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THE MAIDS OF PARADISE

A Novel

by

ROBERT W. CHAMBERS

Author of "Cardigan" "The Conspirators" "Maid-at-Arms" etc.

Illustrated







[Illustration: "'LOOK THERE!' SHE CRIED, IN TERROR" [See p. 81]]



[Illustration]

New York and London
Harper & Brothers
Publishers 1903

Copyright, 1902, by Robert W. Chambers.
All rights reserved.

Published September, 1903.




PREFACE


As far as the writer knows, no treasure-trains were actually sent to
the port of Lorient from the arsenal at Brest. The treasures remained
at Brest.

Concerning the German armored cruiser _Augusta_, the following are the
facts: About the middle of December she forced the blockade at
Wilhelmshafen and ran for Ireland, where, owing to the complaisance of
the British authorities, she was permitted to coal.

From there she steamed towards Brest, capturing a French merchant
craft off that port, another near Rochefort, and finally a third. That
ended her active career during the war; a French frigate chased her
into the port of Vigo and kept