That afternoon the great High Priest had taken worse, and, as the
evening set in, all knew certainly that he had little time to live.
Nurses and physicians had been called to the dying bedside, and
conspicuously amongst the number was St Armand. Not conspicuous for
his attentions to the dying man, but simply for his presence there.
He was the only one who dared to defy appearances, and occasionally
to yawn. Moreover, he insisted on smoking his cigars--the High Priest
was too far gone to object, he said. Thus on till nearly midnight--a
gusty, showery night, with an eerie wind that rose and fell in sobbing
intervals.
“Sister,” said he, as the shutters were being closed and the lights
turned on, “how do you expect his holiness to die easily, lying under a
cross beam and with the windows shut?”
“I do not understand you, sir.”
“How, in the name of the Serpent’s three tails, is he to get away under
those conditions?”
The nurse, who was a sensible woman, thought that he was jesting, and
she paid no attention.
After a while it was noticed that the dying man was becoming excited
and very restless. His hands worked incessantly, and his sinking eyes
gleamed with fire; but he could not speak, and the doctors thought
his tongue was partially paralysed, for he made many efforts to frame
words, but could not. Two or three times he tried to get out of bed,
but was forcibly restrained.
“If you don’t open the windows he’s safe to be like that,” said St
Armand, and he went over himself and unlocked the shutters, flinging
open the window and looking out into the blackness of the night.
Everything without was absolutely silent, but for the rustling trees,
swishing and bending in the wind, and the pattering rain-drops. For the
skies above the gardens at Marble House were moonlit and serene--these
storm-tossed and full of desolation.
And suddenly, in one of the long, intense pauses between gust and
gust, was heard the soft rumbling of wheels, the rhythmic trampling of
horses; and they came nearer and nearer into the courtyard underneath.
And every one who heard them--besides St Armand there were five persons
in the room--stood still and looked at one another, for there had been
the sound of many hoofs, not few. The High Priest likewise, panting
hard, sat up amongst his pillows, listening intently. Then, with a new
excitement, he tried to speak, opening his mouth grotesquely, no sound
issuing from the blue lips. It was so painful to see him, that those
around, accustomed as most were to death-scenes, never forgot it.
But St Armand, curiously callous, after glancing once round at him,
went abruptly from the room.
In the antechamber all was silent, till suddenly the panelled oaken
door burst softly open, and Mr Barringcourt walked into the room.
“You’re late.”
“I’ve no morbid taste for watching people die. How is he?”
“Oh! very lively. Fidget! fidget! incessantly. Now, how about last
night? All this is rather sudden.”
“Oh! last night passed quite all right. That is why he’s dying so soon,
as you know.”
St Armand had drawn himself up to that height when he matched the
Master.
“I don’t think it was so all right. So far as I have been able to make
out, he underwent no temptation.”
“Under the circumstances it would have been too strong for him. I kept
him sleeping.”
In the feeble light, each head thrown back, they looked at one another,
and the gleaming lightning from each pair of eyes filled the room with
a strange uncertainty.
“You kept him sleeping?”
“I did.”
“And what of Marigold?”
“She underwent the temptation instead.”
“That’s no test for him.”
“He is not qualifying for Heaven, you know--nor yet for Hell.”
“I’m not so sure of that latter. He ought to be. So Marigold underwent
the temptation? Well, I did for her what you should have done. I showed
her the way to go about it.”
“Yes. I think you rather went beyond the bounds of good taste.”
“Oh no. I blundered slightly, owing to your keeping so distinctly
neutral since your return. I wonder, Barringcourt, if you’ve shown any
distinctive skill over this game, or if a kindly Providence has done
the work for you. You seem to me to have been particularly blind all
through.”
The Master laughed lightly.
“You’ve just hit it. I’ve been as blind as a bat, with the one
redeeming feature that I was there at the climax. I wondered you had
left the coast so clear.”
“Yes. I presumed too far upon a lover’s quarrel.”
“And you’ve discovered your mistake.”
“That confounded beggar girl! She tricked me, she tricked you, she
tricked him, and she tricked herself. Would I have wasted two minutes
over her, if I had known from the first who she was? ‘Remarkably pretty
girl,’ thought I at first; ‘too pretty to have been made for nothing.’
Then I saw Alphonso casting sheep’s-eyes that way. ‘Just the tool I
want,’ thought I. ‘The one I’ve been looking for all over.’ And so she
led us on all through, skill-less and innocent. All the same, she’s
a fascinating little thing, Barringcourt. Just when you think she’s
going to do something very, very bad, she does something exceptionally
good--and when you anticipate something most saintly, then you’ll have
to be careful. What are those papers?”
“For him to sign.”
“You’ve settled to close to-night, then?”
“Yes. I’m taking back all we ever gave him. There won’t be much left
for you then.”
“No. I’m not keen on a husk. All the same, I think Vestasian should
have given him another chance.”
“What! In all the record of these pages there is not one ‘Thank
you’--not one sincere and humble prayer of thanks.”
“I mean you should have given him a chance of going to Hell.”
“You’ll never miss him. The crowd is amply big enough. I must go in.
Good-night.”
“Good-night. Remember me to Marigold when next you see her. Till we
meet again!”
And so he went--and that little game was over. Plucritus checkmate--yet
most even-tempered through it all.
And the Master went into the death-chamber, and the doctors,
recognising him, made way, for, though he was but Dr Quack, he never
advertised, and they had gained so much from his advice to them when
struggling, unknown doctors, that they had called him “the Physician,”
not knowing who he was.
The Master took the feverish pulse in his cool hand, his eyes looked
into the restless dying ones, and a calmness settled on the room--only
the shallow gasps were heard in quick succession.
And at last, to the surprise of all those who had watched beside him,
the High Priest panted “Pen and ink,” and almost instantly the shallow
breath had flown, and life departed.
And afterwards they thought all kinds of things, and wondered what he
wished to write--wondering in vain.
That done, the Master left the High Priest’s Palace, and took the
direct path to where he had fixed to meet Marigold.
Meanwhile, at midnight, as he had directed her, she had passed through
the door in the shadowy stables--remembering how she had first crept
through there--the terror and emotion.
And turning to the left, she walked on through the silent country,
thinking on all the strange events of the past, so curiously linked
with those of the present.
And she thought of Alice too--Alice, who would not be comforted--even
with a comfortable pension, paid each month. And then most naturally
her thoughts flew to the Master, and all the long waiting and the
tender love, and the misunderstandings that, if possible, had endeared
them to each other.
And, as the road grew steeper, her attention was directed to the scenes
around.
Below, the blue abysses, hidden in mists, with jutting pinnacles of
rock rising from out of them. Mountains and wooded plains on every
side--massed peak behind peak into the far distance. Yet, covering the
path where she was walking, a velvet carpet of mountain flowers blowing
in the moonlit breezes. And above, the mystic rowan berries, scarlet
and drooping--a contrast to the white airy bells beneath. And, thrilled
with the intense beauty of the scene, Marigold sat down and waited.
And then, in the far distance, she heard a merry whistling, rich and
clear, that came vibrating on the moonbeams--a simple shepherd song
they sang in the mountain valleys, in that Land of Song where she had
lived--a child.
And Marigold rose to her feet, smiling and joyous; and, as the sound
came nearer, she began to sing--the old sweet notes, yet now far
sweeter, that Patches used to love. And her rich notes, mingled with
that flute-like accompaniment, caused all the air to tremble, and, from
the shading bowers and trees around, a thousand merry throats poured
forth a song--the magic notes of the perfect nightingale--passion and
tenderness and love all blended with gaiety and Heaven’s sadness too,
not that of duller spheres. Then, on an instant, the merry whistle
ceased, Marigold’s song, and the birds’ ecstatic trills. For he had
climbed the last steep point and stood beside her.
Intense stillness; the air still vibrating, though the song had gone in
a thousand echoes up to Heaven.
Without a word, with eyes for no one else but him, she felt the strong
arms round her, drawing her to his breast.
And thus they soared away, high over peaks and precipices, above the
moon--the song of birds in the distance, like the lark in the deep blue
sky; and beauty and light all round them, the rosy shafts of sunrise
dyeing the silver rays of the moon.
THE END
PRINTED BY M’LAREN AND CO., LTD., EDINBURGH.
AT ALL LIBRARIES AND BOOKSELLERS
Reginald Turner’s Novels
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Castles in Kensington
Review of Reviews.--“Distinctly amusing.”
Dally Telegraph.--“We welcome the gaiety and humour with which
the book is brimming over.”
Times.--“A light, good-tempered, and amusing comedy.”
St James’ Gazette.--“A clever and delightful exposition of the
true art of trifling. No one with a taste for humour, without labels,
can help liking this book.”
Record.--“A thoroughly honest and amusing story, the aim of
which is to gently chide the pretentiousness of the more harmless type
of summer society at a minor French watering place.”
The Comedy of Progress
Pall Mall Gazette.--“A cleverly-written story of more than
usual interest. Mr Turner has here something to say, and says it well.
From the first page onward we ollow the career of Maurice Yorke with
close interest, an interest which never flags, and the final chapter
is in every way equal to the book’s earlier promise. There is nothing
slipshod, no falling off. The author has given us sterling good work
throughout. The characterisation of Lady Sothern is excellent--so human
withal. ‘The Comedy of Progress’ is a brilliant novel, its title, by
the way, fitting it like a glove.”
Morning Post.--“Readers will be delighted with the ‘Comedy of
Progress,’ by Reginald Turner. The story is told with skill and true
artistic effect. Lady Sothern is an artistically drawn character, full
of life and force. The charm and influence which she exercises over
all who know her are quite convincingly expressed, and the scene with
her husband when she confesses herself an old woman and stamps on her
jewels is very ably done. Mr Turner may be sincerely congratulated on
accomplishing a difficult task with more restraint and ability than one
generally expects in such efforts.”
The Steeple
Bookman.--“A story of ar more than average merit, strongly
imagined and developed with considerable craftsmanship....
Emphatically, this is a book to be read.”
Illustrated London News.--“One reads with unflagging interest.
The great merit lies in the very cool and effective demonstration of
character, and especially of character that is off conventional lines.
The psychology, perhaps, is not very deep, but in the plane on which it
works is remarkably given. We have thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Steeple.’”
Cynthia’s Damages
Shefflied Telegraph.--“Mr Turner s style is bright and
sparkling, and his powers of observation are evidently keen. Those who
read ‘Cynthia’s Damages’ will, we are convinced, look forward with
pleasure to another novel from the same pen.”
The Dally Telegraph.--“A story in which wit, humour, farce, and
sarcasm are admirably blended--an extravaganza brimful of fun, and
showing considerable power in the management of dialogue, as well as
in character-drawing. The author appears to be what the French call a
_blagueur_, and treats the affair of stage-life and society with a
polished and easy cynicism that evokes a smile and compels us to read
on.... The story from beginning to end is sprightly and vivacious,
contains many quaint touches of observation, and is altogether a
readable book”
NOW READY
THE FORTY-SEVENTH THOUSAND
OF
The most daring and original novel of the century
WHEN IT WAS DARK
By GUY THORNE
Author of “The Oven,” and part Author of “Sharks.”
This book has been praised and recommended by THE DEAN OF BURHAM,
THE BISHOP OF EXETER, and the Rev. R. J. CAMPBELL.
While THE BISHOP OF LONDON, preaching at Westminster Abbey,
said:
“I wonder whether any of you have read that remarkable work of fiction,
entitled ‘When it was Dark’? It paints, in wonderful colours, what it
seems to me the world would be if for six months, as in the story it is
supposed to be the case, owing to a gigantic fraud, the Resurrection
might be supposed never to have occurred, and as you feel the darkness
creeping round the world, you see how woman in a moment loses the best
friend she ever had, and crime and violence increase in every part
of the world. When you see how darkness settles down upon the human
spirit when it sat for six months and regarded the Christian record as
a fable, then you quit with something like adequate thanksgiving, and
thank God it is light because of the awful darkness when it was dark.”
FATHER IGNATIUS says:
“I found it most interesting.... I think the story may do much good. It
gives a true picture of the plots and objects of the ‘Higher Critics.’
I hope there will be many future editions.”
* * * * *
Pall Mall Gazette.--“The story is as effective a piece of work
as could be desired.... Mr Thorne is always reverent, and is touched
with the dignity of the amazing scenes which he has invented.... We
welcome his book as a real achievement in a very difficult line.”
Daily News.--“A remarkable book.... The picture of typical
clergy, a Cabinet Minister with religious enthusiasm, and the
millionaire, his great opponent, are all finely conceived and finely
delineated; while the coming disaster, which casts its shadow before,
is skilfully adumbrated.”
Cr. 8vo. Cloth gilt, with frontispiece, 6s.
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The conditions under which writers and readers have multiplied from the
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The Pomps of Satan. A volume of Essays by EDGAR
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The Queen.--“Mr. Edgar Saltus, the famous New York novelist, has
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Sunday Sun.--“We confess to being much amused, and to being
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Castles in Kensington. A Novel by REGINALD TURNER
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The Love Thirst of Elaine. By S. J. ADAIR-FITZGERALD
(Author of “Fame, the Fiddler”). 6s.
Liverpool Daily Courier.--“Might have been penned by Dickens
himself.”
Whitehall Review.--“Mr. S. J. Adair-Fitzgerald has long ago won
himself popularity as the teller of thrilling stories, and certainly
his latest contribution to the bookshelf will by no means lessen his
reputation.... The plot is well thought out and capitally worked.”
Bookman.--“Has much to be said for it as regards its rousing,
absorbing, and entertaining qualities.”
Free Lance.--“A graphic romance of love and hate, not the less
enthrilling for the modernity of its subject and treatment. At times
highly dramatic, at other times reminding of Dickens by its touches
of human feeling and characterisations, it is throughout readable and
often absorbing.”
The Pilgrims. A Novel by E. BELASYSE. Crown 8vo,
cloth, 6s.
The Maid Lilias. A Novel by WILLIAM PLATT (Author of
“The Staff in Flower”, &c.) Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
Scotsman.--“A cleverly written and readable novel.”
Daily News.--“Mr. Wm. Platt possesses many of the qualities that
go to the making of a successful novelist. His imaginative powers of no
mean order, his literary ability is considerable, and he has a gift for
bright and animated dialogue. In his latest novel, ‘The Maid Lilias,’
all these features will be found.”
Week’s Survey.--“A sincere and earnest book. There is a genial
optimism about this work which nowadays comes almost as a refreshing
novelty.”
Mrs. Evelyn’s Husbands. A Novel by ANNA COMTESSE DE
BREMONT (Author of “Daughters of Pleasure,” “A Son of Africa,”
&c.) 6s.
Lady.--“The story possesses a strong interest and is
sympathetically told with power and much frankness.”
Daily Express.--“Strongly written.”
Free Lance.--“The story is told with considerable nerve, and the
author has a sympathetic pen, and a keen appreciation of the psychology
of her characters.”
My Chums at School. A Story by TYSON STUBBS. Crown
8vo, cloth, 6s.
Wolves. A Novel by R. H. SHERARD (Author of “The White
Slaves of England,” “The Lyons Mail,” &c.) 6s.
Court Journal.--“Rising to heights not unworthy of Dumas at his
best, containing passages of high dramatic power, instinct with notable
characterisation.”
Literary World.--“It is not too much to say that ‘Wolves’ is
a masterpiece in the class of literature to which it belongs. There
is all the weird atmosphere of ‘Dracula’; but, above and beyond this,
there is a backbone of good sound work. Christine, the heroine, who
swears, and hunts wolves, and yet is a woman every inch, is a most
attractive, if unconventional, character.”
To-day.--“Quite one of the most exciting stories I have read for
some while.”
The Rough Torrent of Occasion. By H. M. L. LANARK
(Author of “Thelge,” &c.) 6s.
Morning Leader.--“When the rate of production and the path of
least resistance count for so much, it is only too rare to find a
novel which is marked by accuracy of workmanship, profound analysis,
and a proper appreciation of the meaning of events in their influence
on the characters of the story. Most authors are content with one or
two principal and half a dozen shadowy subsidiary personages, whose
individualities they are too lazy or too superficial to develop. In
‘The Rough Torrent of Occasion’ there is no sign of hurried slipshod
work. There are many characters, each with a definite separate
entity; each one is developed by carefully conceived events, and the
interaction of personalities is both interesting and true to life.
Furthermore, the writer is keenly alive to matters of real, vital
importance in present day society, which is portrayed with a careful
and well-balanced elaboration, without cynicism, exaggeration, or
priggishness. On the other hand, there is throughout the book a vein
of delightful humour, which relieves the more serious progress of the
story. From its very excellence it will not be widely popular; yet this
is a book which all lovers of true fiction will be deeply grateful.
There is real work in it.”
Idylls of Yorkshire Dales. By JOHN CRAVEN. 6s.
Great Thoughts.--“A word of welcome to a volume of short
stories, called ‘Idylls of Yorkshire Dales.’ There is a purity and
sweetness and a tenderness in most of them that makes them very
attractive, especially to those who are acquainted with these dale
folk, and know how true these sketches are to life.”
Literary World.--“Mr. Craven knows the Yorkshire Dales and dale
folk well, and these sketches are vigorous, spirited, and sympathetic.
Those who care for the Yorkshire people will find much to interest and
delight them, and all to whom simplicity, naturalness, and shrewdness
of character appeal will find pleasure in Mr. Craven’s Idylls. He has a
real gift of picturesque style.”
Morcar. A Novel by THOMAS SCOTT. 6s.
The Times.--“A readable story of the noble house of Morcar in
the time of James I.”
Lloyds’ Weekly.--“Mr. Scott in this story has quite caught the
vein of old-fashioned romance. He grips the reader’s attention....
Thrilling incidents are plentiful, and the historical element is well
maintained.”
The Scotsman.--“Good historical romance is not too frequent in
modern fiction, and an author who essays to lead the taste of novel
readers in this direction is deserving of encouragement. Mr. Scott goes
back to the sixteenth century, and out of the troublous happenings of
these historic times he has constructed a briskly moving story of love
and mystery.”
The Weaver’s Shuttle. A Novel by MRS. C. G. GALLICHAN.
Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
Trim and Antrim’s Shores. A Story by HENRY G. FILDES.
Cover designed by HERBERT COLE. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
The Canon’s Butterfly. A Novel by MAX BARING (Author
of “The Troubles of a Shovel Hat,” &c.) Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
The Daily Mail.--“Related with irresponsible vivacity, and makes
very light and lively reading.”
The World.--“Mr. Max Baring is the ‘agreeable rattle’ of
present-day novelists. He is particularly agreeable and successfully
rattling in his _invraisemblable_, but plausible novel ‘The
Canon’s Butterfly.’... The book is funny because the author cannot help
it, and is, indeed, rather apologetic for its fun.”
The Star.--“It amuses you from beginning to end. It is sadly
flippant, gay, pert, and smart; but it is never dull or prosy.”
Jewel Sowers. A Novel. (ANONYMOUS). Crown 8vo, cloth,
6s.
T.P.’s Weekly.--“There is good writing in this story, which
undoubtedly shows imaginative power.”
Manchester Guardian.--“‘The Jewel Sowers’ is wholly fantastic
in its incidents, but its characters are those of our society, and
with all the machinery of a fairy tale, the book still belongs to the
realms of daily fiction. Appropriately enough the scene is laid in
another world, one in which everything is said to be the opposite of
the life of this planet. But this is a mere warning that the tale is
fantastic; men and women in Lucifram, as the new world is called, are
even too much like those on this, and if their powers are strangely
superior, their motives are entirely familiar. The book, in fact, is
an experiment in fantasy, and none the less pleasant on that account.
It is neither an allegory, as are other tales similarly constructed,
nor yet a satire, though there are elements of both interwoven with the
adventures and the incidents. The anonymous authoress has demanded a
wider sphere for the evolution of her characters, and no one who feels
the charms of her pleasantly depicted heroine will grudge the novel
atmosphere in which she is forced to suffer and to act. The book is
lightly written, bright, and entertaining, and almost every character
introduced is neatly characterised. Perhaps the best of them is the
fairy frog, whose cheerful temper is the result of martyrdom, and who
should earn a place among the favourite heroes of the fairy world.”
A Heroine of Reality. A Novel by PERCY VINCENT
DONOVAN. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
To-Day.--“Picturesquely staged amid the mountains and valleys
of Switzerland. The interest of this powerful story is centred in an
unhappy middle-aged woman’s taint of drunkenness, and this secret
vice forms the pivot around which the love story of three men for her
daughter revolves. The characters are well drawn, and distinctly more
human than those one is accustomed to meet in the average novel.”
The Staff in Flower. A Novel by WILLIAM PLATT (Author
of “The Maid Lilias”). Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
Bookman.--“It has, what so many novels have not, a definite
purpose and a bold originality of outlook, It is a book which makes one
curious to know who wrote it.”
Morning Leader.--“Written with undoubted strength and thought,
and vigour of language.”
Christian World.--“A story which, despite some boldness, is
strong and original.”
Lloyd’s News.--“It is a distinctly clever book, with many fine
passages in it, and reading it is anything but a tiring task.”
The World.--“The vigour and boldness, recklessness indeed, with
which theories are advanced, conclusions are rather wrenched then
drawn, and flung at the reader’s head, give the book an attraction.”
His Grace’s Grace. A Novel by C. RANGER-GULL (Author
of “The Serf,” “Back to Lilac Land,” “The Hypocrite,” &c.) Crown 8vo,
cloth, 6s.
Standard.--“Mr. Ranger-Gull is very clever. He can write well,
even brilliantly.... Mr. Ranger-Gull opens his story vigorously, and
his good spirits never flag. The book is brim-full of cleverness.”
Sketch.--“The novel is well constructed and brightly written.
The reader will have only himself to blame if he does not get some good
hearty laughs.”
A Moorland Princess. A Tale of Cornwall. By A. G.
FOLLIOTT-STOKES. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
Week’s Survey.--“A book which stands out from the mass of
ordinary fiction as a rock stands out above the sea.”
Times.--“A very readable story.”
Yorkshire Post.--“A capital novel.”
Free Lance.--“Here then is a book worth reading.”
Daily Express.--“Pleasant, and sometimes exciting, reading. The
heroine is a lovely character, finely drawn.”
The Danger of Innocence. A Novel by COSMO HAMILTON
(Author of “The Glamour of the Impossible,” “Indiscretions,” &c.)
Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
World.--“A very sprightly and entertaining volume.”
Sunday Special.--“The author boldly depicts, under obvious
pseudonyms, several well-known, even notorious persons. He has a bitter
pen, and this book is sure to be read--especially by the victims....
‘The Danger of Innocence’ is certain to be popular with the ‘smart’
set.”
Daily Express.--“A lively and diverting volume. Written in a
satirically humourous vein. The book admirably succeeds in keeping the
reader interested and amused throughout.”
A Tragic Contract. By MOUNT HOUMAS. Crown 8vo, cloth,
6s.
Scotsman.--“A story that carries the reader easily along with
it by the vivacity of its movement. It is written with a pleasant
animation which should not fail to afford enjoyment.”
Glasgow Herald.--“The book evinces strength of conception,
and vigour and grace of elaboration, of which, presumably, more will
presently be heard.”
When It was Dark. The Story of a Great Conspiracy. By GUY
THORNE (Author of “The Oven,” &c.) 4th Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth,
6s.
This book has been praised and recommended by THE DEAN OF DURHAM,
THE BISHOP OF EXETER, and the Rev. R. J. CAMPBELL; while THE BISHOP OF
LONDON, preaching at Westminster Abbey, said:
“I wonder whether any of you have read that remarkable work of fiction,
entitled ‘When it was Dark’? It paints, in wonderful colours, what it
seems to me the world would be if for six months, as in the story it is
supposed to be the case, owing to a gigantic fraud, the Resurrection
might be supposed never to have occurred, and as you feel the darkness
creeping round the world, you see how woman in a moment loses the best
friend she ever had, and crime and violence increase in every part
of the world. When you see how darkness settles down upon the human
spirit when it sat for six months and regarded the Christian record as
a fable, then you quit with something like adequate thanksgiving, and
thank God it is light because of the awful darkness when it was dark.”
FATHER IGNATIUS says:
“I found it most interesting.... I think the story may do much good. It
gives a true picture of the plots and objects of the ‘Higher Critics.’
I hope there will be many future editions.”
Pall Mall Gazette.--“The story is as effective a piece of work
as could be desired.... Mr. Thorne is always reverent, and is touched
with the dignity of the amazing scenes which he has invented.... We
welcome his book as a real achievement in a very difficult line.”
Dally News.--“A remarkable book.... The picture of typical
clergy, a Cabinet Minister with religious enthusiasm, and the
millionaire, his great opponent, are all finely conceived and finely
delineated; while the coming disaster, which casts its shadow before,
is skilfully adumbrated.”
Out of the Past. Stories of the Ancient East by H. GEO. F.
SPURRELL. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
Athenæum.--“The stories--three in number--are concerned with
the horrors and splendours of the mighty monarchies which shared, in
ancient days, the dominion of the East, pre-Roman and pre-Mohammedan.
It must be said he (Mr. Spurrell) has painted a bold picture in lurid
colours; like the art of Assyria, its bulls and lions, it is splendid
and impressive.”
British Weekly.--“‘Out of the Past’ takes us into the changeless
East. The Author wears a magic veil, he sleeps and awakes with wondrous
Oriental romances in his brain. They are wild and full of terrors, but
they are fruits of a brisk imagination.”
Mary of Magdala. By EDGAR SALTUS (Author of “Mr.
Incoul’s’ Misadventure,” &c.) Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d.
The Steeple. A Novel by REGINALD TURNER (Author of
“The Comedy of Progress,” and “Cynthia’s Damages.”) Crown 8vo, cloth,
6s.
The Times.--“Few readers who take it up will readily lay it
down.... Mr. Turner is successful, and his sketches of men, women, and
creeds are, generally speaking, humorous, shrewd, and suggestive.”
Observer.--“A very well told story; the characters are drawn
with much freshness and clearness of delineation.... Bright and lively
without being flippant. Mr. Turner’s story is decidedly entertaining
and well written, and will probably be popular.”
Outlook.--“A purposeful story altogether out of the common
ruck. It is both daring and convincing. The portrait of Frank Lester
is surely as coolly relentless a thing as has been done for a long
time.... It is excellently and pitilessly done.... We would quote some
contingent excellencies. The chief, perhaps, is Mr. Turner’s dash in
carrying off an extravagant situation.... His, also, is the gift of
broad, almost farcial characterisation. And to these must be added a
brisk turn in narrative, of which scarce a page lacks shining example.”
The Day of Prosperity. A vision of the century to come, by
PAUL DEVINNE. Crown 8vo, cloth 6s.
Daily Telegraph.--“It is a clever story, with some strikingly
novel views on political and social economy, and contains much genuine
reflection and foresight.”
The Adventures of Mr. Topham: Comedian. By C.
RANGER-GULL (Author of “The Hypocrite,” “Back to Lilac Land,”
“The Serf,” &c.) Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. Illustrated by Frank
Reynolds.
Pall Mall Gazette.--“Mr. Ranger-Gull has achieved a really
remarkable success.... The whole book goes with an air and a swing that
make it excellent reading.”
Sunday Times.--“Mr. Ranger-Gull may be sincerely congratulated
on his newest book.... In language simple and eloquent and without
one unnecessary word, Mr. Ranger-Gull tells what befel an actor whose
identity is not easily identified.... The best advice we can give to
all who are interested in things ‘theatric,’ is to get and read this
admirably written book at once.”
Mr. Incoul’s Misadventure. A Novel by EDGAR SALTUS.
Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
Morning Post.--“An undeniably powerful work.”
Mr. Douglas Sladen in the Queen says:--“It is admirably written.
He (Mr. Saltus) is the most blasé of writers, but one of the best in
style. He is so terse that he can put a whole scene before you in a
few lines.... His epigrams and phrases are simply admirable.... ‘Mr.
Incoul’s Misadventure’ is a very powerful book.”
At Sunrise. A Story of the Beltane. By HERBERT
SPURRELL. Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.
The Ice Maiden. A Society Novel by “LADY FRIVOL.”
Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d.
Whitehall Review.--“The writer has a very pretty gift of
character drawing. The characters of the vain and flimsy society women
are drawn with care, knowledge, and vigour.”
His Share of the World. By AMY GRIFFIN. Crown 8vo,
cloth, 3s. 6d.
Red Paint at Oxford. Frivolous Sketches of Undergraduate Life
by “PISH” and “TUSH.” Crown 8vo, cloth, 2s. net.
The Light In Dend’s Wood and other stories. By THOMAS
DAGLESS. Crown 8vo, cloth, 2s.
The ‘Liza Letters. A Humorous Book by TOM HEFFERNAN.
Sewed, 1s.
For Satan’s Sake. a Novel by ELLIOTT O’DONNELL. Crown
8vo. cloth, 6s. (In preparation.)
Jim Blackwood: Jockey. By VICTOR MANDELSTAMM
(translated by REGINALD BACCHUS). Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s. (In
preparation.)
The Marquis Catilini. A Novel by ROLAND STRONG. Crown
8vo, cloth, 6s. (In preparation).
King Phillp the Gay. By REGINALD TURNER (Author of “The
Comedy of Progress,” “The Steeple,” &c.) Crown 8vo, cloth, 6s. (In
preparation).
_POPULAR SIXPENNIES._
A Man Adrift. By BART KENNEDY.
Back to Lilac-Land. By C. RANGER-GULL.
Cynthia’s Damages. By REGINALD TURNER.
The Convict Colonel. By FORTUNE DU BOISGOBEY.
The Angel of the Chimes. By FORTUNE DU BOISGOBEY.
Drink (L’Assommoir). By EMILE ZOLA.
Seven Nights with Satan. By J. L. OWEN.
Sapho. By ALPHONSE DAUDET.
Daughters of Pleasure. By THE COUNTESS DE BREMONT.
The Pottle Papers. By SAUL SMIFF. Illustrated by L. RAVEN-HILL.
A Cry in the Night. By ARNOLD GOLSWORTHY (Jingle of “Pick-me-up.”)
Dan Leno: Hys Booke. Written by DAN LENO.
In Monte Carlo. By HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ, Author of “Quo Vadis.”
Jack Sheppard. By W. HARRISON AINSWORTH.
Dick Turpin (Rookwood). By W. HARRISON AINSWORTH.
The Serf. By C. RANGER-GULL.
(In preparation.)
_London: GREENING & Co., Limited; and all Booksellers._
Transcriber’s Notes
The Table of Contents was automatically generated.
This file uses _underscores_ to indicate italic text.
Numerous spelling and punctuation anomalies in the
final advertising section have been left untouched.
Footnotes have been renumbered and moved to the ends of their
paragraphs.
Itemized changes from the original text:
On page 2, inserted quote mark after period,
near “which they will read to the end”
On page 3, inserted quote mark after JEWEL SOWERS,
near “THE AUTHOR OF”
On page 14, changed “god-like” to “godlike”,
near “such, and everything in”
On page 69, changed “tread-mill” to “treadmill”,
near “of Fate”
On page 92, changed “rose garden” to “rose-garden”,
near “the sweet-scented”
On page 109, changed “uuexpectedly” to “unexpectedly”,
near “I was called away”
On page 159, changed “bed-time” to “bedtime”,
near “It is Timothy’s”
On page 184, changed “arm’s-length” to “arm’s length”,
near “held her roughly at”
On page 231, changed “womanlike” to “woman-like”,
near “having one man there for a protection”
On page 245, changed “lovesick” to “love-sick”,
near “maidens and their curious”
On page 256, changed “fire-light” to “firelight”,
near “in the flickering”
On page 268, changed “beggar folk” to “beggar-folk”,
near “And you called us”