Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net MISTRESS NELL The Illustrations Shown in this Edition are Reproductions of Scenes from the Photo-Play of "Mistress Nell," Produced and Copyrighted by the Famous Players Film Company, Adolf Zukor, President, to whom the Publishers Desire to Express their Thanks and Appreciation for Permission to use the Pictures. [Illustration: Nell Gwyn the King's Favorite.] MISTRESS NELL A MERRY TALE OF A MERRY TIME (T'wixt Fact and Fancy) BY GEORGE C. HAZELTON, Jr. Author of the Play "Let not poor Nelly starve." ILLUSTRATED WITH SCENES FROM THE PHOTO-PLAY PRODUCED AND COPYRIGHTED BY THE FAMOUS PLAYERS FILM COMPANY, ADOLPH ZUKOR, PRESIDENT. NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1901, by Charles Scribner's Sons All rights reserved A WORD It is the vogue to dramatize successful novels. The author of the present Nell Gwyn story has pursued the contrary course. His "merry" play of the same name was written and produced before he undertook to compose this tale, suggested by the same historic sources. A word of tribute is gratefully given to the _comedienne_, Miss Crosman, whose courage and exquisite art introduced the "Mistress Nell" of the play to the public. CONTENTS CHAPTER I 1 "And once Nell Gwyn, a frail young sprite, Looked kindly when I met her; I shook my head perhaps--but quite Forgot to quite forget her." CHAPTER II 10 It's near your cue, Mistress Nell! CHAPTER III 41 He took them from Castlemaine's hand yo throw to you. CHAPTER IV 62 Flowers and Music feed naught but Love. CHAPTER V 87 It was never treason to steal a King's kisses. CHAPTER VI 101 Softly on tiptoe; Here Nell doth lie. CHAPTER VII 111 Come down! Come up! CHAPTER VIII 126 "And the man that is drunk is as great as a king." CHAPTER IX 142 Three chickens! CHAPTER X 168 Arrest him yourself! CHAPTER XI 182 In the field, men; at court, women! CHAPTER XII 195 Beau Adair is my name. CHAPTER XIII 232 For the glory of England? CHAPTER XIV 240 He loves me! He loves me! CHAPTER XV 259 I come, my love; I come. CHAPTER XVI 276 Ods-pitikins, my own reflection!