THE KNAVE OF DIAMONDS By ETHEL M. DELL Author of "The Way Of An Eagle" 1912 I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO MY FRIEND AND SISTER IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF HER SYMPATHY AND HELP O Charity, all patiently Abiding wrack and scaith! O Faith that meets ten thousand cheats Yet drops no jot of faith! Devil and brute Thou dost transmute To higher, lordlier show, Who art in sooth that lovely Truth The careless angels know! _To the True Romance_. RUDYARD KIPLING CONTENTS PART I CHAPTER I.--THE MISSING HEART II.--THE QUEEN'S JESTER III.--THE CHARIOT OF THE GODS IV.--CAKE MORNING V.--THE FIRST ENCOUNTER VI.--AT THE MEET VII.--THE FALL VIII.--THE RIDE HOME IX.--THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE X.--THE HAND OF A FRIEND XI.--THE STING OF A SCORPION XII.--BROTHERS XIII.--THE JESTER'S INFERNO XIV.--A BIG THING XV.--THE CHAMPION XVI.--THE MASQUERADE XVII.--THE SLAVE OF GOODNESS XVIII.--THE DESCENT FROM OLYMPUS XIX.--VENGEANCE XX.--THE VISION XXI.--AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON XXII.--THE CITY OF REFUGE PART II I.--THE JESTER'S RETURN II.--THE KERNEL OF THE DIFFICULTY III.--THE FIRST ORDEAL IV.--THE FATAL STREAK V.--THE TOKEN VI.--THE BURIAL OF A HATCHET VII.--A QUESTION OF TRUST VIII.--A SUDDEN BLOW IX.--THE BOON X.--A DAY IN PARADISE XI.--THE RETURN TO EARTH XII.--IN THE FACE OF THE GODS XIII.--AN APPEAL AND ITS ANSWER XIV.--THE IRRESISTIBLE XV.--ON THE EDGE OF THE PIT XVI.--DELIVERANCE PART III I.--THE POWER DIVINE II.--THE WORKER OF MIRACLES III.--THE WOMAN'S PART IV.--THE MESSAGE V.--THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND VI.--A VOICE THAT CALLED VII.--THE UNINVITED GUEST VIII.--THE HEART OF A SAVAGE IX.--THE DIVINE SPARK X.--THE QUEEN'S PARDON XI.--SOMETHING GREAT XII.--A FRIENDLY UNDERSTANDING XIII.--THE FINAL DEFEAT XIV.--AT THE GATE OF DEATH XV.--THE KING'S DECREE XVI.--THE STRAIGHT GAME XVII.--THE TRANSFORMING MAGIC XVIII.--THE LAST ORDEAL XIX.--OUT OF THE FURNACE XX.--THE PROMOTION OF THE QUEEN'S JESTER XXI.--THE POWER THAT CASTS OUT DEVILS PART I CHAPTER I THE MISSING HEART