The Queen of Jesters. By Max Pemberton. (Arthur C. Pearson.)—Whether
Mr. Pemberton's " Queen " is historical we cannot say, but we are quite sure that she makes a very picturesque figure. There is a little difficulty, perhaps, about her age, for she seems to possess perpetual youth and beauty, but these gifts are required for some of her exploits. Her discomfiture of the worthy priest, who, scandalised by her patronage of dis- reputable people, is minded to immure her in a convent, is particularly good. But the best of all the stories, to our mind, is the admirable bit of acting by which she drives away from Paris the bravo of whom every one is afraid. She disguises herself as the son of one of his victims, and works on his superstition, his conscience, and his home affections in the most effective way. It is the combination of these three motives that makes this story so good.
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