The Money Moon

੨The Money Moon - A Romance

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Money Moon, by Jeffery Farnol This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: The Money Moon A Romance
Author: Jeffery Farnol
Release Date: December 8, 2003 [EBook #10418]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE MONEY MOON
A Romance
By
JEFFERY FARNOL
Author of "The Broad Highway," etc.
Frontispiece by A.I. KELLER
1911

To "JENNIFER"
The One and Only
Whose unswerving FAITH was an Inspiration Whose GENEROSITY is a bye-word; This book is dedicated as a mark of GRATITUDE and AFFECTION
Jeffery Farnol Feb. 10, 1910

CONTENTS

CHAPTER
I WHICH, BEING THE FIRST, IS, VERY PROPERLY, THE SHORTEST
CHAPTER IN
THE BOOK
II HOW GEORGE BELLEW SOUGHT COUNSEL OF HIS VALET
III WHICH CONCERNS ITSELF WITH A HAYCART, AND A BELLIGERENT WAGGONER
IV HOW SMALL PORGES IN LOOKING FOR A FORTUNE FOR ANOTHER, FOUND AN UNCLE FOR HIMSELF INSTEAD
V HOW BELLEW CAME TO ARCADIA
VI OF THE SAD CONDITION OF THE HAUNTING SPECTRE OF THE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
VII WHICH CONCERNS ITSELF AMONG OTHER MATTERS, WITH "THE OLD ADAM"
VIII WHICH TELLS OF MISS PRISCILLA, OF PEACHES, AND OF SERGEANT APPLEBY LATE OF THE 19TH HUSSARS
IX IN WHICH MAY BE FOUND SOME DESCRIPTION OF ARCADIA, AND GOOSEBERRIES
X HOW BELLEW AND ADAM ENTERED INTO A SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT
XI OF THE "MAN WITH THE TIGER MARK"
XII IN WHICH MAY BE FOUND A FULL, TRUE, AND PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE SALE
XIII HOW ANTHEA CAME HOME
XIV WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HAS TO DO WITH SHRIMPS, MUFFINS, AND TIN WHISTLES
XV IN WHICH ADAM EXPLAINS
XVI IN WHICH ADAM PROPOSES A GAME
XVII HOW BELLEW BEGAN THE GAME
XVIII HOW THE SERGEANT WENT UPON HIS GUARD
XIX IN WHICH PORGES BIG, AND PORGES SMALL DISCUSS THE SUBJECT OF MATRIMONY
XX WHICH RELATES A MOST EXTRAORDINARY CONVERSATION
XXI OF SHOES, AND SHIPS, AND SEALING WAX, AND THE THIRD FINGER OF THE LEFT HAND
XXII COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE
XXIII HOW SMALL PORGES, IN HIS HOUR OF NEED, WAS DESERTED BY HIS UNCLE
XXIV IN WHICH SHALL BE FOUND MENTION OF A CERTAIN BLACK BAG
XXV THE CONSPIRATORS
XXVI HOW THE MONEY MOON ROSE
XXVII IN WHICH IS VERIFIED THE ADAGE OF THE CUP AND THE LIP
XXVIII WHICH TELLS HOW BELLEW LEFT DAPPLEMERE IN THE DAWN
XXIX OF THE MOON'S MESSAGE TO SMALL PORGES, AND HOW HE TOLD IT TO BELLEW--IN A WHISPER
XXX HOW ANTHEA GAVE HER PROMISE
XXXI WHICH, BEING THE LAST, IS, VERY PROPERLY, THE LONGEST, IN THE BOOK

CHAPTER I
_Which, being the first, is, very properly, the shortest chapter in the book_
When Sylvia Marchmont went to Europe, George Bellew being, at the same time, desirous of testing his newest acquired yacht, followed her, and mutual friends in New York, Newport, and elsewhere, confidently awaited news of their engagement. Great, therefore, was their surprise when they learnt of her approaching marriage to the Duke of Ryde.
Bellew, being young and rich, had many friends, very naturally, who, while they sympathized with his loss, yet agreed among themselves, that, despite Bellew's millions, Sylvia had done vastly well for herself, seeing that a duke is always a duke,--especially in America.
There were, also, divers ladies in New York, Newport, and elsewhere, and celebrated for their palatial homes, their jewels, and their daughters, who were anxious to know how Bellew would comport himself under his disappointment. Some leaned to the idea that he would immediately blow his brains out; others opined that he would promptly set off on another of his exploring expeditions, and get himself torn to pieces by lions and tigers, or devoured by alligators; while others again feared greatly that, in a fit of pique, he would marry some "young person" unknown, and therefore, of course, utterly unworthy.
How far these worthy ladies were right, or wrong in their surmises, they who take the trouble to turn the following pages, shall find out.

CHAPTER II
How George Bellew sought counsel of his Valet The first intimation Bellew received of the futility of his hopes was the following letter which he received one morning as he sat at breakfast in his chambers in St. James Street, W.
MY DEAR GEORGE--I am writing to tell you that I like you so much that I am quite sure I could never marry you, it would be too ridiculous. Liking, you see George, is not love, is it? Though, personally, I think all that sort of thing went out of fashion with our great-grandmother's hoops, and crinolines. So George, I have decided to marry the Duke of Ryde. The ceremony will take place in three weeks time at St. George's, Hanover Square, and everyone will be there, of course. If you care to come too, so much the