Many characters in "Coningsby"
are well-known men. Lord Monmouth is Lord Hertford, whom
Thackeray depicted as the Marquess of Steyne, Rigby is John
Wilson Croker, Oswald Millbank is Mr. Gladstone, Lord H.
Sydney is Lord John Manners, Sidonia is Baron Alfred de
Rothschild, and Coningsby is Lord Lyttelton. Lord Beaconsfield
died in London on April 19, 1881.

_I.--The Hero of Eton_

Coningsby was the orphan child of the younger of the two sons of Lord
Monmouth. It was a family famous for its hatreds. The elder son hated
his father, and lived at Naples, maintaining no connection either with
his parent or his native country. On the other hand, Lord Monmouth hated
his younger son, who had married against his consent a woman to whom
that son was devoted. Persecuted by his father, he died abroad, and his
widow returned to England. Not having a relation, and scarcely an
acquaintance, in the world, she made an appeal to her husband's father,
the wealthiest noble in England, and a man who was often prodigal, and
occasionally generous, who respected law, and despised opinion. Lord
Monmouth decided that, provided she gave up her child, and permanently
resided in one of the remotest counties, he would make her a yearly
allowance of three hundred pounds. Necessity made the victim yield; and
three years later, Mrs. Coningsby died, the same day that her father-
in-law was made a marquess.

Coningsby was then not more than nine years of age; and when he attained
his twelfth year an order was received from Lord Monmouth, who was at
Rome, that he should go at once to Eton.

Coningsby had never seen his grandfather. It was Mr. Rigby who made
arrangements for his education. This Mr. Rigby was the manager of Lord
Monmouth's parliamentary influence and the auditor of his vast estates.
He was a member for one of Lord Monmouth's boroughs, and, in fact, a
great personage. Lord Monmouth had bought him, and it was a good
purchase.

In the spring of 1832, when the country was in the throes of agitation
over the Reform Bill, Lord Monmouth returned to England, accompanied by
the Prince and Princess Colonna and the Princess Lucretia, the prince's
daughter by his first wife. Coningsby was summoned from Eton to Monmouth
House, and returned to school in the full favour of the marquess.

Coningsby was the hero of Eton; everybody was proud of him, talked of
him, quoted him, imitated him. But the ties of friendship b