EDITION DE LUXE ARTHUR BY EUGÈNE SUE ILLUSTRATED NATIONAL LIBRARY COMPANY NEW YORK _Copyright, 1899_ By FRANCIS A. NICCOLLS & CO. [Illustration] CONTENTS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I. The Post-road II. The Cottage III. The Curé's Tale HÉLÈNE IV. The Bereavement V. Hélène VI. The Avowal VII. The Letter VIII. The Portrait IX. The Pavilion X. The Contract MADAME LA MARQUISE DE PËNÂFIEL XI. Portraits XII. The Gentleman-riders XIII. The Opéra XIV. A Friend XV. Projects XVI. The Green Album XVII. Prima-sera XVIII. On What the World Said, and on Coquetry XIX. On Parlour Christianity XX. The Parlour XXI. The Avowal XXII. Contradictions XXIII. Marguerite XXIV. Days of Sunshine XXV. Suspicion XXVI. An Encounter XXVII. The Exhibition XXVIII. The Departure LORD FALMOUTH XXIX. Plans XXX. The Yacht XXXI. The Voyage XXXII. The Combat XXXIII. The Doctor XXXIV. Friendship LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS "'I HELD THE BRIDLE'" "'I SAW THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER TURN A SOMERSAULT'" "'I THRUST THE BARREL AGAINST HIS CHEST AND FIRED'" ARTHUR, Vol. I. INTRODUCTION ARTHUR. CHAPTER I THE POST-ROAD A strange chance put me in possession of this journal. I had established myself for several months in a central city in one of our southern departments, whose shore is bathed by the Mediterranean, and I was desirous of purchasing a country place in that marvellously picturesque land. I had already looked at several pieces of property when, one day, the notary, who had been giving me some necessary directions for one of my explorations, said to me: "I have just received notice that at about eight leagues from here, in one of the most beautiful situations in the world, neither too far nor too near to the sea, there is a country house for sale. I know nothing of it whatever; but if you would like to see it, monsieur, here are the precise directions how to find it. You will have to arrange the affair with the curé of the village of ----." "What!" said I, "with the curé? You don't suppose that it is the presbytery that is for sale?" "I know nothing about it," answered the lawyer; "but, judging from the high price that they ask, I hardly think it can be a parsonage. Besides," added he, with a sly and convincing look, "it seems as though there would be a thousand ways of arranging an advantageous and private sale, because it is sold in consequence of sudden departure or a sudden death, I don't know exactly which; the fact is, there have been told so many absurd and stupid stories on the subject, that I should make myself ridiculous in repeating them all to you. What is certain, however, monsieur, is that such an opportunity is always a good one, and my correspondent assures me that there has been no end of money spent on the property." "A swift departure! A sudden death! Who, then, lived on the place?" I asked.