Page:The life and writings of Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) (IA lifewritingsofal00spurrich).pdf/231

 "D'Harmenthal" again, with judicious variations. Worse still, there is a gloomy note of fatalism throughout the whole story. Nevertheless, "Une Fille du Régent" is well worth reading, if only for the study of Dubois, the Regent's minister, which shows Dumas's talent for intrigue at its best.

"Georges," which also dates from 1843, is a story of Mauritius, or the "Ile de France," and is probably the work of our author in combination with some "'prentice" who knew the colony. This may or may not have been Mallefille, to whom the credit of the whole work has charitably been given. But the hero, who suffers social ostracism for the black blood in his veins; the hero, who allows nothing to stand between himself and his desires—in short, "Dumas-Antony,"—betrays his origin unmistakably. With the struggle between the French and English for that tropical paradise the novelist has interwoven a revolt of the slaves, told with great dramatic force and truth, and a love story.

"Cécile," or "La Robe de Noce," is chiefly interesting as affording a first glimpse, in the author's writings, of the days of Revolution, afterwards to be turned to such full and effective account. So popular was this pathetic story that two pirated editions were issued in Belgium in the course of a few months. "Cécile" dates from "the great year," 1844, as does "Fernande," which has been claimed