Chapter I: Front Matter

ONLY A CLOD

A Novel

BY THE AUTHOR OF
“LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,” “AURORA FLOYD”
ETC. ETC. ETC.

Stereotyped Edition

LONDON
JOHN AND ROBERT MAXWELL
MILTON HOUSE, SHOE LANE, FLEET STREET
[_All rights reserved_]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TO

OCTAVE DELEPIERRE, F.S.A., LL.D.

AND

HIS CHARMING WIFE, CHARLOTTE

This Story is Inscribed

IN REMEMBRANCE OF MANY PLEASANT HOURS
PASSED WITH THEM.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE
I. THE MASTER 5
II. THE MAN 11
III. TIDINGS OF HOME 14
IV. TREDETHLYN’S LUCK 17
V. COMING HOME 26
VI. THE END OF THE WORLD 32
VII. MAUDE HILLARY’S ADORERS 42
VIII. AT THE CHATEAU DE BOURBON 50
IX. JULIA DESMOND MAKES HERSELF AGREEABLE 53
X. COLTONSLOUGH 62
XI. A VERY OLD STORY 69
XII. A MODERN GENTLEMAN’S DIARY 80
XIII. CAUGHT IN THE TOILS 94
XIV. VERY PRIVATE THEATRICALS 100
XV. A COMMERCIAL CRISIS 108
XVI. A DRAMA THAT WAS ACTED BEHIND THE SCENES 123
XVII. SOMETHING LIKE FRIENDSHIP 139
XVIII. POOR FRANCIS 143
XIX. MR. HILLARY SPEAKS HIS MIND 151
XX. AN EXPLANATION 156
XXI. HARCOURT LOWTHER’S WELCOME 161
XXII. TAKING IT QUIETLY 167
XXIII. TIDINGS OF SUSAN 176
XXIV. FRANCIS TREDETHLYN’S DISINTERESTED ADVISER 190
XXV. THE ROAD TO RUIN 196
XXVI. A CHILLING RECONCILIATION 203
XXVII. SEEING A GHOST 211
XXVIII. “OH, MY AMY! MINE NO MORE!” 219
XXIX. ENTANGLEMENTS IN THE WEB 232
XXX. THE TWO ANTIPHOLI 238
XXXI. THE DIPLOMATIST’S POLICY 243
XXXII. HARCOURT GATHERS HIS FIRST FRUITS 253
XXXIII. ROSA’S REVELATIONS 266
XXXIV. THE LADY AT PETERSHAM 279
XXXV. A HASTY RECKONING 287
XXXVI. POOR FRANK’S LETTER 296
XXXVII. ELEANOR DROPS IN UPON ROSAMOND 302
XXXVIII. GONE 310
XXXIX. TOO LATE 317
XL. AN IGNOMINIOUS FAILURE 322
XLI. SUSAN’S GOOD NEWS 331
XLII. A PERFECT UNION 341

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ONLY A CLOD