Chapter I: Front Matter

DESOLATE
SPLENDOUR

DESOLATE
SPLENDOUR

BY

MICHAEL SADLEIR

TORONTO: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF
CANADA LIMITED, AT ST. MARTIN’S HOUSE
1923

COPYRIGHT, CANADA, 1923
BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA LIMITED.

PRINTED IN CANADA

THIS
FLAMBOYANT
TALE--A STORY
OF AMBITIOUS HEDONISM
AND OF THE DESOLATE SPLENDOUR
OF A GIRL’S DEVOTION, A STORY OF
PERVERTED CRUELTY, OF LUST FOR PROPERTY
AND OF THE GENIAL OBTUSENESS OF THE UPRIGHT
IS FROM GRATITUDE FOR HIS FRIENDSHIP
FROM ADMIRATION OF HIS SENSIBILITY
AND FROM A DUE APPRECIATION
OF HIS AUSPICIOUS CIPHER
INSCRIBED WITH CORDIAL
REGARD TO
O. K.

CONTENTS

Chapter Page

I PLETHERN OF MORVANE 1

II ROCKARVON 14

III VIOLA 31

IV DANIEL 57

V THE GRAYS OF CLONSALL 79

VI PLEASURES OF LONDON 101

VII PLEASURES OF LAVENHAM 111

VIII BEAUTY CAPRICIOUS 124

IX WINE OF YOUTH AND WATER OF VIRTUE 136

X THREE RETROSPECTS 146

XI MRS. PLETHERN DECIDES FOR WAR 170

XII THE PAINTED EARL 179

XIII THE TENDER MERCIES OF THE WICKED 197

XIV THIS MYSTERY OF LOVELINESS 211

XV A GIRL ALONE 236

XVI SACRIFICE 258

XVII NIGHT AT MORVANE 287

XVIII THE SANDS ARE NUMBERED 309