The Sword of Damocles: A Story of New York Life Read online

  Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Thisfile was produced from images generously made availableby The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

  THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES

  A STORY OF NEW YORK LIFE.

  BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN

  AUTHOR OF "THE LEAVENWORTH CASE," "A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE," ETC.

  NEW YORKG. P. PUTNAM'S SONS27 & 29 West 23D Street

  1881

  COPYRIGHT, 1881, BY G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS.

  TO MY FATHER I DEDICATE THIS BOOK AS EXPRESSING SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND MERCY WHICH, BY PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE, HE HAS INSTILLED INTO MY BREAST FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD.

  NEW YORK, _April, 1881._

  "When all else fails love saves"

  CONTENTS.

  BOOK I. TWO MEN.

  I.--A WANDERER

  II.--A DISCUSSION

  III.--A MYSTERIOUS SUMMONS

  IV.--SEARCHINGS

  V.--THE RUBICON

  VI.--A HAND CLASP

  VII.--MRS. SYLVESTER

  VIII.--SHADOWS OF THE PAST

  IX.--PAULA

  X.--THE BARRED DOOR

  XI.--MISS STUYVESANT

  XII.--MISS BELINDA MAKES CONDITIONS

  XIII.--THE END OF MY LADY'S PICTURE

  BOOK II. LIFE AND DEATH.

  XIV.--MISS BELINDA HAS A QUESTION TO DECIDE

  XV.--AN ADVENTURE--OR SOMETHING MORE

  XVI.--THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES

  XVII.--GRAVE AND GAY

  XVIII.--IN THE NIGHT WATCHES

  XIX.--A DAY AT THE BANK

  XX.--THE DREGS IN THE CUP

  XXI.--DEPARTURE

  XXII.--HOPGOOD

  BOOK III. THE JAPHA MYSTERY.

  XXIII.--THE POEM

  XXIV.--THE JAPHA MANSION

  XXV.--JACQUELINE

  XXVI.--A MAN'S JUSTICE AND A WOMAN'S MERCY

  XXVII.--THE LONE WATCHER

  XXVIII.--SUNSHINE ON THE HILLS

  XXIX.--MIST IN THE VALLEY

  BOOK IV. FROM A. TO Z.

  XXX.--MISS BELINDA PRESENTS MR. SYLVESTER WITH A CHRISTMAS GIFT

  XXXI.--A QUESTION

  XXXII.--FULL TIDE

  XXXIII.--TWO LETTERS

  XXXIV.--PAULA MAKES HER CHOICE

  XXXV.--THE FALLING OF THE SWORD

  XXXVI.--MORNING

  XXXVII.--THE OPINION OF A CERTAIN NOTED DETECTIVE

  XXXVIII.--BLUEBEARD'S CHAMBER

  XXXIX.--FROM A. TO Z

  XL.--HALF-PAST SEVEN

  BOOK V. WOMAN'S LOVE.

  XLI.--THE WORK OF AN HOUR

  XLII.--PAULA RELATES A STORY SHE HAS HEARD

  XLIII.--DETERMINATION

  XLIV.--IN MR. STUYVESANT'S PARLORS

  XLV.--"THE HOUR OF SIX IS SACRED!"

  XLVI.--THE MAN CUMMINS

  Damocles, one of the courtiers of Dionysius, was perpetually extolling with rapture that tyrant's treasures, grandeur, the number of his troops, the extent of his dominions, the magnificence of his palaces, and the universal abundance of all good things and enjoyments in his possession; always repeating, that never man was happier than Dionysius. "Since you are of that opinion," said the tyrant to him one day, "will you taste and make proof of my felicity in person?" The offer was accepted with joy; Damocles was placed upon a golden couch, covered with carpets richly embroidered. The side-boards were loaded with vessels of gold and silver. The most beautiful slaves in the most splendid habits stood around, ready to serve him at the slightest signal. The most exquisite essences and perfumes had not been spared. The table was spread with proportionate magnificence. Damocles was all joy, and looked upon himself as the happiest man in the world; when unfortunately casting up his eyes, he beheld over his head the point of a sword, which hung from the roof only by a single horse-hair.

  ROLLIN.

  THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES.

  BOOK I.

  TWO MEN.