The
original of Buckhurst now lives in New York, and remains a type whose
rarity is its only recommendation.

Those who believe they recognize the Countess de Vassart are doubtless
in error. Mornac, long dead, is safe in his disguise; Tric-Trac was
executed on the Place de la Roquette, and celebrated in doggerel by an
unspeakable ballad writer. There remains Scarlett; dead or alive, I
wish him well.

ROBERT W. CHAMBERS.
Ormond, Florida, _Feb. 7_, 1902.

[Illustration: To E.M.C.]

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
I. At the Telegraph 3
II. The Government Interferes 21
III. La Trappe 34
IV. Prisoners 50
V. The Immortals 65
VI. The Game Begins 87
VII. A Struggle Foreshadowed 110
VIII. A Man to Let 136
IX. The Road to Paradise 159
X. The Town-Crier 171
XI. In Camp 180
XII. Jacqueline 195
XIII. Friends 207
XIV. The Path of the Lizard 229
XV. Forewarned 253
XVI. A Restless Man 265
XVII. The Circus 280
XVIII. A Guest-Chamber 303
XIX. Trecourt Garden 318
XX. The Semaphore 339
XXI. Like Her Ancestors 353
XXII. The Secret 381

ILLUSTRATIONS

"'LOOK THERE!' SHE CRIED, IN TERROR" _Frontispiece_
"'ACROSS THAT MEADOW,' SAID THE YOUNG GIRL" _Facing p_. 22
"TO RIGHT AND LEFT, PRUSSIAN LANCERS WERE RIDING" " 62
"A COMPANY OF TURCOS CAME UP" " 74
"'HALT! HALT!' HE SHOUTED" " 84
"EVERY BRIDGE WAS GUARDED" " 124
"SISTERS OF CHARITY WERE GIVING FIRST AID" " 132
"I WAS ON MY KNEES" " 298

PART FIRST

THE MAIDS OF PARADISE

I

AT THE TELEGRAPH

On the third day of August, 1870, I left Paris in search of John
Buckhurst.

On the 4th of August I lost all traces of Mr. Buckhurst near the
frontier, in the village of Morsbronn. The remainder of the day I
spent in acquiring that "general information" so dea