oo well!' cried the count, so much affected as to be
scarcely able to pronounce the words; 'he died in my arms; I buried him
myself!'

'Impossible!' cried Mr. Reynolds. 'Why do you say so, sir?' said
he, studying the count's face with a sort of bewildered earnestness.
'Impossible! His body was sent over to me in a lead coffin; and I saw it
and I was asked--and I answered, "in the family vault." But the shock is
over,' said he; 'and, gentlemen, if the business of your visit relates
to that subject, I trust I am now sufficiently composed to attend to
you. Indeed, I ought to be prepared; for I had reason, for years, to
expect the stroke; and yet, when it came, it seemed sudden!--it stunned
me--put an end to all my worldly prospects--left me childless, without
a single descendant or relation near enough to be dear to me! I am an
insulated being!'

'No, sir, you are not an insulated being,' said Lord Colambre 'you have
a near relation, who will, who must be dear to you; who will make you
amends for all you have lost, all you have suffered--who will bring
peace and joy to your heart. You have a grand-daughter.'

'No, sir; I have no grand-daughter,' said old Reynolds, his face and
whole form becoming rigid with the expression of obstinacy. 'Rather have
no descendant than be forced to acknowledge an illegitimate child.'

'My lord, I entreat as a friend--I command you to be patient,' said the
count, who saw Lord Colambre's indignation suddenly rise.

'So, then, this is the purpose of your visit,' continued old Reynolds;
'and you come from my enemies, from the St. Omars, and you are in a
league with them,' continued old Reynolds; 'and all this time it is of
my eldest son you have been talking.'

'Yes, sir,' replied the count; 'of Captain Reynolds, who fell in battle,
in the Austrian service, about nineteen years ago--a more gallant and
amiable youth never lived.'

Pleasure revived through the dull look of obstinacy in the father's
eyes.

'He was, as you say, sir, a gallant, an amiable youth, once and he
was my pride, and I loved him, too, once but did not you know I had
another?'

'No, sir, we did not--we are, you may perceive, totally ignorant of your
family and of your affairs we have no connexion whatever or knowledge of
any of the St. Omars.'

'I detest the sound of the name,' cried Lord Colambre.

'Oh, good! good!--Well! well! I beg your pardon, gentlemen, a thousand
times--I am a hasty, very hasty old man; but