The Saint in Tenerife (the thieves' picnic)

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Literature · Subcategory: Literary fragments · Year: 1937 · Authors: Leslie Charteris

Thieves' Picnic , published in 1937, was one of the nearly one hundred novels that the Chinese-British writer Leslie Charteris dedicated to his well-known character nicknamed The Saint . In this adventure, the action takes place in Tenerife, especially around the areas closest to the port with the setting of Plaza de la Candelaria, the Casino building and the now disappeared Orotava hotel. In this excerpt, we perceive a Santa Cruz very different from today.

"He had kept the same taxi that brought them waiting, and a moment later they were on the move again. As they approached the Casino building, he shrank into the seat to become invisible to anyone who might be watching from the square and told the driver to take him to the corner of Doctor Allart Street, as he had noted the name of the street at the back of the hotel [Orotava] when he left it with Christine.

The driver looked at him again, puzzled, causing the taxi to nearly collide with a tram.

– Where is it?

Simon explained the location of the street in detail and understanding gradually dawned on the taxi driver's face.

– Ah – he said – You mean Calle del Sol.

– The sign says Doctor Allart Street – The Saint assured him.

– That’s possible – the taxi driver replied phlegmatically – But we call it Calle del Sol."

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