Tragedy never quits the world,--it surrounds us everywhere.

We have but to look, wakeful and vigilant, abroad, and from the age of Pelops to that of Borgia, the same crimes, though under different garbs, will stalk on our paths.

Each age comprehends in itself specimens of every virtue and every vice which has ever inspired our love or mowed our horror.
LONDON, November 1, 1846.
CONTENTS PART THE FIRST PROLOGUE TO PART THE FIRST CHAPTER I A Family Group II Lucretia III Conferences IV Guy's Oak V Household Treason VI The Will VII The Engagement VIII The Discovery IX A Soul without Hope X The Reconciliation between Father and Son EPILOGUE TO PART THE FIRST PART THE SECOND PROLOGUE TO PART THE SECOND I The Coronation II Love at First Sight III Early Training for an Upright Gentleman IV John Ardworth V The Weavers and the Woof VI The Lawyer and the Body-snatcher VII The Rape of the Mattress VIII Percival visits Lucretia IX The Rose beneath the Upas X The Rattle of the Snake XI Love and Innocence XII Sudden Celebrity and Patient Hope XIII The Loss of the Crossing XIV News from Grabman XV Varieties XVI The Invitation to Laughton XVII The Waking of the Serpent XVIII Retrospect XIX Mr.Grabman's Adventures XX More of Mrs.Joplin XXI Beck's Discovery XXII The Tapestry Chamber XXIII The Shades on the Dial XXIV Murder, towards his Design, moves like a Ghost XXV The Messenger speeds XXVI The Spy flies XXVII Lucretia regains her Son XXVIII The Lots vanish within the Urn EPILOGUE TO PART THE SECOND.