To G. P. B. JAMES, Esq.
Dear James,—You, once upon a time, dedicated to me a tale of deep and thrilling interest Let me now inscribe to you this volume on the plea of that classic authority who, in the interchange of armour, “gave Brass for Gold.”
It is, however, far less to repay the obligation of a debt by giving you a “Roland”—not for your “Oliver,” but your “Stepmother”—than for the pleasure of recording one “Fact” in a bulky tome of Fiction, that I now write your name at the head of this page,—that fact being, the warm memory I cherish of all our pleasant hours of intercourse, and the sincere value I place upon the honor of your friendship.
Yours, in all esteem and affection,
CHARLES LEVER.
Palazzo Ximenes, Florence, Oct 20, 1849.
CONTENTS
[ PREFACE. ]
[ ROLAND CASHEL. ]
[ CHAPTER I. ] DON PEDRO'S GUESTS
[ CHAPTER II. ] A CHALLENGE—AND HOW IT ENDED
[ CHAPTER III. ] MR. SIMMS ON LIFE AT THE VILLA
[ CHAPTER IV. ] THE KENNYFECK HOUSEHOLD
[ CHAPTER V. ] HOW ROLAND BECAME ENTITLED TO THE GODFREY BROWNE PROPERTY
[ CHAPTER VI. ] A FRACAS IN THE BETTING-RING
[ CHAPTER VII. ] PEEPS BEHIND THE CURTAIN
[ CHAPTER VIII. ] LOVE v. LAW
[ CHAPTER IX. ] AN EXCITING ADVENTURE
[ CHAPTER X. ] THE COMING DINNER-PARTY DISCUSSED
[ CHAPTER XI. ] A DRIVE WITH THE LADIES
[ CHAPTER XII. ] THE GREAT KENNYFECK DINNER
[ CHAPTER XIII. ] TUBBER-BEG
[ CHAPTER XIV. ] MR. LINTON REVEALS HIS DESIGNS
[ CHAPTER XV. ] AT THE GAMING TABLE
[ CHAPTER XVI. ] WHAT ROLAND OVERHEARD AT THE MONEY LENDER'S
[ CHAPTER XVII. ] SCANNING THE POLITICAL HORIZON
[ CHAPTER XVIII. ] UNDER THE GREEN-WOOD TREE
[ CHAPTER XIX. ] THE DOMESTIC DETECTIVE CONSULTED
[ CHAPTER XX. ] HOW ENRIQUE'S LETTER WAS LOST AND FOUND
[ CHAPTER XXI. ] THE CONSPIRATORS DISTURBED
[ CHAPTER XXII. ] VISIT TO THE “CASHEL PICTURE GALLERY.”
[ CHAPTER XXIII. ] LINTON VISITS HIS ESTATE
[ CHAPTER XXIV. ] BREAKFAST WITH MR. CORRIGAN
[ CHAPTER XXV. ] TUBBERMORE TRANSFORMED
[ CHAPTER XXVI. ] BAD GENERALSHIP
[ CHAPTER XXVII. ] LIEUTENANT SICKLETON'S PATENT PUMP
[ CHAPTER XXVIII. ] A SPLIT IN THE KENNYFECK CABINET
[ CHAPTER XXIX. ] STORM AND WRECK
[ CHAPTER XXX. ] MISS LEICESTER'S DREAM AND ITS FULFILMENT
[ CHAPTER XXXI. ] THE GUESTS BEGIN TO ARRIVE
[ CHAPTER XXXII. ] HOW THE VISITORS FARED
[ CHAPTER XXXIII. ] ROLAND'S INTRODUCTION TO MR. CORRIGAN
[ CHAPTER XXXIV. ] ROLAND “HEARS SOMETHING TO HIS ADVANTAGE”
[ CHAPTER XXXV. ] MISS JEMIMA MEEK