liberate jump from
the top of a cliff and of a marriage with myself as the
chief actor in each catastrophe. All I have to say about
them is that I know nothing of these important occurrences.
I assure you, sir, I have never felt any desire to
"precipitate" myself, either from the Pic du Midi or from
anywhere else; nor have I ever had the distinction of being
the husband of the famous Countess of Landsfeld for a matter
of even eight days.--MAUCLERC. Artist dramatique.

_September 9, 1856._

Lola ignored this _dementi_. Possibly, however, she did not read it,
for she was just then arranging another trip to America.

CHAPTER XVI

FAREWELL TO THE FOOTLIGHTS

I

Having booked a number of engagements there, in December, 1857, Lola
landed in New York for the second time. Directly she stepped off the
ship, she was surrounded by a throng of reporters. Never losing the
chance of making a speech, she gave them just what they wanted.

"America," she said, as they pulled out their note-books, "is the last
refuge left the victims of tyranny and oppression in the old world. It
is the finest monument to liberty ever erected beneath the canopy of
heaven."

For her reappearance she offered the public _Lola Montez in Bavaria_,
which had already done good service. By this time, however, it was a
little frayed.

"The drama represents her as a coquettish and reckless woman," was the
considered opinion of one critic. "We assure our readers she is
nothing of the sort."

This testimonial was a help. Still, it could not infuse fresh life
into a piece that had obviously outlived its popularity. Hence, she
soon changed the bill for a double one, _The Eton Boy_ and _Follies of
a Night_. But the cash results were not much better; and when she left
New York and tried her luck in Boston the week's receipts were
scarcely two hundred dollars. This, in theatrical parlance, was "not
playing to the gas."

Realising that she was losing her grip, she cast about for some fresh
method of attracting the public. It was not long before she hit on
one. As she was in a democratic country, she would make capital out of
her "title." A plan was soon matured. This was to hold "receptions,"
where anybody would be welcome who was prepared to pay a dollar.

A dollar for ten minutes' chat with a genuine countess, and, for
another 50 cents, the privilege of shaking her hand. A bargain. The
tariff appeale