION JACK issue 847, 1920) Zenith heads a gang named The League of the Cobblers' Last. They successfully raid a store of money and valuables while the owner is caught up in a blackmail plot (for which Zenith is not responsible). Sexton Blake ultimately restores the stolen loot but fails to capture the albino. 5. The Beggars' Hotel (UNION JACK issue 856, 1920) Zenith and Jim the Penman murder a bank manager and forge a letter from him which enables them to rob another branch of the same bank. Sexton Blake picks up their trail but is tricked into visiting a lodging house for down-and-outs (The Beggars' Hotel) where he will be killed by the assembled members of The League of the Cobblers' Last. Tinker comes to the rescue and, though Zenith gets away, the Penman is arrested. 6. The Five Clues (UNION JACK issue 867, 1920) 7. The Case of the Four Statues (UNION JACK issue 871, 1920) An innocent man is sentenced to death for a murder committed by a member of the League of the Cobblers' Last. Sexton Blake brings the true culprit to justice but only narrowly escapes execution by Zenith. 8. The Death Spider (UNION JACK issue 875, 1920) A mad professor runs a crooked gambling den on behalf of the League of Cobblers' Last. His enemies die a mysterious death which Blake discovers is caused by the bite of a giant tropical spider. After both the professor and the spider are killed, Zenith tries to do away with the detective but fails. 9. The Case of the Crystal Gazer (UNION JACK issue 889, 1920) 10. The Strange Case of the Elsingham Legend (UNION JACK issue 894, 1920) 11. The Case of the Toxic Tulips (UNION JACK issue 898, 1920) 12. The Roumanian Envoy (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY issue 156, 1921) A Roumanian envoy of ill-repute is on a vital mission in England. Zenith makes repeated attempts to assassinate him but is foiled by Sexton Blake. 13. The Case of the Thirteenth Bowl (UNION JACK issue 919, 1921) 14. The Return of Zenith the Albino (UNION JACK issue 928, 1921) Sexton Blake and Tinker visit the grave of Zenith the Albino. But unknown to them, a doctor from the Criminals' Confederation had saved the albino with a blood transfusion. The donor had been a witch doctor and now Zenith is leader of the African cult of Leopard Men. When Blake foils his planned robberies, Zenith tries to kill him with a bomb. The detective is rescued by Pedro. 15. The 'Corner' in Quinine (UNION JACK issue 937, 1921) Four unscrupulous businessmen plan to corner the market in quinine through illegal means and employ Zenith the Albino to help them. The scheme is foiled by Sexton Blake. 16. Threatened By Three (UNION JACK issue 956, 1922) Zenith teams up with Leon Kestrel and Wu Ling to sell transcripts of cabinet meetings to a foreign power. Blake exposes their methods and gains possession of the documents but can't prevent the criminal trio from escaping. 17. The Affair of the Sacred Fire (UNION JACK issue 966, 1922) An explorer is driven to the brink of insanity by his half-brother who wants him to die so that he might inherit the family fortune. He needs the money to pay a debt to the League of the Cobblers' Last. Zenith tells him he can clear the debt by killing Sexton Blake, who is investigating the case. The plot fails and Zenith flees having first walled the detective into a Roman Crypt. Pedro leads Tinker to Blake's rescue. 18. The Albino's Double (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY issue 255, 1922) 19. The Case of the Atwell Aircraft Company (UNION JACK issue 996, 1922) Zenith and a group of enemy agents attempt to restore the Kaiser to his throne by attacking Britain. Their plan is to guide a fleet of aircraft into England where they will drop acid onto cities. Blake defeats the plot and the albino narrowly escapes death. 20. The Thousandth Chance (UNION JACK issue 1,000, 1922) Zenith teams up with Doctor Huxton Rymer, The Three Musketeers, Prince Wu Ling, Mary Trent, The Black Duchess, Leon Kestrel, George Marsden Plummer and Professor Kew to rob Sexton Blake of his collection of art and antiques. With help from Mlle. Yvonne Cartier, the detective foils the plot. More to come... ... |
