Hope, Anthony: The Indiscretion of the Duchess. V1. 22 June 2010
 

Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, better known as Anthony Hope (9 February 1863 – 8 July 1933), was an English novelist and playwright. Although he was a prolific writer, especially of adventure novels, he is remembered best for only two books: The Prisoner of Zenda (1894) and its sequel Rupert of Hentzau (1898). These works, "minor classics" of English literature,are set in the contemporaneous fictional country of Ruritania and spawned the genre known as Ruritanian romance. Zenda has inspired many adaptations, most notably the 1937 Hollywood movie of the same name.

Excerpt
In accordance with many most excellent precedents, I might begin by claiming the sympathy due o an orphan alone in the world. I might even summon my unguided childhood and the absence of parental training toexcuse my faults and extenuate my indiscretions. But the sympathy which I hould thus gain would be achieved, I fear, by something very like false pretenses. For my solitary state sat very lightly upon me--the sad events which caused it being softened by the influence of time and habit--and had the recommendation of leaving me, not only free to manage my own life as I pleased, but also possessed of a competence which added power to my freedom.