“Tancred,” published in 1847, completes the trilogy, which
     began with “Coningsby” in 1844, and had its second volume in
     “Sybil” in 1845.  In these three novels Disraeli gave to the
     world his political, social, and religious philosophy. 
     “Coningsby” was mainly political, “Sybil” mainly social, and
     in “Tancred,” as the author tells us, Disraeli dealt with the
     origin of the Christian Church of England and its relation to
     the Hebrew race whence Christianity sprang.  “Public opinion
     recognized the truth and sincerity of these views,” although
     their general spirit ran counter to current Liberal
     utilitarianism.  Although “Tancred” lacks the vigour of “Sibyl”
     and the wit of “Coningsby,” it is full of the colour of the
     East, and the satire and irony in the part relating to
     Tancred’s life in England are vastly entertaining.  As in
     others of Disraeli’s novels, many of the characters here are
     portraits of real personages.

I.—­Tancred Goes Forth on His Quest

Tancred, the Marquis of Montacute, was certainly strangely distracted on his twenty-first birthday.  He stood beside his father, the Duke of Bellamont, in the famous Crusaders’ gallery in the Castle of Montacute, listening to the congratulations which the mayor and corporation of Montacute town were addressing to him; but all the time he kept his eyes fixed on the magnificent tapestries from which the name of the gallery was derived.  His namesake, Tancred of Montacute, had distinguished himself in the Third Crusade by saving the life of King Richard at the siege of Ascalon, and his exploits were depicted on the fine Gobelins work hanging on the walls of the great hall.  Oblivious of the gorgeous ceremony in which he was playing the principal part, the young Marquis of Montacute stared at the pictures of the Crusader, and a wild, fantastical idea took hold of him.

He was the only child of the Duke of Bellamont, and all the high nobility of England were assembled to celebrate his coming of age.  Everything that fortune could bestow seemed to have been given to him.  He was the heir of the greatest and richest of English dukes, and his life was made smooth and easy.  His father had got a seat in parliament waiting for him, and his mother had already selected a noble and beautiful young lady for his wife.  Neither of them had yet consulted their son, but Tancred was so sweet and gentle a boy that they did not dream he would oppose their wishes.  They had planned out his life for him ever since he was born, with the view to educating him for the position which he was to occupy in the English aristocracy, and he had always taken the path which they had chosen for him.

In the evening, the duke summoned his son into his library.

“My dear Tancred,” he said, “I have a piece of good news for you on your birthday.  Hungerford feels that he cannot represent our constituency now that you have come of age, and, with great kindness, he is resigning his seat in your favour.  He says that the Marquis of Montacute ought to stand for the town of Montacute, so you will be able to enter parliament at once.”