Book excerpt: In 1924. Rafael Sabatini went to work as a writer. He wrote short stories in the 1890s, and his first novel came out in 1902. 'Mistress Wilding', which is about the French Revolution, became an international bestseller. "Then drink it thus, cried the rash young fool, and splashed the contents of his cup full into the face of Mr. Wilding even as that gentleman, on his feet, was proposing to drink to the eyes of the young fool's sister." -an excerpt