GOD’S PLAYTHINGS BY MARJORIE BOWEN AUTHOR OF “THE VIPER OF MILAN,” “THE GLEN O’ WEEPING,” “I WILL MAINTAIN,” ETC. NEW YORK E. P. DUTTON AND COMPANY 31 WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET 1913 PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED LONDON AND BECCLES CONTENTS PAGE I. THE KING’S SON 1 II. A BIOGRAPHY 23 III. A POOR SPANISH LODGING 35 IV. DEFEAT 59 V. TWILIGHT 80 VI. THE CAMP OUTSIDE NAMUR 93 VII. THE POLANDER 113 VIII. THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF GRACE ENDICOTT 135 IX. THE CUP OF CHICORY WATER 153 X. THE BURNING OF THE VANITIES 180 XI. A WOMAN OF THE PEOPLE 202 XII. THE ARISTOCRAT 225 XIII. THE BETROTHED OF PEDRO EL JUSTICAR 249 XIV. THE MACEDONIAN GROOM 260 XV. THE PRISONER 273 XVI. THE YELLOW INTAGLIO 301 GOD’S PLAYTHINGS THE KING’S SON “This letter has given rise to various conjectures.”–_Dalrymple’s Memoirs._ _From Ringwood, the 9th of July, 1685._ MY LORD,