She sat by the window, indeed, but her eyes were upon the open pages of a book--a popular novel that by some strange legal lapse of the governmental conscience was--and is still--permitted in print.
The author of the story that so engrossed Mrs.Taine was--in her opinion--almost as great in literature as Conrad Lagrange, himself.

By those in authority who pronounce upon the worthiness or the unworthiness of writer folk, he is, to-day, said to be one of the greatest writers of his generation.

He is a realist--a modern of the moderns.

His pen has never been debased by an inartistic and antiquated idealism.

His claim to genius rests securely upon the fact that he has no ideals.