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Title: The Indiscretion of the Duchess

Author: Anthony Hope

Release Date: October 31, 2004 [EBook #13909]
[Date last updated: August 28, 2006]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration: "_I plucked him off the duke and flung him on his back on
the sands_,"]

THE INDISCRETION OF THE DUCHESS

_Being a Story Concerning Two Ladies, a Nobleman, and a Necklace_

BY ANTHONY HOPE

AUTHOR OF "THE PRISONER OF ZENDA," ETC.

NEW YORK

1894

CONTENTS.

I. A MULTITUDE OF GOOD REASONS

II. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A SUPPER-TABLE

III. THE UNEXPECTED THAT ALWAYS HAPPENED

IV. THE DUCHESS DEFINES HER POSITION

V. A STRATEGIC RETREAT

VI. A HINT OF SOMETHING SERIOUS

VII. HEARD THROUGH THE DOOR

VIII. I FIND THAT I CARE

IX. AN UNPARALLELED INSULT

X. LEFT ON MY HANDS

XI. A VERY CLEVER SCHEME

XII. AS A MAN POSSESSED

XIII. A TIMELY TRUCE

XIV. FOR AN EMPTY BOX

XV. I CHOOSE MY WAY

XVI. THE INN NEAR PONTORSON

XVII. A RELUCTANT INTRUSION

XVIII. A STRANGE GOOD HUMOR

XIX. UNSUMMONED WITNESSES

XX. THE DUKE'S EPITAPH

XXI. A PASSING CARRIAGE

XXII. FROM SHADOW TO SUNSHINE

THE INDISCRETION OF THE DUCHESS.

CHAPTER I.

A Multitude of Good Reasons.

In accordance with many most excellent precedents, I might begin by
claiming the sympathy due to an orphan alone in the world. I might even
summon my unguided childhood and the absence of parental training to
excuse my faults and extenuate my indiscretions. But the sympathy which I
should thus gain would be achieved, I fear, by something very like false
pretenses. For my solitary state sat very lightly upon me--the sad events
which caused it being softened by the influence of time and habit--and had
the recommendation of leaving me, not only free to manage my own life as I
pleased, but also possessed of a competence which added pow