To LORD METHUEN.
MY DEAR METHUEN, Some idle folk have pretended that certain living characters have been depicted under the fictitious names of these volumes. There is, I assure you, but one personality contained in it, and that is of a right true-hearted Englishman, hospitable, and manly in all his dealings; and to him I wish to dedicate my book, in testimony not only of the gratitude which, in common with all his countrymen here, I feel to be his due, but in recognition of many happy hours passed in his society, and the honor of his friendship. The personality begins and ends with this dedication, which I beg you to accept of, and am
Ever yours faithfully,
CHARLES LEVER.
PALAZZO CAPPONI, FLORENCE, Feb. 28, 1852.
CONTENTS
[ PREFACE. ]
[ THE DALTONS, OR THREE ROADS IN LIFE ]
[ CHAPTER I. ] BADEN OUT OF SEASON
[ CHAPTER II. ] AN HUMBLE INTERIOR
[ CHAPTER III. ] THE FOREST ROAD
[ CHAPTER IV. ] THE ONSLOWS
[ CHAPTER V. ] THE PATIENT
[ CHAPTER VI. ] A FIRST VISIT
[ CHAPTER VII. ] A LESSON IN PISTOL-SHOOTING
[ CHAPTER VIII. ] THE NIGHT EXCURSION
[ CHAPTER IX. ] A FINE LADY'S BLANDISHMENTS
[ CHAPTER X. ] A FAMILY DISCUSSION
[ CHAPTER XI. ] A PEEP BETWEEN THE SHUTTERS AT A NEW CHARACTER
[ CHAPTER XII. ] MR. ALBERT JEKYL
[ CHAPTER XIII. ] A SUSPICIOUS VISITOR
[ CHAPTER XIV. ] AN EMBARRASSING QUESTION
[ CHAPTER XV. ] CONTRASTS
[ CHAPTER XVI. ] THE “SAAL” OF THE “RUSSIE.”
[ CHAPTER XVII. ] A FAMILY DISCUSSION
[ CHAPTER XVIII. ] CARES AND CROSSES
[ CHAPTER XIX. ] PREPARATIONS FOR THE ROAD
[ CHAPTER XX. ] A VERY SMALL “INTERIOR.”
[ CHAPTER XXI. ] A FAMILY PICTURE
[ CHAPTER XXII. ] KATE
[ CHAPTER XXIII. ] A SMALL SUPPER PARTY
[ CHAPTER XXIV. ] A MIDNIGHT RECEPTION
[ CHAPTER XXV. ] A “LEVANTER.”
[ CHAPTER XXVI. ] THE END OF THE FIRST ACT
[ CHAPTER XXVII. ] A SMALL DINNER AT THE VILLINO ZOE
[ CHAPTER XXVIII. ] THE VISCOUNT'S VISION
[ CHAPTER XXIX. ] FRANK'S JOURNEY
[ CHAPTER XXX. ] THE THREAT OF “A SLIGHT EMBARRASSMENT.”
[ CHAPTER XXXI. ] A CONVIVIAL EVENING
[ CHAPTER XXXII. ] AN INVASION
[ CHAPTER XXXIII. ] THE CONCLUSION OF A “GRAND DINNER.”
[ CHAPTER XXXIV. ] JEKYL'S COUNSELS
[ CHAPTER XXXV. ] RACCA MORLACHE
[ CHAPTER XXXVI. ] A STREET RENCONTRE
[ CHAPTER XXXVII. ] PROPOSALS
[ CHAPTER XXXVIII. ] AN ARRIVAL
[ CHAPTER XXXIX. ] PRATOLINO