Produced by David Clarke, Katie Hernandez and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) THE BLACK POODLE &c. [Illustration: 'IT'S MY BINGO, FOR ALL THAT!'] THE BLACK POODLE _AND OTHER TALES_ BY F. ANSTEY AUTHOR OF 'VICE VERSÂ' ETC. NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 72 FIFTH AVENUE. 1896. PREFACE. The Author begs to state that the stories which are collected in this volume made their first appearance in 'Belgravia,' the 'Cornhill Magazine,' the 'Graphic,' 'Longman's Magazine,' 'Mirth,' and 'Temple Bar,' respectively, and he takes this opportunity of expressing his thanks to those Editors to whose courtesy he is indebted for permission to reprint them. CONTENTS. PAGE THE BLACK POODLE 1 THE STORY OF A SUGAR PRINCE 46 THE RETURN OF AGAMEMNON 69 THE WRAITH OF BARNJUM 93 A TOY TRAGEDY 115 AN UNDERGRADUATE'S AUNT 149 THE SIREN 168 THE CURSE OF THE CATAFALQUES 182 A FAREWELL APPEARANCE 232 ACCOMPANIED ON THE FLUTE 256 _THE BLACK POODLE._ [Illustration: I] I have set myself the task of relating in the course of this story, without suppressing or altering a single detail, the most painful and humiliating episode in my life. I do this, not because it will give me the least pleasure, but simply because it affords me an opportunity of extenuating myself which has hitherto been wholly denied to me. As a general rule I am quite aware that to publish a lengthy explanation of one's conduct in any questionable transaction is not the best means of recovering a lost reputation; but in my own case there is one to whom I shall never more be permitted to justify myself by word of mouth--even if I found myself able to attempt it. And as she could not possibly think worse of me than she does at present, I write this, knowing it can do me no harm, and faintly hoping that it may come to her notice and suggest a doubt whether I am quite so unscrupulous a villain, so consummate a hypocrite, as I have been forced to appear in her eyes. The bare chance of such a result makes me perfectly indifferent to all else: I cheerfully expose to the derision of the whole reading world the story of my weakness and my shame, since by doing so I may possibly rehabilitate myself somewhat in the good opinion of one person. Having said so much, I will begin my confession without further delay:-- My name is Algernon Weatherhead, and I may add that I am in one of the Government departments; that I am an only son, and live at home with my mother.