An Inca Queen. By J. Evelyn. (Sampson Low. Marston, and
Co.)—The writer of this story has so much foundation of reality as may be gained from personal knowledge of the scene in which it is laid,—such, at least, is the impression left.upon us by reading it. But a more extravagantly improbable tale we have never seen. Mr. Evelyn knows what he is doing. "If I had read this in a book," says one of the characters, " I should have said that the author is drawing it a little too strong." And, indeed, that two young Englishmen should find a lost city of the Incas governed by the daughter of a long-lost uncle, is about as far as romance can well go. We doubt whether it is judicious to go quite so far. The story is briskly told and full of incident, and would have been—shall we say not aggressively improbable but for these coincidences ? Wo feel bound to offer a word of remonstrance against the illustrations. When the text is to be faced by the picture, the artist might at least read it. Page 103 gives us a picture of the " Daughter of the Incas " on her throne. " On her right hand, with bared head, stood the High Priest." He is in- visible. So is the "little Indian boy" who " knelt on the steps at her feet."
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