The Lighted Match

by Charles Neville Buck

• [I.] An Omen Is Construed
• [II.] Benton Plays Magician
• [III.] The Moon Overhears
• [IV.] The Doctrine According to Jonesy
• [V.] It is Decided to Masquerade
• [VI.] In Which Romeo Becomes Dromio
• [VII.] In Which Dromio Becomes Romeo
• [VIII.] The Princess Consults Jonesy
• [IX.] The Toreador Appears
• [X.] Of Certain Transpirings at a Café Table
• [XI.] The Passing Princess and the Mistaken Countess
• [XII.] Benton Must Decide
• [XIII.] Concerning Farewells and Warnings
• [XIV.] Countess and Cabinet Noir Join Forces
• [XV.] The Toreador Becomes Ambassador
• [XVI.] The Ambassador Becomes Admiral
• [XVII.] Benton Calls on the King
• [XVIII.] In Which the Sphinx Breaks Silence
• [XIX.] The Jackal Takes the Trail
• [XX.] The Death of Romance is Deplored
• [XXI.] Naples Assumes New Beauty
• [XXII.] The Sentry-box Answers the King's Query
• [XXIII.] "Scarabs of a Dead Dynasty"
• [XXIV.] In Which Kings and Commoners Discuss Love
• [XXV.] Abdul Said Bey Effects a Rescue
• [XXVI.] In a Curio Shop in Stamboul
• [XXVII.] Benton Says Good-by
• [XXVIII.] Jusseret Makes a Report
• [BIOGRAPHIES]
• [Charles Neville Buck]
• [Pelham Granville Wodehouse]

---

ILLUSTRATIONS

• [SHE HELD OUT HER HAND TO BENTON AND WATCHED, TRANCE-LIKE, HIS LOWERED HEAD AS HE BENT HIS LIPS TO HER FINGERS.]
• ["PLEASE, SIR, DON'T STEP ON ME."]
• [HIS TEETH GLEAMED WHITE AS HE CONTEMPLATED THE LITTLE SPURT OF HISSING FLAME.]
• [CHARLES NEVILLE BUCK.]
• [PELHAM GRANVILLE WODEHOUSE.]

---

THE LIGHTED MATCH

CHAPTER I

AN OMEN IS CONSTRUED

"When a feller an' a gal washes their hands in the same basin at the same time, it's a tol'able good sign they won't git married this year."