Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team THE QUEEN PEDAUQUE By Anatole France Translated By Jos. A. V. Stritzko Introduction By James Branch Cabell Contents: I. Why I recount the singular Occurrences of my Life II. My Home at the Queen Pedauque Cookshop--I turn the Spit and learn to read--Entry of Abbe Jerome Coignard III. The Story of the Abbe’s Life IV. The Pupil of M. Jerome Coignard--I receive Lessons in Latin, Greek and Life V. My Nineteenth Birthday--Its Celebration and the Entrance of M. d’Asterac VI. Arrival at the Castle of M. d’Asterac and Interview with the Cabalist VII. Dinner and Thoughts on Food VIII. The Library and its Contents IX. At Work on Zosimus the Panopolitan--I visit my Home and hear Gossip about M. d’Asterac X. I see Catherine with Friar Ange and reflect--The Liking of Nymphs for Satyrs--An Alarm of Fire--M. d’Asterac in his Laboratory XI. The Advent of Spring and its Effects--We visit Mosaide XII. I take a Walk and meet Mademoiselle Catherine XIII. Taken by M. d’Asterac to the Isle of Swans I listen to his Discourse on Creation and Salamanders XIV. Visit to Mademoiselle Catherine--The Row in the Street and my Dismissal XV. In the Library with M. Jerome Coignard--A Conversation on Morals--Taken to M. d’Asterac’s Study-Salamanders again-- The Solar Powder--A Visit and its Consequences XVI. Jahel comes to my Room--What the Abbe saw on the Stairs--His Encounter with Mosaide XVII. Outside Mademoiselle Catherine’s House--We are invited in by M. d’Anquetil--The Supper--The Visit of the Owner and the horrible Consequences XVIII. Our return--We smuggle M. d’Anquetil in--M. d’Asterac on Jealousy--M. Jerome Coignard in Trouble-What happened while I was in the Laboratory--Jahel persuaded to elope XIX. Our last Dinner at M. d’Asterac’s Table--Conversation of M. Jerome Coignard and M. d’Asterac--A Message from Home--Catherine in the Spittel--We are wanted for Murder-Our Flight--Jahel causes me much Misery--Account of the Journey-The Abbe Coignard on Towns--Jahel’s Midnight Visit--We are followed--The Accident --M. Jerome Coignard is stabbed XX. Illness of M. Jerome Coignard XXI. Death of M. Jerome Coignard XXII. Funeral and Epitaph XXIII. Farewell to Jahel--Dispersal of the Party. XXIV. I am pardoned and return to Paris--Again at the Queen Pedauque--I go as Assistant to M. Blaizot--Burning of the Castle of Sablons--Death of Mosaide and of M. d’Asterac. XXV. I become a Bookseller--I have many learned and witty Customers but none to equal the Abbe Jerome Coignard, D.D., M. A INTRODUCTION