THE
CREAM
OF THE
JEST


BOOKS BY MR. CABELL

NOVELS:

THE CREAM OF THE JEST

THE SOUL OF MELICENT

THE RIVET IN GRANDFATHER’S NECK

THE CORDS OF VANITY

THE EAGLE’S SHADOW

TALES:

THE CERTAIN HOUR

CHIVALRY

THE LINE OF LOVE

GALLANTRY

VERSES:

FROM THE HIDDEN WAY

GENEALOGIES:

BRANCH OF ABINGDON

BRANCHIANA

THE MAJORS AND THEIR MARRIAGES



THE

CREAM

OF THE

JEST

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A Comedy of Evasions

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BY

JAMES BRANCH CABELL

Le pays où je voulais aller, tu m’y as mené en songe, cette nuit, et tu étais belle ... ah! que tu étais belle!... Mais, comme je n’ai aimé que ton ombre, tu me dispenseras, chère tête, de remercier ta réalité.

NEW YORK

ROBERT M. McBRIDE & COMPANY

1917


Copyright, 1917, by

Robert M. McBride & Co.

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Published September, 1917


TO

LOUISA NELSON

At me ab amore tuo diducet

nulla senectus.