Produced by Roger Frank, Carolyn Bottomley and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net A DREAM OF EMPIRE _Or_ THE HOUSE OF BLENNERHASSETT _By_ WILLIAM HENRY VENABLE AUTHOR OF "A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES," "JOHN HANCOCK, EDUCATOR," &c. _New York_ DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY _MDCCCCI_ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright, 1901, By Dodd, Mead and Company. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TO EMERSON VENABLE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Contents I. AN ECCENTRIC VISITOR. 1 II. A NOTED CHARACTER ARRIVES IN PITTSBURG. 16 III. PILLARS OF SMOKE. 28 IV. PLUTARCH BYLE MAKES A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 39 V. IN THE LADIES' BOWER. 45 VI. DOCTOR DEVILLE AND HIS LUCRECE. 62 VII. CONSPIRACY. 71 VIII. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 82 IX. DON'T FORGET THE BITTERS. 97 X. "NOW TO MY CHARMS AND TO MY WILY TRAINS." 118 XI. PALAFOX GROWS INSOLENT. 127 XII. SNARING A PHILOSOPHER. 137 XIII. THE ENCHANTED GROUND. 150 XIV. A LARGESS OF CORONETS. 169 XV. THERE BE LAND RATS AND WATER RATS. 181 XVI. A PATRIOT NOT TO BE TAMPERED WITH. 193 XVII. THE BUSY NOTE OF PREPARATION. 205 XVIII. THE VOYAGE OF THE BUCKEYE. 218 XIX. ARLINGTON'S RIDE. 234 XX. MOSTLY LOVE MATTERS. 247 XXI. PRO AND CON. 262 XXII. NOT A TRUE BILL. 269 XXIII. THE FATAL CIPHER. 278 XXIV. THE MIDNIGHT DEPARTURE. 286 XXV. HEROINE AND HERO. 297 XXVI. OUT OF THE NET INTO THE TRAP. 312 XXVII. FLIGHT AND SURRENDER. 326 XXVIII. WHAT BECAME OF THEM. 333 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A DREAM OF EMPIRE. I. AN ECCENTRIC VISITOR. It was the first of May, and the sun had passed the noon line in a bright sky, causing the shadow of Peter Taylor to fall east of north and infusing his substance with the delightful languor called Spring Fever. Leaning upon an idle spade, Peter watched the lazy motions of a negro slave whom he had directed to trim a level lawn ornamented with flowerbeds. The English origin of the overseer was revealed by his looks and in his speech. "Scipio, 'ave you 'oed the corn?" "No, boss, but I's jes' gwine to ten' to it right away."