Madame Chrysantheme

MADAME
CHRYSANTHEME
By PIERRE LOTI
TRANSLATED BY LAURA ENSOR
THE MODERN LIBRARY
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK


TO MADAME LA DUCHESSE
DE RICHELIEU.

Madame La Duchesse,

Allow me to crave your acceptance of the following work, as a respectful tribute of my attachment.

I felt some hesitation in offering it, for its main incident cannot be deemed altogether proper; but I have striven that in its expression at least, it should not sin against good taste, and I trust that my endeavours have been successful.

It is the diary of a summer of my life, in which I have changed nothing, not even the dates, thinking as I do, that in our efforts to arrange matters we often only succeed in disarranging them. Although the most important rôle may appear to devolve on Madame Chrysantheme, it is very certain that the three principal personages are myself, Japan, and the effect produced on me by that country.