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                         THE TALK OF THE TOWN

                                VOL. I.

[Illustration: MISS MARGARET LIFTED HER EYES FROM HER PLATE WITH A
SMILE OF WELCOME.]




                         THE TALK OF THE TOWN

                                  BY

                              JAMES PAYN

                    AUTHOR OF ‘BY PROXY’ ETC. ETC.

                            IN TWO VOLUMES

                                VOL. I.

                           _SECOND EDITION_

                                LONDON

                SMITH, ELDER, & CO., 15 WATERLOO PLACE

                                 1885

                        [_All rights reserved_]




                               CONTENTS

                                  OF

                           THE FIRST VOLUME.


   CHAP.                                                  PAGE

      I. AUNT MARGARET                                       1

     II. OUT IN THE C