“A romance of the times of the Seven Years War, which is invested with singular vigour, charm, and distinction. Mr. Williams turns his material to the best account, matching forcible fact with fanciful fiction in a manner which compels the reader’s attention whilst it stimulates his imagination.”--_Liverpool Mercury._ “The tale makes capital reading.”--_Scotsman._ “Mr. Williams never allows the interest to flag for a single instant.”--_The King._ HARPER & BROTHERS 45 ALBEMARLE ST., LONDON, W. <tb< Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: protector at=> protector as {pg 29} Duc de Choiseul-Praslin as Minister of Marine, in 1670=> Duc de Choiseul-Praslin as Minister of Marine, in 1760 {pg 34} Princesse de Beauveau=> Princesse de Beauvau {pg 157} Marie Antoniette=> Marie Antoinette {pg 168} which brough the Terror=> which brought the Terror {pg 186} Notwishstanding the laxity=> Notwithstanding the laxity {pg 216} that a Bouvelard=> that a Boulevard {pg 230, n.} occurred on the Bouvelards=> occurred on the Boulevards {pg 230, n.} Moniseur=> Monsieur {pg 246} Hereux=> Heureux {pg 257} Castil-Blaize=> Castil-Blaze {pg 304} serait encor sauvage=> serait encore sauvage {pg 308} Bouvelard Saint-Martin=> Boulevard Saint-Martin {pg 324} had pentrated four inches=> had penetrated four inches {pg 342} overcome by Beaumerchais’s=> overcome by Beaumarchais’s {pg 348} has a narrow escape of his life, 128;=> has a narrow escape of her life, 128; {pg 352} * * * * * FOOTNOTES: [1] At the time when they wrote their monograph on the singer, Sophie’s _Mémoires_ were in possession of the Goncourts; it is uncertain where they now are. [2] Here is her _acte de naissance_, which also disposes of Castil-Blaze’s assertion that her real name was Anne Madeleine, and that she had adopted that of Sophie “as being more sweet and harmonious.” “The year one thousand seven hundred and forty, 14th of February, Magdeleine Sophie, daughter of Jean Arnould, here present, and of Rose Marguerite Laurent, his wife, born yesterday, Rue Saint-Louis in this parish, has been baptized. “Godfather: Louis Le Vasseur, manager of the King’s farms, Rue Coq-Héron, parish Saint-Eustache; godmother: Magdeleine Chevalier, spinster, Rue du Mail, of the above-mentioned parish.” [3] When the Opera-house was burned down in April 1763, a lady of the Court asked Mlle. Arnould if she could give her any particulars about CETTE _terrible incendie_. “All that I can tell you, Madame,” replied Sophie, “is that _incendie_ is a masculine noun.” [4] E. and J. de Goncourt, _Sophie Arnould_, p. 10. [5] E. and J. de Goncourt, _Sophie Arnould_, p. 23. [6] The song, it may be mentioned, began with the words, “_Charmant amour_,” a not inappropriate omen, remarks the lady’s latest biographer, Mr. Douglas, for one who was to become notorious for her gallantries.