Chapter I: Front Matter

THE GIRL AT THE HALFWAY HOUSE. By E. HOUGH.

PARLOUS TIMES. By D. D. WELLS.

LORDS OF THE NORTH. By A. C. LAUT.

THE CHRONIC LOAFER. By NELSON LLOYD.

HER MOUNTAIN LOVER. By HAMLIN GARLAND.

ETC. ETC. ETC.

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LONDON: WM. HEINEMANN.

PARLOUS TIMES

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A NOVEL OF MODERN DIPLOMACY

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BY DAVID DWIGHT WELLS

AUTHOR OF "HER LADYSHIP'S ELEPHANT," "HIS LORDSHIP'S LEOPARD"

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LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN. 1901

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. The Conspiracy 5
II. Wanted--a Chaperon 15
III. Parlous Times 29
IV. A Lady in Distress 41
V. A Gentleman in Distress 51
VI. Afternoon Tea 63
VII. An Irate Husband 75
VIII. Diplomatic Instructions 88
IX. A House-warming 95
X. Before Dinner 105
XI. After Dinner 117
XII. A Morning Call 129
XIII. The Serious Side of Miss Fitzgerald's Nature 141
XIV. The Serious Side of the Secretary's Nature 149
XV. The Secretary's Intentions 156
XVI. Man Proposes 169
XVII. Her Husband 179
XVIII. The Door with the Silver Nails 190
XIX. A Midnight Message 201
XX. The Wisdom of Age 209
XXI. The Resources of Diplomacy 219
XXII. A Little Commission 229
XXIII. Forty Thousand Pounds 240
XXIV. A Very Awkward Predicament 252
XXV. The Rustle of a Skirt 264
XXVI. Face to Face 274
XXVII. The Marriage Register 284
XXVIII. Two Questions 296
XXIX. In which Death is a Relief 309
XXX. Two Letters 322
XXXI. Miss Fitzgerald Burns her Boats 335
XXXII. The Top of the Tower 346
XXXIII. The Secret of the Door 356
XXXIV. Within the Tower 366
XXXV. The Short Way Out 374
XXXVI. The Day of Reckoning 384
XXXVII. The Price of Knowledge 397
XXXVIII. The Price of Love 406
XXXIX. The Price of Silence 422
XL. The Price of a Lie 433