whom he stood in
great awe, and whom he treated with the utmost deference; but on this
occasion, contrary to habitude, he received her very coldly, and without
rising motioned her to a seat beside him. Disregarding the want of
attention, which, under other circumstances, she would have resented,
Lady Lake took the seat indicated without remark, and continued silent
till the usher had retired. Then turning quickly towards her husband,
and fixing an inquiring look upon him, she said in a low voice--

"What think you of this document, Sir Thomas?"

"This forgery?" he rejoined in the same tone, but without raising his
eyes towards her.

"Ay, this forgery, if you choose to call it so," she returned. "Let me
have your opinion upon it? Is it as it should be? Are its expressions
such as would be used by a guilty woman, like the Countess, imploring
pity, and seeking to shield herself from disgrace? Do you find fault
with it? Can it be amended in any particular?"

"I find such grave fault with it," replied the Secretary of State, still
without looking up, "that I would amend it by casting it into the
flames. Lady Lake, it is my duty to warn you. This is a fearful crime
you would commit, and severely punishable by the law. You may excuse it
to yourself, because you have an end in view which seems to justify the
means; but the excuse will not avail you with others. You have said that
in a conflict with one so cunning and unscrupulous as our noble
son-in-law, you are compelled to fight him with his own weapons--to meet
trick with trick, manoevre with manoeuvre; but take my word for it, you
would more easily defeat him by straight-forward means. Be ruled by me
in this one instance. Abandon a scheme which must inevitably lead to
consequences I shudder to contemplate; and let this fabricated
confession be destroyed."

"Give it me," she cried, snatching the paper from him. "You were ever
timid, Sir Thomas; and if you had not lacked courage, this expedient
would not have been necessary. Odious and dangerous as it is, the
measure is forced upon me, and I shall not shrink from it. But you
shall not be called upon to play any part in the transaction. I alone
will do it. I alone will be responsible for all that may ensue."

"We shall all be responsible!" he rejoined. "You will not only ruin
yourself, but all your family, if this fearful step be taken. Hitherto
we have had right on our side, but henceforth we shall be more culpable
tha