WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

NEW YORK . DODD, MEAD
AND COMPANY . . . 1901

Copyright, 1900
By Sir Walter Besant

THE CAXTON PRESS
NEW YORK.


Contents

CHAP. PAGE
Prologue[1]
I.MY LORD'S LEVEE[15]
II.THE LADY ANASTASIA[29]
III.THE "SOCIETY" OF LYNN[34]
IV.THE GRAND DISCOVERY[42]
V.THE PORT OF LYNN[48]
VI.THE MAID OF LYNN[55]
VII.THE POET[64]
VIII.THE OPENING OF THE SPA[70]
IX.SENT TO THE SPA[83]
X."OF THE NICEST HONOUR"[97]
XI.THE HUMOURS OF THE SPA[104]
XII.THE CAPTAIN'S AMBITION[112]
XIII.MOLLY'S FIRST MINUET[120]
XIV.MOLLY'S COUNTRY DANCE[127]
XV.THE CARD ROOM[133]
XVI.HIS LORDSHIP'S INTENTIONS[141]
XVII."IN THE LISBON TRADE"[147]
XVIII.THE WITCH[157]
XIX.A TRUE FRIEND[163]
XX.FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING[172]
XXI.MOLLY'S SECOND APPEARANCE[178]
XXII.THE ABDUCTION[185]
XXIII.WHICH WAY TO FOLLOW?[196]
XXIV.THE PUNISHMENT[201]
XXV.A GRATEFUL MIND[209]
XXVI.THE LAST STEP BUT ONE[217]
XXVII.THE EXPECTED BLOW[224]
XXVIII.WARNING[231]
XXIX.THE ARDENT LOVER[238]
XXX.THE SECRET[246]
XXXI.THE "SOCIETY" AGAIN[254]
XXXII.A RESPITE[262]
XXXIII.A WEDDING[270]
XXXIV.A NEW COMPACT[278]
XXXV.WHAT DOES IT MEAN?[287]
XXXVI.THE DAY OF FATE[293]
XXXVII.THE BUBBLE AND THE SKY ROCKET[306]
XXXVIII.THE OPINION OF COUNSEL[312]
XXXIX.THE FRUITS OF SUBMISSION[320]
XL.ON MY RETURN[332]
XLI.THE FIRST AND THE SECOND CONFEDERATE[345]
XLII.THE THIRD AND THE FOURTH CONFEDERATE[355]
XLIII.THE FIFTH AND LAST CONFEDERATE[361]

PROLOGUE
PROMOTION AND A BASTING