le, and see what it is," whispered Lord Culduff. "If it be
about that box at the St. Carlos, you can say our stay here is now most
uncertain. If it be a budget question, she must wait till quarter-day."
He smiled maliciously as he spoke, and waved his hand to dismiss him.
Within a minute--it seemed scarcely half that time--Lady Culduff entered
the room, with an open letter in her hand; her color was high, and her
eyes flashing, as she said:--

"Make your mind at ease, my Lord. It is no question of an opera-box, or
a milliner's bill, but it is a matter of much importance that I desire,
to speak about. Will you do me the favor to read that, and say what
answer I shall return to it?"

Lord Culduff took the letter and read it over leisurely, and then,
laying it down, said, "Lady Augusta is not a very perspicuous
letter-writer, or else she feels her present task too much for her tact,
but what she means here is, that you should give M. Pracontal permission
to ransack your brother's house for documents, which, if discovered,
might deprive him of the title to his estate. The request, at least, has
modesty to recommend it."

"The absurdity is, to my thinking, greater than even the impertinence,"
cried Lady Culduff. "She says, that on separating two pages, which by
some accident had adhered, of Giacomo Lami's journal,--whoever Giacomo
Lami may be,--_we_--_we_ being Pracontal and herself--have discovered
that it was Giacomo's habit to conceal important papers in the walls
where he painted, and in all cases where he introduced his daughter's
portrait; and that as in the octagon room at Castello there is a picture
of her as Flora, it is believed--confidently believed--such documents
will be found there as will throw great light on the present claim--"

"First of all," said he, interrupting, "is there such a portrait?"

"There is a Flora; I never heard it was a portrait. Who could tell after
what the artist copied it?"

"Lady Augusta assumes to believe this story."

"Lady Augusta is only too glad to believe what everybody else would
pronounce incredible; but this is not all, she has the inconceivable
impertinence to prefer this request to us, to make us a party to our own
detriment,--as if it were matter of perfect indifference who possessed
these estates, and who owned Castello."

"I declare I have heard sentiments from your brother Augustus that would
fully warrant this impression. I have a letter of his in my desk wherein