_This book is set (on the Linotype) in Elzevir No. 3, a French Old Style. For the modern revival of this excellent face we are indebted to Gustave Mayeur of Paris, who reproduced it in 1878, basing his designs, he says, on types used in a book which was printed by the Elzevirs at Leyden in 1634. The Elzevir family held a distinguished position as printers and publishers for more than a century, their best work appearing between about 1590 and 1680. Although the Elzevirs were not themselves type founders, they utilised the services of the best type designers of their time, notably Van Dijk, Garamond, and Sanlecque. Many of their books were small, or, as we should say now, “pocket” editions, of the classics, and for these volumes they developed a type face which is open and readable but relatively narrow in body, although in no sense condensed, thus permitting a large amount of copy to be set in limited space without impairing legibility._ [Illustration: colophon] SET UP, ELECTROTYPED, PRINTED AND BOUND BY THE VAIL-BALLOU PRESS, INC., BINGHAMTON, N. Y. · ESPARTO PAPER MANUFACTURED IN SCOTLAND AND FURNISHED BY W. F. ETHERINGTON & CO., NEW YORK. FOOTNOTES: [A] In English in the original. (_Translator’s note._) [B] Equivalent in pre-war days to £1600. (_Translator’s note._) [C] In English in the original. (_Translator’s note._) [D] _Compte rendu de la Délivrance de Sa Sainteté Léon XIII emprisonné dans les cachots du Vatican_ (Saint-Malo, imprimerie Y. Billois, rue de l’Orme 4), 1893. (_Author’s note._) [E] There is an insinuation in Mlle. Péterat’s name which might be rendered in English by calling her Miss Fartwell. (_Translator’s note._) [F] Roman Plastic Plaster (announced the catalogue) is a special fabrication of comparatively recent invention. This substance, of which Messrs. Blafaphas, Fleurissoire and Lévichon possess the unique secret, is a great advance on Marblette, Stucceen and other similar compositions, whose inferior qualities have been only too well established by use. (Follow the descriptions of the various models.) (_Author’s note._) [G] _Cave_ meaning cellar in French, Protos makes a double pun impossible to render in English. (_Translator’s note._) [H] In English in the original. (_Translator’s note._) [I] In English in the original. (_Translator’s note._) Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: Baraglious got back to Paris=> Baragliouls got back to Paris {pg 46} eyebrows bginning to frown=> eyebrows beginning to frown {pg 89} however, notwithtanding=> however, notwithstanding {pg 122} four or five minutes=> four or five minute {pg 142} tug of clear water=> tub of clear water {pg 175} have trottled her=> have throttled her {pg 206}