ETTES

CHAPTER
I THE FASTIDIOUS MARQUIS 211
II "ONLY AN INCIDENT" 224
III AT THE RACES 232
IV LEAR AND JULIET 250
V THE MEETING BENEATH THE OAKS 266
VI A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 275
VII A CYNICAL BARD 287
VIII THE SWEETEST THING IN NATURE 308
IX A DEBUT IN THE CRESCENT CITY 321
X LAUGHTER AND TEARS 333
XI THE PASSING OF A FINE GENTLEMAN 342
XII IN THE OLD CEMETERY 360
XIII AN INCONGRUOUS ROLE 370

BOOK III

THE FINAL CUE

CHAPTER
I OVERLOOKING THE COURT-YARD 387
II ONLY A SHADOW 399
III FROM GARRET TO GARDEN 412
IV "THE BEST OF LIFE" 420
V THE LAWYER'S TIDINGS 428
VI THE COUNCIL OF WAR 436
VII A MEETING ON THE MOUNT 450
VIII A FAIR PENITENT 464
IX "COMUS' MISTICK WITCHERIES" 476
X CONSTANCE AND THE SOLDIER 488

PROLOGUE

THE MARQUIS' HONEYMOON

Old Drury Lane rang with applause for the performance of Madame Carew.
Of British-French parentage, she was a recognized peer among the
favorite actresses on the English stage and a woman whose attractions
of face and manner were of a high order. She came naturally by her
talents, being a descendant of Madame de Panilnac, famed as an
actress, confidante of Louise-Benedicte, Duchess du Maine, who
originated the celebrated _nuits blanches_ at Sceaux during the close
of Louis XIV's reign.

The bill for the evening under consideration was "Adrienne Lecouvreur"
and in no part had the actress been more natural and effective. Her
triumph was secure, for as the prologue says:

"Your judgment given--yo