Produced by David Clarke, Matthew Wheaton and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) LOVE AMONG THE LIONS A MATRIMONIAL EXPERIENCE BY F. ANSTEY AUTHOR OF "VICE VERSA," ETC. LONDON J. M. DENT & CO. 29 & 30 BEDFORD STREET, W.C. List of Illustrations Page The exquisite face looking out over the wire blind 4 Æneas Polkinghorne 5 Still I persevered 9 The Introduction of Mr Blenkinsop to Miss Lurana de Castro 12 "And whom should I marry, Mr Blenkinsop?" 18 "Let us be married in the Lion's Cage" 26 "Yes, papa, we are a little late" 31 "First-rate idea of yours, Blenkinsop" 33 "Well, if the lady's as game as she seems, and the gentleman likewise, I don't see any objection" 41 We were still chatting when Laurana returned 43 A Cleric of the broad-minded school 51 "If you go on like that I shall begin to think you want to frighten me" 55 Mademoiselle 63 "A de Castro can never marry a Craven" 73 "If them two got together, there'd be the doose's delight" 79 I was forlornly mopping when Niono returned 82 My wedding toilette was complete 87 It's a swindle 91 A kind of small procession entered the arena 95 Then he addressed the audience 101 "If only you had been firmer, Theodore" 113 Love among the Lions PART I In the following pages will be found the only authentic account of an affair which provided London, and indeed all England, with material for speculation and excitement for a period of at least nine days. So many inaccurate versions have been circulated, so many ill-natured and unjust aspersions have been freely cast, that it seemed advisable for the sake of those principally concerned to make a plain unvarnished statement of the actual facts. And when I mention that I who write this am the Theodore Blenkinsop whose name was, not long since, as familiar in the public mouth as household words, I venture to think that I shall at once recall the matter to the shortest memory, and establish my right to speak with authority on the subject.