ONLY A CLOD A Novel BY THE AUTHOR OF “LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,” “AURORA FLOYD” ETC. ETC. ETC. Stereotyped Edition LONDON JOHN AND ROBERT MAXWELL MILTON HOUSE, SHOE LANE, FLEET STREET [_All rights reserved_] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TO OCTAVE DELEPIERRE, F.S.A., LL.D. AND HIS CHARMING WIFE, CHARLOTTE This Story is Inscribed IN REMEMBRANCE OF MANY PLEASANT HOURS PASSED WITH THEM. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. THE MASTER 5 II. THE MAN 11 III. TIDINGS OF HOME 14 IV. TREDETHLYN’S LUCK 17 V. COMING HOME 26 VI. THE END OF THE WORLD 32 VII. MAUDE HILLARY’S ADORERS 42 VIII. AT THE CHATEAU DE BOURBON 50 IX. JULIA DESMOND MAKES HERSELF AGREEABLE 53 X. COLTONSLOUGH 62 XI. A VERY OLD STORY 69 XII. A MODERN GENTLEMAN’S DIARY 80 XIII. CAUGHT IN THE TOILS 94 XIV. VERY PRIVATE THEATRICALS 100 XV. A COMMERCIAL CRISIS 108 XVI. A DRAMA THAT WAS ACTED BEHIND THE SCENES 123 XVII. SOMETHING LIKE FRIENDSHIP 139 XVIII. POOR FRANCIS 143 XIX. MR. HILLARY SPEAKS HIS MIND 151 XX. AN EXPLANATION 156 XXI. HARCOURT LOWTHER’S WELCOME 161 XXII. TAKING IT QUIETLY 167 XXIII. TIDINGS OF SUSAN 176 XXIV. FRANCIS TREDETHLYN’S DISINTERESTED ADVISER 190 XXV. THE ROAD TO RUIN 196 XXVI. A CHILLING RECONCILIATION 203 XXVII. SEEING A GHOST 211 XXVIII. “OH, MY AMY! MINE NO MORE!” 219 XXIX. ENTANGLEMENTS IN THE WEB 232 XXX. THE TWO ANTIPHOLI 238