Chapter I: Front Matter

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THE TANGLED SKEIN

By the Same Author

I WILL REPAY
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL
BY THE GODS BELOVED
THE EMPEROR'S CANDLESTICKS
A SON OF THE PEOPLE

THE TANGLED SKEIN

BY THE BARONESS ORCZY

LONDON GREENING & CO., LTD. 1907 All rights reserved

DEDICATION

TO MY LITTLE SON JACK
AND TO HIS SCHOOLMATES AT "RAMSBURY"
BIRCHINGTON-ON-SEA

DEAR BOYS,

It was amongst you all that I wrote the last chapters
of this romance. To you, therefore--to your growing
manhood, your pretty, budding thoughts of chivalry and
honour, which I so loved to see developing in the
tender atmosphere of your dear little school-home by
the sea--I inscribe and dedicate this record of a
noble and good man's life.

EMMUSKA ORCZY.

BIRCHINGTON-ON-SEA
_February, 1907_

Copyright
in
The United Kingdom,
in the
Dominion of Canada,
and in the
United States of America.

CONTENTS

PART I
MIRRAB--THE WITCH

CHAP. PAGE
I. EAST MOLESEY FAIR 11
II. THE WITCH'S TENT 17
III. MISCHIEF BREWING 23
IV. FRIENDS AND ENEMIES 28
V. LADIES AND GALLANTS 33
VI. THE LADY URSULA 41
VII. HIS GRACE OF WESSEX 46
VIII. SILKEN BONDS 52
IX. THE VEILED WITCH 59

PART II
THE LADY URSULA

X. A BEVY OF FAIR MAIDENS 73
XI. THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL 80
XII. INTRIGUES 88
XIII. HIS EMINENCE 93
XIV. THE DESTINIES OF EUROPE 99
XV. THE HAND OF FATE 103
XVI. THE ULTIMATUM 114
XVII. AN ARMED TRUCE 120
XVIII. THE VEILED WITCH 127

PART III
A GAME OF CHESS

XIX. THE PAWNS 139
XX. DEPARTURE 153
XXI. THE BLACK KNIGHT 159
XXII. THE WHITE QUEEN 168
XXIII. CHECK TO THE QUEEN 177
XXIV. CHECK TO THE KING 187
XXV. THE CARDINAL'S MOVE 192
XXVI. THE PROVOCATION 198
XXVII. THE FIGHT 204
XXVIII. THE SEQUEL OF THE COMEDY 210
XXIX. CHECK-MATE 217

PART IV
HIS GRACE OF WESSEX

XXX. THOUGHTS 225
XXXI. MARYE, THE QUEENE 229
XXXII. A BARGAIN 243
XXXIII. IN THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S COURT 252
XXXIV. WESTMINSTER HALL 269
XXXV. THE TRIAL 279
XXXVI. AFTERWARDS 294
XXXVII. THE CARDINAL'S PUPPETS 300
XXXVIII. THE LAST FAREWELL 306
XXXIX. A FORLORN HOPE 314
XL. POOR MIRRAB 318
XLI. THE END 331