PART I

THE GIRL

CHAPTER PAGE I.--A FAREWELL BANQUET 3 II.--THE RULERS OF FRANCE 10 III.--POMPADOUR'S CHOICE 23 IV.--A WOMAN'S SURRENDER 32 V.--THE FIRST TRICK 45 VI.--A FALSE POSITION 51 VII.--THE YOUNG PRETENDER 58 VIII.--THE LAST TRICK 72 IX.--THE WINNING HAND 82