LOVE AMONG THE LIONS

A MATRIMONIAL EXPERIENCE

BY F. ANSTEY AUTHOR OF "VICE VERSA," ETC.

LONDON J. M. DENT & CO. 29 & 30 BEDFORD STREET, W.C.

List of Illustrations

Page

The exquisite face looking out over the wire blind 4

AEneas Polkinghorne 5

Still I persevered 9

The Introduction of Mr Blenkinsop to Miss Lurana de Castro 12

"And whom should I marry, Mr Blenkinsop?" 18

"Let us be married in the Lion's Cage" 26

"Yes, papa, we are a little late" 31

"First-rate idea of yours, Blenkinsop" 33

"Well, if the lady's as game as she seems, and the gentleman likewise, I don't see any objection" 41

We were still chatting when Laurana returned 43

A Cleric of the broad-minded school 51

"If you go on like that I shall begin to think you want to frighten me" 55

Mademoiselle 63

"A de Castro can never marry a Craven" 73

"If them two got together, there'd be the doose's delight" 79

I was forlornly mopping when Niono returned 82

My wedding toilette was complete 87

It's a swindle 91

A kind of small procession entered the arena 95

Then he addressed the audience 101

"If only you had been firmer, Theodore" 113

Love among the Lions

PART I

In the following pages will be found the only authentic account of an affair which provided London, and indeed all England, with material for speculation and excitement for a period of at least nine days.

So many inaccurate versions have been circulated, so many ill-natured and unjust aspersions have been freely cast, that it seemed advisable for the sake of those principally concerned to make a plain unvarnished statement of the actual facts. And when I mention that I who write this am the Theodore Blenkinsop whose name was, not long since, as familiar in the public mouth as household words, I venture to think that I shall at once recall the matter to the shortest memory, and establish my right to speak with authority on the subject.

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: Love Among the Lions by F. Anstey
• 2: Strolling round Canonbury Square
• 3: Illustration Still I persevered
• 4: Leaving Lurana to entertain me single handed
• 5: And to think that I have a friend like Ruth Rakestraw
• 6: Hope returned in the form of a little note from Lurana
• 7: I walked back with Lurana alone
• 8: But Theodore has been asking me to marry him
• 9: For the first time I realised what an able fellow Chuck was
• 10: And Lurana insisted on coming with me
• 11: We were still chatting when Lurana returned
• 12: Lurana and I became public characters
• 13: Illustration A Cleric of the broad minded school
• 14: If you knew more about lions
• 15: Strange and decidedly exhilarating
• 16: I went back to Lurana in a somewhat relieved frame of mind
• 17: That you refuse to enter the lion cage
• 18: I tried to fix my thoughts on Lurana
• 19: And I replied that I did mean old Rajah
• 20: But old Rajah ain't so particular nasty as tigers go
• 21: Illustration I was forlornly mopping when Niono returned
• 22: Lurana would never forgive me for keeping her waiting
• 23: And all the animals in the cage
• 24: I remembered his open admiration of Lurana
• 25: Separated from her by impassable barriers
• 26: Anybody could beard a hocussed lion
• 27: If if Lurana wished to be saved
• 28: I could not bring myself to ask for Lurana as Mrs Onion
• 29: Mademoiselle explained about the tiger
• 30: To LURANA CARMEN DE CASTRO