Parlous Times A Novel of Modern Diplomacy   By: David Dwight Wells

PARLOUS TIMES

THE DOLLAR LIBRARY OF AMERICAN FICTION

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.

LONDON: WM. HEINEMANN.

PARLOUS TIMES

A NOVEL OF MODERN DIPLOMACY

BY DAVID DWIGHT WELLS

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

[Illustration]

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

CHAPTER I

THE CONSPIRACY

"Forty thousand pounds is a pretty sum of money."

"Bribery is not a pretty word."