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The story begins with the explanation of that circureatly puzzled Mr Ricardo--Celia's entry into the household

of Mme Dauvray

Celia's father was a Captain Harland, of a ood looks and excellent ant in his tastes, and of an

easy mind in the presence of ees he added that of falling in love with a pretty girl

no better off than himself They ed, through the wife's constant devotion, to

struggle along and to give their daughter an education Then,

however, Celia's mother broke down under the strain and died

Captain Harland, a couple of years later, went out of the service

with discredit, passed through the bankruptcy court, and turned

show; he enlisted the services of

his daughter, taught her the tricks of his trade, and became "The

Great Fortinbras" of the st the audience, asking the spectators in a whisper to think

of a number or of an article in their pockets, after the usual

fashion, while the child, in her short frock, with her long fair

hair tied back with a ribbon, would stand blind-folded upon the

platfor rapidity She

was singularly quick, singularly receptive

The undoubted cleverness of the perforht to them a temporary prosperity The Great