uiry; and then, with a gesture to the servant
to show the way, he overawed all scruples about admitting him. "Is he
alone?" said the Viscount, as they went along.

"No, sir. The Countess is with him."

"Say that a person on most pressing business is here, and must speak
with him at once."

"The Prince always requires the name, sir. I dare not address him
without it."

"Say that I am come from Morlache's,----that I have something to
deliver into his own hands."

Norwood placed the casket on the table as he spoke. The servant retired,
and speedily returned, requesting Norwood to follow him. As the door was
flung open, Norwood heard voices; he stopped and hesitated. Either an
impulse of passion or some change of purpose worked within him; for,
as he stood, he grasped the edge of the door, and swayed to and fro for
some seconds.

"Let him come out,--let him come here," cried he, in a loud voice.

A low murmur of persons speaking was heard within, and suddenly the
rustling sound of a female dress was followed by the bang of a door; and
then Norwood entered, and, closing the door, locked it behind him.

The grating sound of the key made the Russian turn his head suddenly
around, and his eyes met Norwood's.

"What! my Lord Norwood!" cried he, in amazement. "They never told me--"

"If they had, in all likelihood I should not have been admitted," was
the stern reply.

"I must own it is an honor for which I was scarcely prepared, my Lord,"
said the other.

"You never spoke more truly, sir," said Norwood. "Men like yourself
fancy that their solvency in matters of money implies as much in all the
various relations of life, and that, as they know not what a dun means,
they are to enjoy an equal immunity from every demand of honor."

"As you are evidently speaking under some strange misapprehension, my
Lord, I hesitate about accepting your words in any offensive sense."

"You said you were unprepared for my visit, sir, and I believe you,
as you will be, doubtless, unprepared for the object of it Prince
Midchekoff, I have come here to request your company across the
Tuscan frontier; the matter is of sufficient importance to warrant the
inconvenience. You will take any or as many of your household as you
please, but you shall accompany me from this spot Come, sir, your air of
easy indifference is for once mistimed. You see before you a man whose
utmost effort can scarcely repress the passion that stirs within him.
Nei