William Le Queux 
Golden Face: A Great ‘Crook’ Romance 

Excerpt: "In order to ease my conscience and, further, to disclose certain facts which for the past year or two have, I know, greatly puzzled readers of our daily newspapers, I have decided to here reveal some very curious and, perhaps, sensational circumstances. In fact, after much perplexity and long consideration, I have resolved, without seeking grace or favor, to make a clean breast of all that happened to me, and to leave the reader to judge of my actions, and either to condemn or to condone my offences. I will begin at the beginning. It has been said that service in the Army has upset the average man’s chances of prosperity in civil life. That, I regret, is quite true."