BOOK I

ENGLAND


CHAPTER I

THE RETURNED TRAVELER


"Gentlemen, this is America!"

The speaker cast upon the cloth-covered table a singular object, whose
like none of those present had ever seen. They gathered about and bent
over it curiously.

"This is that America," the speaker repeated. "Here you have it,
barbaric, wonderful, abounding!"

With sudden gesture he swept his hand among the gold coin that lay on
the gaming table. He thrust into the mouth of the object before him a
handful of louis d'or and English sovereigns. "There is your America,"
said he. "It runs over with gold. No man may tell its richness. Its
beauty you can not imagine."

"Faith," said Sir Arthur Pembroke, bending over the table with glass in