Dinner at Antoine's — Frances Parkinson Keyes

Spilled wine from a trembling hand foreshadows tangled love and tragedy...

A lovely girl from the North dines at Antoine's famous New Orleans restaurant and fate plunges her into the middle of a dramatic and mysterious tangle of jealousy, love, intrigue, and ambition that threads a breath-stopping way through all the gaiety and brilliance and wonder of the glittering Mardi Gras season.

Persons in the novel "Dinner at Antoine's"

Orson Foxworth, a handsome and dynamic industrialist, is head of the Great Blue Fleet. Fiery by nature and ruthless in his methods, he usually gets his way--in business and with women.

Ruth Avery, his pretty niece from Washington, who has come down for the Carnival season, is a charming, gracious young woman and a great credit to her upbringing.

Russell Aldridge, who looks like a bronzed Viking, is sophisticated and patrician. He is a brilliant archeologist, but he sets out to prove to Ruth that he can be interested in something other than ancient things.

Amelie Lalande, a gorgeous and seductive widow, and something of a bird-brain, has long been the object of Foxworth's desire. She insists, however, the the only door to her bedroom is through the church.

Caresse Lalande, Amelie's younger daughter and as lovely as her name, is an exciting girl with a voice like temple bells.

Odile Lalande St. Amant, Amelie's older daughter, is even more beautiful than her sister. But she is in the grip of a disease that may make her a hopeless invalid--and is losing the love of her philandering husband.

Leonce St. Amant, Odile's husband, works for a swanky automobile agency. He is contented with his lot as long as he can indulge himself in rich living and go his unhindered way after dark.

Tossie Pride, Odile's personal maid, is an ancient Negress, tiny and near-sighted and stubborn. She worships her mistress as wholeheartedly as she despises her mistress's husband.

Sabin Duplessis, who was once engaged to Odile and still loves her devotedly, is a passionate young man with a fiery temper and a long thirst.

Doctor Vance Perrault, the Lalande family physician, is a religious man and his respect for medical ethics amounts almost to a phobia.

Joe Racina, a family friend of the Lalandes, is a former reporter who is becoming widely known as a writer of books.

Judith Racina, Joe's charming and devoted wife, bears the scars of a dreadful accident and has to dress so as to conceal them.

Theophile Murphy, big and capable detective-captain on the New Orleans police force, was formerly an All-American football player.

Francisco Darcoa, of a fine old Creole family, looks like a courtly grandee and is a power in Trans-Caribbean, Foxworth's competitor.

Clarinda Darcoa, his arrestingly beautiful daughter, is a wise and candid young woman who considers Foxworth the man of the hour.

Richard Huntington, Ruth Avery's gentle stepfather, is Assistant Secretary of State. He is a man of high ideals and profound faith in humankind.

Dutch Schaefer, a flyer and devil-may-care soldier of fortune, has carried out some rugged assignments for Orson Foxworth.