
by Owen Meredith
DEDICATION. - TO MY FATHER.
LUCILE
PART I.
CANTO I.
CANTO II.
CANTO III.
CANTO IV.
CANTO V.
CANTO VI.
A delicate web of letters opens the tale, drawing listeners into the quiet corridors of aristocratic exchange. When the Comtesse de Nevers writes to Lord Alfred Vargrave, she does so with a blend of nostalgia and urgency, reminding him of a promise made before their friendship slipped into distance. Her plea to retrieve a cherished missive hints at hidden obligations and the faint stir of a love that may yet be fulfilled, setting a tone of restrained yearning.
The narrative unfolds against the vivid backdrop of a bustling May Fair in London, where markets hum, strawberries ripen, and invitations flutter like butterflies. Contrasting this lively scene are the solemn, mist‑laden days in the Pyrenees, where a solitary letter can shift the course of a man's plans. Through lyrical description and keen observation, the story captures the tension between public celebration and private longing, inviting listeners to linger on the moments when a single seal can change everything.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (432K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Donald Lainson, and David Widger
Release date
1999-08-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1831–1891
A poet who wrote as Owen Meredith, he moved between literature and high politics, becoming one of the best-known British public figures of his day. His life joined diplomacy, empire, and verse in a way that still makes him a striking Victorian figure.
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