Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 14001-h.htm or 14001-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/0/0/14001/14001-h/14001-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/0/0/14001/14001-h.zip) THE MISSISSIPPI BUBBLE How the Star of Good Fortune Rose and Set and Rose Again, by a Woman's Grace, for One John Law of Lauriston A Novel by EMERSON HOUGH The Illustrations by Henry Hutt 1902 [Illustration: (Frontispiece)] TO L.C.H. CONTENTS BOOK I CHAPTER I THE RETURNED TRAVELER II AT SADLER'S WELLS III JOHN LAW OF LAURISTON IV THE POINT OF HONOR V DIVERS EMPLOYMENTS OF JOHN LAW VI THE RESOLUTION OF MR. LAW VII TWO MAIDS A-BROIDERING VIII CATHARINE KNOLLYS IX IN SEARCH OF THE QUARREL X THE RUMOR OF THE QUARREL XI AS CHANCE DECREED XII FOR FELONY XIII THE MESSAGE XIV PRISONERS XV IF THERE WERE NEED XVI THE ESCAPE XVII WHITHER BOOK II I THE DOOR OF THE WEST II THE STORM III AU LARGE IV THE PATHWAY OF THE WATERS V MESSASEBE VI MAIZE VII THE BRINK OF CHANGE VIII TOUS SAUVAGES IX THE DREAM X BY THE HILT OF THE SWORD XI THE IROQUOIS XII PRISONERS OF THE IROQUOIS XIII THE SACRIFICE XIV THE EMBASSY XV THE GREAT PEACE BOOK III I THE GRAND MONARQUE II EVER SAID SHE NAY III SEARCH THOU MY HEART IV THE REGENT'S PROMISE V A DAY OF MIRACLES VI THE GREATEST NEED VII THE MIRACLE UNWROUGHT VIII THE LITTLE SUPPER OF THE REGENT IX THE NEWS X MASTER AND MAN XI THE BREAKING OF THE BUBBLE XII THAT WHICH REMAINED XIII THE QUALITY OF MERCY BOOK I ENGLAND CHAPTER I THE RETURNED TRAVELER "Gentlemen, this is America!" The speaker cast upon the cloth-covered table a singular object, whose like none of those present had ever seen. They gathered about and bent over it curiously. "This is that America," the speaker repeated. "Here you have it, barbaric, wonderful, abounding!" With sudden gesture he swept his hand among the gold coin that lay on the gaming table. He thrust into the mouth of the object before him a handful of louis d'or and English sovereigns. "There is your America," said he. "It runs over with gold. No man may tell its richness. Its beauty you can not imagine." "Faith," said Sir Arthur Pembroke, bending over the table with glass in eye, "if the ladies of that land have feet for this sort of shoon, methinks we might well emigrate. Take you the money of it. For me, I would see the dame could wear such shoe as this."