mean?"

"Tush!" was the response of Captain Levison, as if wishing to imply that
the divorce was yet a far-off affair, and he proceeded to open the other
letter.

"Sir--After sending off our last, dated to-day, we received tidings
of the demise of Sir Peter Levison, your grand-uncle. He expired this
afternoon in town, where he had come for the benefit of medical advice.
We have much pleasure in congratulating you upon your accession to the
title and estates, and beg to state that should it not be convenient
to you to visit England at present, we will be happy to transact all
necessary matters for you, on your favoring us with instructions. And we
remain, sir, most faithfully yours,

"MOSS & GRAB.

"SIR FRANCIS LEVISON, Bart."

The outside of the letter was superscribed as the other, "F. Levison,
Esquire," no doubt with a view to its more certain delivery.

"At last, thank the pigs!" was the gentleman's euphonious expression, as
he tossed the letter, open, on the breakfast-table.

"The divorce is granted!" feverishly uttered Lady Isabel.

He made no reply, but seated himself to breakfast.

"May I read the letter? Is it for me to read?"

"For what else should I have thrown it there?" he said.

"A few days ago you put a letter, open on the table, I thought for
me; but when I took it up you swore at me. Do you remember it Captain
Levison?"

"You may drop that odious title, Isabel, which has stuck to me too long.
I own a better, now."

"What one, pray?"

"You can look and see."

Lady Isabel took up the letter and read it. Sir Francis swallowed down
his coffee, and rang the table hand-bell--the only bell you generally
meet with in France. Pierre answered it.

"Put me up a change of things," said he, in French. "I start for England
in an hour."

"It is very well," Pierre responded; and departed to do it. Lady Isabel
waited till the man was gone, and then spoke, a faint flush of emotion
in her cheeks.

"You do not mean what you say? You will not leave me yet?"

"I cannot do otherwise," he answered. "There's a mountain of business to
be attended to, now that I am come into power."

"Moss & Grab say they will act for you. Had there been a necessity for
your going, they would not have offered that."

"Ay, they do say so--with a nice eye to the feathering of their pockets!
Besides, I should not choose for the old man's funeral to take place
without me."

"Then I must accompany you," she urged.

"I