am thankful to hear she has
escaped De Gondomar's snares."

"You are wonderfully interested about her, methinks, Frances; and I hope
she will be grateful for your consideration," rejoined Lord Roos, with a
laugh. "But I should not be surprised if De Gondomar still gained his
point. It is not his way to give up a pursuit he has once undertaken.
However, to leave the pretty damsel to her fate, which will depend
entirely on her own conduct, let us return to ourselves. We have good
reason to be satisfied with the issue of this adventure of the lock of
hair. Nevertheless, that recurrence to the charge of witchcraft on the
part of my vindictive mother-in-law shows the extent of her malice, and
I cannot doubt that in threatening me with reprisals she will be as good
as her word. It behoves us, therefore, to be beforehand with her. What
she may intend I cannot say, but I am satisfied she has a formidable
scheme on foot, and that nothing but her husband's interposition
prevented its disclosure when she was so violently incensed against me."

"You fill me with terror, William," exclaimed the Countess. "Will this
woman's hostility towards me never cease?"

"Never," replied Lord Roos, with a sudden change of manner, and laying
aside the levity he had hitherto exhibited. "There is but one way of
ending the struggle. Luke Hatton can help us to it. Persuaded we should
require him, I have brought him with me. He waits in the hall below with
Diego. Shall I summon him to our conference?"

"On no account," exclaimed Lady Exeter hastily; "I will not see him. You
have done wrong to bring that poisoner here, my lord. You will destroy
me."

"Listen to me, Frances," replied Lord Roos. "The next step taken by Lady
Lake will be fatal to us. There must be no delay, no irresolution on our
part, or all is lost. I cannot depend upon myself, or I would not call
in another's aid. You will comprehend how wanting in firmness I am, when
I tell you what happened the other night. Incredible as it may sound, my
wife, in order to prove her devotion to me and to free me from further
annoyance on her part, offered to take poison; and but for my
interference (fool that I was to stay her!) would have drained the
phial containing the deadly potion. The weakness was momentary, and I
reproached myself for it when too late. But it convinced me that a
firmer hand than mine must be employed in the task."

"And can you, after what you have related, William,--can