Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) [Illustration: Did she guess what a dainty picture she made?--Page 100] THE TANGLED SKEIN By the Same Author I WILL REPAY THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL BY THE GODS BELOVED THE EMPEROR'S CANDLESTICKS A SON OF THE PEOPLE THE TANGLED SKEIN BY THE BARONESS ORCZY [Illustration] LONDON GREENING & CO., LTD. 1907 All rights reserved DEDICATION TO MY LITTLE SON JACK AND TO HIS SCHOOLMATES AT "RAMSBURY" BIRCHINGTON-ON-SEA DEAR BOYS, It was amongst you all that I wrote the last chapters of this romance. To you, therefore--to your growing manhood, your pretty, budding thoughts of chivalry and honour, which I so loved to see developing in the tender atmosphere of your dear little school-home by the sea--I inscribe and dedicate this record of a noble and good man's life. EMMUSKA ORCZY. BIRCHINGTON-ON-SEA _February, 1907_ Copyright in The United Kingdom, in the Dominion of Canada, and in the United States of America. CONTENTS PART I MIRRAB--THE WITCH CHAP. PAGE I. EAST MOLESEY FAIR 11 II. THE WITCH'S TENT 17 III. MISCHIEF BREWING 23 IV. FRIENDS AND ENEMIES 28 V. LADIES AND GALLANTS 33 VI. THE LADY URSULA 41 VII. HIS GRACE OF WESSEX 46 VIII. SILKEN BONDS 52 IX. THE VEILED WITCH 59 PART II THE LADY URSULA X. A BEVY OF FAIR MAIDENS 73 XI. THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL 80 XII. INTRIGUES 88 XIII. HIS EMINENCE 93 XIV. THE DESTINIES OF EUROPE 99 XV. THE HAND OF FATE 103 XVI. THE ULTIMATUM 114 XVII. AN ARMED TRUCE 120 XVIII. THE VEILED WITCH 127 PART III A GAME OF CHESS XIX. THE PAWNS 139 XX. DEPARTURE 153 XXI. THE BLACK KNIGHT 159 XXII. THE WHITE QUEEN 168 XXIII. CHECK TO THE QUEEN 177 XXIV. CHECK TO THE KING 187 XXV. THE CARDINAL'S MOVE 192 XXVI. THE PROVOCATION 198 XXVII. THE FIGHT 204 XXVIII. THE SEQUEL OF THE COMEDY 210 XXIX. CHECK-MATE 217