THE PORTLAND PEERAGE ROMANCE BY CHARLES J. ARCHARD GREENING'S NEW NOVELS "The name =GREENING= on a book is a guarantee of excellence." * * * * * RICHARD THE BRAZEN BY CYRUS BRADY AND EDWARD PEPLE THE TANGLED SKEIN BY THE BARONESS ORCZY. _18th Thousand. 6s._ THE MASCOTTE OF PARK LANE BY LUCAS CLEEVE. _Third Edition. 6s_. THE DUPE BY GERALD BISS. _Second Edition. 6s._ THE WOMAN FRIEND AND THE WIFE BY ETHEL HILL. _6s._ THE PALM OIL RUFFIAN BY ANTHONY HAMILTON. _6s._ AND THE MOOR GAVE UP ITS DEAD BY ERIC HARRISON. _6s._ WHEN TERROR RULED BY MAY WYNNE. _3s. 6d._ THE BISHOP'S EMERALDS BY HOUGHTON TOWNLEY. _6s._ THE PORTLAND PEERAGE ROMANCE BY CHARLES J. ARCHARD LONDON: GREENING & CO., LTD. 1907 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE FIRST BENTINCK A HERO 7 II. HOW THE BENTINCKS BECAME POSSESSED OF WELBECK.--A FEMININE INTRIGUE 22 III. THE FARMER DUKE--WEDS THE RICH MISS SCOTT--HIS HIGH-SPIRITED SONS AND DAUGHTERS 33 IV. THE FARMER DUKE'S DAUGHTER AND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS' SPEAKER.--BECOMES A BENEVOLENT VISCOUNTESS 38 V. EARLY LIFE OF LORD JOHN BENTINCK, AFTERWARDS FIFTH DUKE OF PORTLAND.--THE ADELAIDE KEMBLE ROMANCE 45 VI. LORD GEORGE BENTINCK'S RACING CAREER.--QUARREL WITH HIS COUSIN.--DUEL WITH SQUIRE OSBALDESTON.--"SURPLICE" WINS THE DERBY AND ST. LEGER.--ATTEMPTS TO POISON THE HORSE.--FRIENDSHIP WITH DISRAELI.--TRAGIC DEATH 49 VII. THE ECCENTRIC DUKE AND HIS UNDERGROUND TUNNELS 77 VIII. THE PRESENT DUKE AND DUCHESS.--A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT 95 IX. THE DUKE AND DUCHESS AT HOME.--THE DUCHESS AS PRINCESS BOUNTIFUL.--THE DUCHESS AT COURT 114 X. CLAIMS TO THE PORTLAND PEERAGE BY MRS. DRUCE AND MR. G.H. DRUCE 121 THE PORTLAND PEERAGE ROMANCE CHAPTER I THE FIRST BENTINCK A HERO