A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION IN LAURANIA
BY
WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL
AUTHOR OF "THE RIVER WAR: AN ACCOUNT OF THE RECOVERY
OF THE SOUDAN" AND "THE STORY OF THE MALAKAND
FIELD FORCE"
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
91 AND 93 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK
LONDON AND BOMBAY
1900
COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
TYPOGRAPHY BY J. B. CUSHING & CO., NORWOOD, MASS.
THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED
TO
THE OFFICERS
OF THE
IVTH (QUEEN'S OWN) HUSSARS
IN WHOSE COMPANY THE AUTHOR LIVED
FOR FOUR HAPPY YEARS
PREFATORY NOTE
This story was written in 1897, and hasalready appeared in serial form inMacmillan's Magazine. Since its first receptionwas not unfriendly, I resolved to publishit as a book, and I now submit it withconsiderable trepidation to the judgment orclemency of the public.
WINSTON S. CHURCHILL.
CONTENTS
I. An Event of Political Importance
II. The Head of the State
III. The Man of the Multitude
IV. The Deputation
V. A Private Conversation
VI. On Constitutional Grounds
VII. The State Ball
VIII. "In the Starlight"
IX. The Admiral
X. The Wand of the Magician
XI. In the Watches of the Night
XII. A Council of War
XIII. The Action of the Executive
XIV. The Loyalty of the Army
XV. Surprises
XVI. The Progress of the Revolt
XVII. The Defence of the Palace
XVIII. From a Window
XIX. An Educational Experience
XX. The End of the Quarrel
XXI. The Return of the Fleet
XXII. Life's Compensations
There had been a heavy shower of rain,but the sun was already shining through thebreaks in the clouds and throwing swiftlychanging shadows on the streets, the houses,and the gardens of the city of Laurania.Everything shone wetly in the sunlight: thedust had been laid; the air was cool; thetrees looked green and grateful. It wasthe first rain after the summer heats, andit marked the beginning of that delightfulautumn climate which has made the Lauraniancapital the home of the artist, theinvalid, and the sybarite.
The shower had been heavy, but it hadnot dispersed the crowds that were gatheredin the great square in front of the ParliamentHouse. It was welcome, but it had notaltered their anxious and angry loo