Chapter I: Front Matter

THE LIGHTED MATCH

The
LIGHTED MATCH

by

CHARLES NEVILLE BUCK

_Author of_

The Key to Yesterday

_Illustrations_
by
R. F. Schabelitz

W. J. Watt & Company
Publishers New York

COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY
W. J. WATT & COMPANY

_Published May_

PRESS OF
BRAUNWORTH & CO.
BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS
BROOKLYN, N. Y.

To K. du P.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I AN OMEN IS CONSTRUED 9

II BENTON PLAYS MAGICIAN 17

III THE MOON OVERHEARS 28

IV THE DOCTRINE ACCORDING TO JONESY 40

V IT IS DECIDED TO MASQUERADE 49

VI IN WHICH ROMEO BECOMES DROMIO 56

VII IN WHICH DROMIO BECOMES ROMEO 70

VIII THE PRINCESS CONSULTS JONESY 82

IX THE TOREADOR APPEARS 92

X OF CERTAIN TRANSPIRINGS AT A CAFÉ TABLE 102

XI THE PASSING PRINCESS AND THE MISTAKEN COUNTESS 112

XII BENTON MUST DECIDE 123

XIII CONCERNING FAREWELLS AND WARNINGS 137

XIV COUNTESS AND CABINET NOIR JOIN FORCES 144

XV THE TOREADOR BECOMES AMBASSADOR 155

XVI THE AMBASSADOR BECOMES ADMIRAL 167

XVII BENTON CALLS ON THE KING 178

XVIII IN WHICH THE SPHINX BREAKS SILENCE 190

XIX THE JACKAL TAKES THE TRAIL 203

XX THE DEATH OF ROMANCE IS DEPLORED 214

XXI NAPLES ASSUMES NEW BEAUTY 222

XXII THE SENTRY-BOX ANSWERS THE KING'S QUERY 229

XXIII "SCARABS OF A DEAD DYNASTY" 244

XXIV IN WHICH KINGS AND COMMONERS DISCUSS LOVE 255

XXV ABDUL SAID BEY EFFECTS A RESCUE 265

XXVI IN A CURIO SHOP IN STAMBOUL 276

XXVII BENTON SAYS GOOD-BY 288

XXVIII JUSSERET MAKES A REPORT 300

THE LIGHTED MATCH