XI PROBLEMS OF BEAUTY 97 XII NICETIES OF FRATRICIDE 114 XIII DÉBONNAIRE 123 XIV GODS IN DECREPITUDE 141 XV DUBIETIES OF THE MASTER 148 XVI SOME VICTIMS OF FLAMBERGE 159 XVII THE ARMORY OF ANTAN 166 XVIII PROBLEMS OF HOLINESS 178 XIX LOCKED GATES 189 XX SMOKE REVEALS FIRE 204 PART THREE THE END OF LEAN WISDOM XXI OF MELIOR MARRIED 219 XXII THE WIVES OF FLORIAN 225 XXIII THE COLLYN IN THE POT 237 XXIV MARIE-CLAIRE 246 XXV THE GANDER THAT SANG 256 XXVI HUSBAND AND WIFE 263 XXVII THE FORETHOUGHT OF HOPRIG 275 XXVIII HIGHLY AMBIGUOUS 282 XXIX THE WONDER WORDS 292 XXX THE ERRANT CHILD 304 _Illustrations_ Florian felt himself to be in not quite the company suited to a nobleman of his rank _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE She waited—there was the miracle—for Florian de Puysange 44 He did not move, but lay quite still, staring upward 82 Florian’s plump face was transfigured, as he knelt before his Melior 120 Now Florian came forward 162 Presently the Collyn of Puysange had opened her yellow eyes and was licking daintily her lips 198 He closed upon Florian, straightforwardly, without any miracle-working 250 “—And this is the last cloud going west” 286 PART ONE _THE END OF LONG WANTING_ “_Lever un tel obstacle est à moy peu de chose. Le Ciel défend, de vray, certains contentemens; Mais on trouve avec luy des accommodemens._” _1._ _The Child Errant_