Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: Cover] THE CITY OF BEAUTIFUL NONSENSE BY E. TEMPLE THURSTON AUTHOR OF "The Apple of Eden," "Mirage," etc. NEW YORK DODD, MEAD & COMPANY 1911 Copyright, 1900, by DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY _Published, September, 1909_ _Dedicated to_ ROSINA FILIPPI, _to whom I am indebted for the gift of laughter which I hope has crept its way into the pages of this book._ LONDON, 18, 3, ’09. CONTENTS BOOK I THE ROAD TO THE CITY CHAPTER I. A Prelude on the Eve of St. Joseph’s Day II. The Last Candle III. The Greengrocer’s--Fetter Lane IV. What to Call a Hero V. The Ballad-Monger--Fetter Lane VI. Of Kensington Gardens VII. The Voyage of the Good Ship Albatross VIII. The Fateful Ticket-Puncher IX. The Art of Hieroglyphics X. The Need for Intuition XI. A Side-Light Upon Appearances XII. The Chapel of Unredemption XIII. The Inventory XIV. The Way to Find Out XV. What is Hidden by a Camisole XVI. Easter Sunday XVII. The Fly in the Amber XVIII. The Nonsense-Maker XIX. The Mr. Chesterton XX. Why Jill Prayed To St. Joseph XXI. The City Of Beautiful Nonsense BOOK II THE TUNNEL XXII. The Heart of the Shadow XXIII. Amber BOOK III THE CITY XXIV. The Palazzo Capello XXV. The Letter--Venice XXVI. The Return--Venice XXVII. The True Mother XXVIII. The Treasure Shop XXIX. The Candle for St. Anthony XXX. The Qualities of Ignatia XXXI. The Sacrifice XXXII. The Departure--Venice XXXIII. The 16th of February--London XXXIV. The Dissoluble Bondage XXXV. The Wonder of Belief XXXVI. The Passing XXXVII. The Circular Tour XXXVIII. A Process of Honesty XXXIX. The End of the Loom BOOK I THE ROAD TO THE CITY The City of Beautiful Nonsense CHAPTER I A PRELUDE ON THE EVE OF ST. JOSEPH’S DAY Of course, the eighteenth of March--but it is out of the question to say upon which day of the week it fell.