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"They met with an honest kiss, like lovers long parted."
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A mischievous narrator opens the story by treating his own life as a series of games—first with matches, then with the fire they spark. He blends child‑like curiosity with sharp, self‑deprecating humor, turning ordinary moments into philosophical musings about desire, danger, and the absurdity of social conventions. The voice is both intimate and wildly theatrical, recalling a boy’s reckless experiments and the strange, almost ceremonial way he later measures his place in the world.
The tale then shifts to a later chapter in which a middle‑aged couple, haunted by their own fears of legacy, moves in with him, granting him a name and a tangled web of privileges. Their presence drags him into elite clubs, whispered judgments, and a series of oddly intimate exchanges that reveal both the fragility and the farce of high‑society rituals. Through witty observation and vivid anecdotes, the novel explores identity, belonging, and the thin line between affection and exploitation, all while keeping the reader guessing about where his next “accidental” meeting will land.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (330K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Al Haines
Release date
2007-06-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1876–1953
A prolific early-20th-century American storyteller, he wrote novels and short fiction that moved easily between adventure, romance, and melodrama. His work reached both magazine readers and movie audiences, helping shape popular fiction in the pulp era.
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