Black Friday

SOLUTION 170 XVI MR. DALTON TAKES A SUDDEN RESOLUTION 180 XVII AN INTERRUPTED DANCE 193 BOOK II BLACK FRIDAY I MR. STRONG RETURNS 207 II CHARLIE VISITS THE GOLD-ROOM 216 III RICHARD STRONG is STARTLED 225 IV A FIGURE IN THE MOONLIGHT 232 CHAPTER PAOK V ELINOR SITS UP LATE 245 VI THE WRITER OF THE LETTER 254 VII BEFORE THE BATTLE 262 VIII BLACK FRIDAY 278 IX NOON 286 X THE END OF THE DAY 294 XI THE MASTER OF THE SITUATION 300 XII THE DAY OF SETTLEMENT 308 XIII DALTON is PUZZLED 319 XIV THE SHADOW REPUDIATES His ALLEGIANCE 327 BOOK III READJUSTMENT I AN INTERRUPTED SONG 337 II AN ENFORCED SOJOURN 348 III THE GAMIN AND THE ROSE 356 IV AN UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH 364 V A STRANGE ENCOUNTER 373 VI THE BREAKING OF THE DAY 379 VII A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE 385 VIII RICHARD STRONG LEAVES PARIS 392 IX AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS 397 BLACK FRIDAY BOOK I CHAPTER I THE PRINCE AND THE CHAEIOT The white fingers moved uncertainly over the whiter keys, a hesitating accompaniment to a voice, tenor, now a breath. once a Ah, Roberto A fit of coughing interrupted the singer one hand yet continued to play irresolutely, as if waiting for the vocal melody, but bravura and recitativo were gone be- yond recall the fingers ceased their hopeless strumming, and rested, at a loss, on an unresolved chord. Some one laughed. Oh, papa, you are too droll A small hand held back the frayed, somber drapery of the doorway a girlish figure stood framed by the dark walnut. A morning toilet of mauve-colored fabric caught the sheen of sunlight voluminous as one of the gowns of Lely, it swathed, yet clung not to, the slender form. Beneath a head-dress of chenille and bead net- work, brown curls gently swept the white brow. The performer arose, a half-petulant look on his thin, refined face. And you, my child, are too forward he said. I couldnt help it, papa Another laugh, and the frame lost its picture the voluminous skirt rustled as the speaker entered the room. Besides, it was too absurd she added. Absurd Not you, but the butcher He stared at her. In the full light, the dominant characteristics of his face were pitilessly revealed weak- ness and pride artistic effeminacy, mixed with a certain hauteur a man of dilettantism, perhaps, but the dilet- tantism of the old school that included pre-Raphaelite pictures, arias, cadenzas, and the Sapphic stanzas ad- dressed to our foremothers gloves, or ringlets. The butcher he repeated incredulously. She nodded. Yes our neighbor our bosom friend, the butcher He called at the front door And she held up a card. Mr. Thomas Jenkins, Esquire He asked for mama, and when the maid said mama was out. he went out and slammed the front door. Its about the bill, I suppose, papa. Shall I put the card on the tray with mamas other callers Fancy their consternation, sandwiched with Mr. Thomas Jenkins, dealer in tender- loins flourishing the bit of pasteboard. Put the card in the fire, Elinor, he said absently. We shall trade with Jenkins no more. He cut us off a fortnight ago, she laughed...