O'Grady, as he
carried me away with him through the salon. 'But I see Lady Charlotte is
amongst her friends, and your cousin is dancing; so now let's make the
most of our time. I say, Jack, your lady-mother scarcely supposes that
her host is the same person she once called on for his bill. By Jove,
what a discovery it would be to her! and the little girl she had such a
horror of is now the belle of Paris. You remember Louisa Bellew, don't
you? Seven thousand a year, my boy, and beauty worth double the money.
But there she is, and how handsome!'

As he spoke, a lady passed us leaning on her partner's arm, her head
turned slightly over her shoulder. I caught but one glance, and as I did
so, the rushing torrent of blood that mounted to my face made my very
brain grow dizzy. I knew not where I stood. I sprang forward to speak
to her, and then became rooted to the ground. It was she, indeed, as
beautiful as ever; her pale face wore the very look I had last seen the
night I saved her from the flood.

'Did you observe her companion?' said O'Grady, who fortunately had not
noticed my confusion. 'It was De Vere. I knew he was here; and I suspect
I see his plans.'

'De Vere!' said I, starting. 'De Vere with Miss Bellew! Are you
certain?'

'Quite certain; I seldom mistake a face, and his I can't forget. But
here's Guillemain. I'll join you in a moment.'

So saying, O'Grady left my side, and I saw him take the arm of a small
man in black, who was standing at a doorway. The rush of sensations that
crowded on me as I stood there alone made me forget the time, and I knew
not that O'Grady had been above half an hour away when he again came to
my side.

'How the plot thickens, Hinton!' said he, in a low whisper. 'Only think,
the villain Burke has actually made the hand and fortune of that lovely
girl the price of obtaining secret information from De Vere of the
proceedings of the British embassy. Guillemain did not confess this
to me; but he spoke in such a way, that, with my knowledge of all the
parties, I made out the clue.'

'Burke! but what influence has he over her?'

'None over her, but much over the Rooneys, whom, independent of threats
about exposing their real condition in life, he has persuaded that such
a marriage for their ward secures them in fashionable society for ever.
This with Paul would do nothing; but Madame de Roni, as you know, sets
a high price on such a treasure. Besides, he is in possession of some
fa