Book excerpt: The bizarre imagination and stylistic sorcery of Matthew Phipps Shiel have created several sleuths unique in the annals of criminal detection. The author's first published book introduced the mysterious Russian, Prince Zaleski, while his legendary Pale Ape collection present ed a second extraordinary figure, Cummings King Monk. The complete exploits of both detectives are collected here for the first time between two covers -- "The Race of Orven, " "The Stone of the Edmundsbury Monks, " "The S.S., " "The Return of Prince Zaleski, " "He Meddles with Women, " "He Defines 'Greatness of Mind, " and "He Wakes an Echo."