Transcribed from the 1905 Chatto & Windus edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org TALES AND FANTASIES BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON [Picture: Decorative graphic] * * * * * LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS 1905 CONTENTS THE MISADVENTURES OF JOHN NICHOLSON CHAP. PAGE I. IN WHICH JOHN SOWS THE WIND 1 II. IN WHICH JOHN REAPS THE WHIRLWIND 10 III. IN WHICH JOHN ENJOYS THE HARVEST HOME 18 IV. THE SECOND SOWING 27 V. THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN 35 VI. THE HOUSE AT MURRAYFIELD 45 VII. A TRAGI-COMEDY IN A CAB 63 VIII. SINGULAR INSTANCE OF THE UTILITY OF PASS-KEYS 78 IX. IN WHICH MR. NICHOLSON ACCEPTS THE PRINCIPLE 95 OF AN ALLOWANCE THE BODY-SNATCHER 109 THE STORY OF A LIE I. INTRODUCES THE ADMIRAL 145 II. A LETTER TO THE PAPERS 154 III. IN THE ADMIRAL’S NAME 162 IV. ESTHER ON THE FILIAL RELATION 172 V. THE PRODIGAL FATHER MAKES HIS DEBUT AT HOME 178 VI. THE PRODIGAL FATHER GOES ON FROM STRENGTH TO 189 STRENGTH VII. THE ELOPEMENT 204 VIII. BATTLE ROYAL 219 IX. IN WHICH THE LIBERAL EDITOR RE-APPEARS AS 233 ‘DEUS EX MACHINA’ THE MISADVENTURES OF JOHN NICHOLSON CHAPTER I—IN WHICH JOHN SOWS THE WIND JOHN VAREY NICHOLSON was stupid; yet, stupider men than he are now sprawling in Parliament, and lauding themselves as the authors of their own distinction. He was of a fat habit, even from boyhood, and inclined to a cheerful and cursory reading of the face of life; and possibly this attitude of mind was the original cause of his misfortunes. Beyond this hint philosophy is silent on his career, and superstition steps in with the more ready explanation that he was detested of the gods.