Chapter I: Front Matter

THE SPRIGHTLY
ROMANCE OF
MARSAC

BY

MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL

AUTHOR OF

“CHILDREN OF DESTINY,” “A STRANGE SAD
COMEDY,” “THROCKMORTON,”
“LITTLE JARVIS,” ETC.

Illustrated by

GUSTAVE VERBEEK

NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1897

_Copyright, 1896_,
BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS.

_Dramatic and all other rights
reserved._

University Press:
JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE.

NOTE.

“The Sprightly Romance of Marsac” obtained the first prize of $3,000 for the best novelette in the _New York Herald_ competition in 1895.

List of Illustrations

PAGE

_“Why were you so extravagant about bread?” asked Marsac, very cheerfully, working away at the old screen_ _Frontispiece_

_Madame Schmid was plainly in a rage_ 2

_Madame Schmid grew still redder in the face and shorter of breath_ 5

_It was easy enough to see who was the master mind_ 9

_Madame Fleury entered_ 17

“_Have you ever thought of marriage as a way out of your troubles?_” 25

_Marsac, advancing to Fontaine, whispered in his ear_ 37

_Marsac, taking his hand, led him to Madame Fleury_ 39

_With a few bold strokes the bull-fighter assumed the appearance of a hale old gentleman of sixty_ 48

_He fell over on his chair with amazement and chagrin_ 50

_The two young men tore open the box_ 53

_They hugged each other and began to dance wildly_ 56

_“Don’t speak of your fiancée in that disrespectful manner,” cried Marsac_ 65

_He opened it without a word and took out four bottles of champagne_ 67

_I saw these two poor creatures standing in front of a pastry-shop_ 68

_Marsac received them with as much kindness and respect as if they had been banker’s daughters_ 75

_Madame Schmid made a dash for Fontaine, whom she collared and dragged out_ 77

_“And now about the villa,” said the old brewer_ 83

_Monsieur Duval knelt down_ 89

_Monsieur Duval, closing one eye, playfully poked him in the ribs_ 93

_The door opened, admitting Fontaine and two remarkably pretty girls_ 97

_The young people talked gaily together while sipping champagne_ 100

_“A hundred and thirty thousand francs!” cried Maurepas_ 108

_Marsac turned a double handspring over the sofa_ 110

_Marsac, seizing her around the waist, began to waltz furiously_ 113

_They crept softly out of their apartment_ 115

_As it brought Delphine’s golden head quite close to Marsac’s brown one, she consented willingly_ 121

_“Oh, Madame Fleury!” cried Marsac, actually hanging his head_ 129

_Madame Fleury pressed a handkerchief to her eyes_ 132

_Marsac could scarcely restrain a shout of joy_ 137

_Madame Fleury began eagerly searching on the ground for the letter_ 139

_“Here,” Marsac said, tearing the paper, “is half of it for you, Fontaine, and dear Claire”_ 143

_Monsieur Duval’s victoria, with Madame Fleury in it_ 145

_Fontaine, sunk in a deep armchair, was a picture of misery_ 149

_He was a little old man clutching a rusty travelling-bag in his trembling hands_ 151

_“Let me assist you,” said Fontaine, trying to take the old bag_ 159

_Marsac and Delphine were now left alone_ 161

_Madame Fleury stood petrified for a moment_ 175

_“The only thing for you to do now is to trust me,” said Fontaine_ 177

_In walked one of the most weazened, cadaverous little men who ever stepped_ 180

_Madame Fleury rushed out, dragging the unhappy Fleury after her_ 188

_Marsac with his arm around Delphine’s waist_ 194

THE SPRIGHTLY
ROMANCE OF
MARSAC

The Sprightly Romance of Marsac[1]

[1] Dramatic and all other rights reserved.