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My Novel Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the My Novel novel. A total of 180 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : My Novel, Complete.by Edward Bulwer-Lytton.BOOK FIRST.INITIAL CHAPTER --SHOWING HOW MY N
My Novel, Complete.by Edward Bulwer-Lytton.BOOK FIRST.INITIAL CHAPTER --SHOWING HOW MY NOVEL CAME TO BE WRITTEN.Scene, the hall in UNCLE ROLAND'S tower; time, night; season, winter.MR. CAXTON is seated before a great geographical globe, which he is turni
- 178 "I could not help it,--you would have done the same by me. You see you have failed in everything; and when a man fails completely, we both agreed that we must give him up altogether."Randal said not a word, and the baron marked his shadow fall o
- 177 "Scornfully--yes. And," continued Randal, advancing a step, "since the supposition has been made, I demand from Lord L'Estrange, as his equal (for all gentlemen are equals where honour is to be defended at the cost of life), either instant retractatio
- 180 Beatrice di Negra lived for some years after her brother's death in strict seclusion, lodging within a convent, though she did not take the veil, as she at first proposed. In fact, the more she saw of the sisterhood, the more she found that human reg
- 179 "But you have not done?" said Augustine Caxton.PISISTRATUS.--"What remains to do?"MR. CAXTON.--"What! why, the Final Chapter!--the last news you can give us of those whom you have introduced to our liking or dislike."PISISTRA
- 176 The saloon formed the centre room of the suite of apartments. From its size, it was rarely used save on state occasions. It had the chilly and formal aspect of rooms reserved for ceremony.Riccabocca, Violante, Helen, Mr. Dale, Squire Hazeldean, and Lord L
- 175 Randal looked, and right up the market-place, followed by an immense throng, moved, high over the heads of all, a Yellow Board, that seemed marching through the air, cometlike:-- Two o'clock p.m.RESIGNATION OF FAIRFIELD.YELLOWS!Vote For AVENEL AND EG
- 174 "No. Pray tell him to rest and nurse himself. I should have liked him to witness his own triumph,--that is all. Say I will represent him at the polling-place. Gentlemen, are you ready? We will go on."The polling booth was erected in the centre o
- 173 HARLEY (seriously).--"My levity is but lip-deep, my dear Mr. Dale. But sometimes the froth on the wave shows the change in the tide."The parson looked at him earnestly, and then seized him by both hands with holy gladness and affection."Ret
- 172 RANDAL.--"To be sure I do."d.i.c.k.--"When Emanuel Trout comes into the booth, you will know how the election turns. As he votes, all the Hundred and Fifty will vote. Now I must go back. Good-night."You'll not forget that my expen
- 171 "It is false! false!" exclaimed Egerton, all his stateliness and all his energy restored to him. "I forbid you to speak thus to me. I forbid you by one word to sully the memory of my lawful wife!""Ah!" said Harley, startled.
- 170 There was a man whom I singled out of the world as more than a brother.In the romance of my boyhood I saw one who dazzled my fancy, captivated my heart. It was a dream of Beauty breathed into waking life. I loved,--I believed myself beloved. I confided al
- 169 "Leave me," said Audley, in a faint voice. "Dale! the man who suspected Harley, who called on me in London, spoke of a child,--my child,--and sent me to find but another grave! He closeted with Harley,--he!"Audley sank back on his chair, and literally
- 168 "Mr. Dale! he should have come to-morrow. Say that I did not expect him to-day; that I am unfortunately engaged till dinner, which will be earlier than usual. Show him into his room; he will have but little time to change his dress. By the way, Mr. Egert
- 167 In private life alone we do well to be on our guard against these children of fancy, for they so devote to the Muse all their treasury of sentiment, that we can no more expect them to waste a thought on the plain duties of men, than we can expect the spen
- 166 The chiefs of the Blue party went in state from Lansmere Park; the two candidates in open carriages, each attended with his proposer and seconder. Other carriages were devoted to Harley and Levy, and the princ.i.p.al members of the Committee. Riccabocca w
- 165 "I care for nothing on earth like those old lands of my forefathers,"said Randal, with unusual vehemence; "I reverence so little amongst the living, and I do reverence the dead. And my marriage will take place so soon; and the dower would so amply cove
- 164 EGERTON.--"You are too severe upon Randal Leslie. He is ambitious, worldly, has no surplus of affection at the command of his heart--"HARLEY.--"Is it Randal Leslie you describe?"EGERTON (with a languid smile).--"Yes, you see I do not flatter. But he
- 163 HARLEY.--"It is vanity that stirs the poet to toil,--if toil the wayward chase of his own chimeras can be called. Ambition is a more masculine pa.s.sion."Helen shook her head gently, but made no answer.HARLEY.--"If I utter a word that profanes one of y
- 162 CHAPTER XIX.The scene is at Lansmere Park,--a s.p.a.cious pile, commenced in the reign of Charles II.; enlarged and altered in the reign of Anne. Brilliant interval in the History of our National Manners, when even the courtier dreaded to be dull, and Sir
- 161 The baron looked greatly amazed at his unexpected visitor; but he got up, handed a chair to my Lord with a low bow. "This is an honour," said he."You have a charming abode here," said Lord L'Estrange, looking round."Very fine bronzes,--excellent tas
- 160 "Hard! Nothing so easy. Allow me to tender to you the same explanations which satisfied one whom philosophy itself has made as open to truth as he is clear-sighted to imposture.""Another time, Mr. Leslie. If your bride's father be sati
- 159 "I did, my Lord.""And he?""Denied your guilt; but still, a man of honour so nice, of heart so feeling, could not feign readily. His denial did not deceive me.""Honest man!" said Harley; and his hand griped at the br
- 158 "My dear Harley, shake hands; anything you please. You know how I have wished to see you come forward, and take that part in life which becomes your birth.""Ah, you think I have sadly wasted my existence hitherto.""To be frank wit
- 157 "Feel nothing here but duty!" cried Helen, drawing from his clasp both her hands, and placing them firmly on her breast."Miss Digby," said Leonard, after a short pause of bitter reflection, in which he wronged, while he thought to divi
- 156 RANDAL (taking aside the parson).--"He was anxious to get back to Mrs.Hazeldean, who was naturally very uneasy about her son and this foolish marriage; but I am happy to tell you that that marriage is effectually and permanently broken off."MR.
- 155 "If knowledge be power," soliloquized Randal, "ability is certainly good luck, as Miss Edgeworth shows in that story of Murad the Unlucky, which I read at Eton; very clever story it is, too. So nothing comes amiss to me. Violante's esc
- 154 "Mr. Avenel," said Harley, slowly, recovering himself from the abstraction with which he had listened to d.i.c.k's earlier sentences, "I fear I do not quite understand you; but I have no other interest in the next election for the boro
- 153 "We arrived at the house. I dismounted to open the carriage-door. The count gave me one look. 'Beppo says you have known the sea.'"'Excellency, yes. I am a Genoese.'"'Ha! how is that? Beppo is a Lombard.'--Admi
- 152 "Englishman, I never loved you; this heart was dead to you, and it will be dead to all else forever. Farewell. You will forget me sooner than you think for,--sooner than I shall forget you, as a friend, as a brother--if brothers had natures as tender
- 151 Violante eluded the clasp that would have profaned her, and darting across the room, opened the door, and closed it hastily behind her.Beatrice clung firmly to the count to detain him from pursuit. But just without the door, close, as if listening to what
- 150 Harley went straight to Peschiera's hotel. He was told that the count had walked out with Mr. Frank Hazeldean and some other gentlemen who had breakfasted with him. He had left word, in case any one called, that he had gone to Tattersall's to lo
- 149 He offers to you rank, wealth, your father's pardon and recall. If I could remove the objections which your father entertains, prove that the count has less wronged him than he deems, would you still reject the rank and the wealth and the hand of Giu
- 148 "Any wish of yours is a law to me," answered Harley, gallantly. "You wish your father to see her? I will try and persuade him to do so. Now, in return, confide to me your secret. What is your object?""Leave to return to my Italy.
- 147 The countess read, and her lip curled in disdain. "Strange!" said she, half to herself."Strange!" said Randal, "that a man like your correspondent should fear one like the Count di Peschiera. Is that it?""Sir," said
- 146 "Alas! I know," said he, "that Peschiera has discovered your retreat, and surely she would be far less safe here than where she is now!""But, diavolo! you say the man has seen her where she is now, in spite of all Lady Lansmere�
- 145 "Dear, dear!" cried Mrs. Caxton, "I hope not!""Pooh, brother," said the captain, "we have had enough of the tomb in the history of poor Nora. The whole story grows out of a grave, and if to a grave it must return--if, Pi
- 144 d.i.c.k hastily withdrew his arm from Leonard's."Serpent's tooth!" he said falteringly, "so it is you, whom I warmed at my hearth, who are to ruin Richard Avenel?""No; but to save him! Come into the City and look at my m
- 143 "Hold!" exclaimed Harley, with a terrible burst of pa.s.sion,--"you kill her twice to me if you say that! I can still feel that she lives--lives here, in my heart--while I dream that she loved me--or, at least, that no other lip ever knew t
- 142 "Squibs, sir!" cried Mark, indignantly."Burns wrote squibs," said the curate, mildly.Mark made no answer, but again knocked at the door.This time, a man, whose face, even seen by the starlight, was much flushed, presented himself at th
- 141 CHAPTER XVII.When the scenes in some long diorama pa.s.s solemnly before us, there is sometimes one solitary object, contrasting, perhaps, the view of stately cities or the march of a mighty river, that halts on the eye for a moment, and then glides away,
- 140 Then Nora's anger burst forth. She believe such a stain on Audley's honour!"But where was the honour when he betrayed his friend? Did you not know that he was entrusted by Lord L'Estrange to plead for him. How did he fulfil the trust?&
- 139 A few words told the final parting,--words that were a picture. The long friendless highway, stretching on--on--towards the remorseless city, and the doors of home opening on the desolate thoroughfare, and the old pollard-tree beside the threshold, with t
- 138 Levy and the squire walked on, not arm in arm, but side by side. Randal proceeded to Egerton's house."I am glad to see you, Leslie," said the ex-minister. "What is it I have heard? My nephew, Frank Hazeldean, proposes to marry Madame d
- 137 "What, Mr. Hazeldean, have you just left your brother's house? Is it possible?""Why, you advised me to go there, and I did. I scarcely knew what I was about. I am very glad I did go. Hang politics! hang the landed interest!what do I ca
- 136 "And," he said inly--"and does this large erring nature, marred by its genial faults, this soul which should have filled a land, as yon orb the room, with a light that linked earth to heaven--does it pa.s.s away into the dark, and leave not
- 135 "And in paying the debt himself, and saving her from arrest, he conferred on her the obligation which no woman of honour could accept save from an affianced husband. Poor Frank!--if sadly taken in, still we must pity and forgive him!"Suddenly, t
- 134 Randal's heart had of late been so set upon other and more avaricious schemes, that a seat in parliament had sunk into a secondary object; nevertheless his ambitious and all-grasping nature felt a bitter pang, when he heard that Egerton thus interpos
- 133 PESCHIERA.--"Alas! what years of suffering and exile might have been saved your father, had he but been more just to his early friend and kinsman,--nay, had he but less cruelly concealed the secret of his retreat. Fair child, I am that Giulio Franzin
- 132 THE BARON.--"Nothing, except that, if you require more money, I am still at your service."EGERTON.--"I thank you. No; I shall take the occasion of my retirement from office to reduce my establishment. I have calculated already, and provided
- 131 It is a tolerably large const.i.tuency. My father, it is true, has considerable interest in it, but only what is called the legitimate influence of property. At all events, it is more secure than a contest for a larger town, more dignified than a seat for
- 130 The captain groaned aloud."And, therefore, if one of you gentlemen will stay and dine with Mr.Higginbotham, it will greatly a.s.sist the effects of his medicine."The captain turned an imploring eye, first towards his cousin, then towards the par
- 129 SQUIRE.--"That's it. You see the captain went to live with one Sharpe Currie, a relation who had a great deal of money, and very little liver;--made the one, and left much of the other in Ingee, you understand. The captain had expectations of th
- 128 "Ah, very true!" cried the squire; "that Pope sticks hard in my gizzard.I could excuse her being a foreigner, and not having, I suppose, a s.h.i.+lling in her pocket--bless her handsome face!--but to be wors.h.i.+pping images in her room in
- 127 "Of course not. But I know your scruples; let us see if they can be conciliated. You would marry Madame di Negra; she will have L20,000 on her wedding-day. Why not arrange that, out of this sum, your antic.i.p.ative charge on the Casino property be p
- 126 No doubt it is. I should not like to be in your friend's shoes.""Shoes!" said Spendquick, with a sort of shudder; "you never saw a neater fellow, nor one, to do him justice, who takes more time in dressing than he does in general.
- 125 I could not venture more.""And she will accept Frank?""Had he offered to-day she would have accepted him!""It may be a great help to your fortunes, mon cher, if Frank Hazeldean marry this lady without his father's consen
- 124 But by-and-by a still greater capitalist than d.i.c.k Avenel, finding out that Screwstown was at the mouth of a coal mine, and that d.i.c.k's profits were great, erected a still uglier edifice, with a still taller chimney.And having been brought up t
- 123 Baron Levy smiled, and put up his pocket-book. He saw from that moment that the victory was gained."My dear boy," said he, with the most agreeable bonhommie, "it is very natural that you should think a man would have a personal interest in
- 122 "I know not, Randal Leslie, whether you thought me needlessly cautious, or wantonly unkind, when I told you never to expect from me more than such advance to your career as my then position could effect,--never to expect from my liberality in life, n
- 121 Amongst the strangers thus banished with Randal, while the division was being taken, were many young men, like himself, connected with the administration,--some by blood, some by place. Hearts beat loud in the swarming lobbies. Ominous mournful whispers w
- 120 Moreover, Harley has blazed forth again in the London world, and promises again de faire fureur; but he has always found time to spend some hours in the twenty-four at his father's house. He has continued much the same tone with Violante, and she beg
- 119 "No;" answered the countess, falteringly.Harley, observing that Violante was now speaking to Helen about Leonard, and that neither was listening to him, resumed in the same low tone, "And his mother--Nora's sister--shrank from seeing m
- 118 "Certainly, madam, I never dreamed of--""That is right, my dear," interrupted Lady Lansmere, rising suddenly, and as if greatly relieved. "I could not doubt your superiority to ordinary girls of your age, with whom these matters a
- 117 Frank turned pale, and began to meditate dreadful bloodthirsty thoughts, of which hair-triggers and Lord's Cricket-ground formed the staple.Certainly there was apparent ground for a lover's jealousy; for Harley and Beatrice now conversed in a lo
- 116 HELEN (ingenuously).--"It is hard to think I am not younger than she is."HARLEY.--"Why, my dear Helen?"HELEN.--"She is so brilliant. She talks so beautifully. And I--"HARLEY.--"And you want but the habit of talking, to d
- 115 "She is above me now and evermore!" he thought mournfully; and the tones of his voice, when he spoke again, were changed. The appeal to renewed intimacy but made him more distant, and to that appeal itself he made no direct answer; for Mrs. Ricc
- 114 "The friend of whom I spoke. Welcome him now for my sake, ever after for his own;" and then, scarcely allowing time for the countess's elegant and gracious response, he drew Leonard towards Helen. "Children," said he, with a touch
- 113 "When? Why, of course, to-morrow. Adieu! my friend. No wonder you have borne your exile so patiently,--with such a child!"He took Leonard's arm, and walked with him to the inn where he had left his horse. Leonard spoke of Violante with enth
- 112 "And you don't know the lady's friends, or address?""No.""Nor who recommended her to your wife?""No.""Probably Lady Jane Horton?""It may be so."Very likely.""I will follow up
- 111 "Alas! no; but the female heart is so capricious and fickle! You pressed it upon me, I a.s.sure you. I own that I was not loath to accept it.""Pressed it! Pressed what?""Your kiss, my child," said Harley; and then added, with
- 110 "Very much!" Leonard sighed."I shall see her again?""Certainly," said Harley, in a tone of surprise. "How can you doubt it?And I reserve to you the pleasure of saying that you are renowned.You blush; well, I will say tha
- 109 CHAPTER XV.Who has not seen, who not admired, that n.o.ble picture by Daniel Maclise, which refreshes the immortal name of my ancestor Caxton! For myself, while with national pride I heard the admiring murmurs of the foreigners who grouped around it (noth
- 108 "Ah, indeed! It would be a very great addition to your consequence in the world,--not from the mere size of the estate, but from its hereditary a.s.sociations. And if you have any idea of the purchase, believe me, I'll not stand in your way.&quo
- 107 The baron's style of living was of that character especially affected both by the most acknowledged exquisites of that day, and, it must be owned, also, by the most egregious parvenus. For it is noticeable that it is your parvenu who always comes nea
- 106 Satisfied so far, and knowing that it was not in Riecabocca's habits to read the newspapers, by which he might otherwise have learned of L'Estrange's arrival in London, Randal then proceeded to inquire, with much seeming interest, into the
- 105 "I quite agree with your lords.h.i.+p,--there can be no truth in such a rumour. Some Englishman, hearing, perhaps, of the probable pardon of the exile, may have counted on an heiress, and spread the report in order to keep off other candidates. By yo
- 104 It would be in vain to describe the rapid, varying, indefinable emotions that pa.s.sed through the inexperienced heart of the youthful listener as Harley thus spoke. He so moved all the springs of amaze, compa.s.sion, tender respect, sympathy, child-like
- 103 "Nevertheless, you may have heard of him,--a foreigner, a Count di Peschiera.""Yes," said Lord Lansmere; "he was pointed out to me in the Park,--a handsome man for a foreigner; wears his hair properly cut; looks gentlemanlike and
- 102 "I forget," answered Mr. Avenel, who was far too well versed in the London scale of human dignities since his marriage, not to look back with a blush at his desire of knighthood. "No use bothering our heads now about the plumes of an arroga
- 101 "He is acquainted with the count's kinsman; and perhaps from him you have learned to think so highly of that kinsman?"The prince bowed, and answered as he moved away, "When one man of high honour vouches for another, he commands the be
- 100 "Ah, that would indeed be, next to my own marriage with her, the most fortunate thing that could happen to myself.""How? I don't understand!""Why, if my cousin has so abjured his birthright, and forsworn his rank; if this her
- 99 RICCABOCCA could not confine himself to the precincts within the walls to which he condemned Violante. Resuming his spectacles, and wrapped in his cloak, he occasionally sallied forth upon a kind of out.w.a.tch or reconnoitring expedition,--restricting hi
- 98 Repeating those words, he mechanically locked up his papers, and pressed his hand to his heart for an instant, as if a spasm had shot through it."So--I must shun all emotion!" said he, shaking his head gently.In five minutes more Audley Egerton
- 97 Vulgar some might call Mr. Levy from his a.s.surance, but it was not the vulgarity of a man accustomed to low and coa.r.s.e society,--rather the mauvais ton of a person not sure of his own position, but who has resolved to swagger into the best one he can
- 96 "Ah, dear father, that, then, was your thought? But what can be your reason? Do not turn away; you know how care fully I have obeyed your command and kept your secret. Ah, you will confide in me.""I do, indeed," returned Riccabocca, wi
- 95 "A sort of power, certainly, sir," said Randal, candidly; and that night, when Randal retired to his own room, he suspended his schemes and projects, and read, as he rarely did, without an object to gain by the reading.The work surprised him by
- 94 PARSON (overjoyed).--"Power!--the vulgarest application of it, or the loftiest? But you mean the loftiest?"RANDAL (in his turn interested and interrogative).--"What do you call the loftiest, and what the vulgarest?"PARSON.--"The v
- 93 "I have heard that he is still very handsome." Jackeymo groaned.Randal resumed, "Enough; persuade the padrone to come to town.""But if the count is in town?""That makes no difference; the safest place is always the large
- 92 "Nay, I don't know that he means to marry at all; I am only surmising; but if he did fall in love with a foreigner--""A foreigner! Ah, then Harry was--" The squire stopped short."Who might, perhaps," observed Randal--not
- 91 "Dr. Riccabocca--nothing. But--" here Randal put his lip close to the Italian's ear, and whispered a brief sentence. Then retreating a step, but laying his hand on the exile's shoulder, he added, "Need I say that your secret is sa
- 90 "I did not expect you, dear Randal; you always come so suddenly, and catch us en dish-a-bill.""Dish-a-bill!" echoed Randal, with a groan. "Dishabille! you ought never to be so caught!""No one else does so catch us,--n.o.
- 89 "I love her the more," said young Hazeldean, raising his front with a n.o.ble pride, that seemed to speak of his descent from a race of cavaliers and gentlemen,--"I love her the more because the world has slandered her name,--because I beli
- 88 "Oh, no quarrel. I forgot Mr. Dale; I saw him pretty often. He admires and praises you very much, sir.""Me--and why? What did he say of me?""That your heart was as sound as your head; that he had once seen you about some old paris
- 87 The advocate saw that he had made an impression, and with the marvellous skill which his knowledge of those natures that engaged his study bestowed on his intelligence, he continued to improve his cause by such representations as were likely to be most ef
- 86 "Now you upbraid me," said the count, unruffled by her sudden pa.s.sion, "because I gave you in marriage to a man young and n.o.ble?""Old in vices, and mean of soul! The marriage I forgave you. You had the right, according to the
- 85 THE ABUSE OF INTELLECT.There is at present so vehement a flourish of trumpets, and so prodigious a roll of the drum, whenever we are called upon to throw up our hats, and cry "Huzza" to the "March of Enlightenment," that, out of that v
- 84 "Calculate!" cried Frank. "Oh, sir, can you think it?""I am so delighted that I had some slight hand in your complete reconciliation with Mr. Hazeldean," said Randal, as the young men walked from the hotel. "I saw that y
- 83 "If you threaten, for instance, to take him out of the army, and settle him in the country, it would have a very good effect.""What! would he think it so great a punishment to come home and live with his parents?""I don't say
- 82 "No, she is of gentle blood,--a soldier's daughter; the daughter of that Captain Digby on whose behalf I was a pet.i.tioner to your patronage. He is dead, and in dying, my name was on his lips. He meant me, doubtless, to be the guardian to his o
- 81 "Pooh! I have none,--I have only a heart and a fancy. Listen. You remember the boy we saw reading at the book stall. I have caught him for you, and you shall train him into a man. I have the warmest interest in his future, for I know some of his fami