romising me. Sit over yonder, and read your newspaper, or play with
Felice."

She had barely finished these instructions when the double door was
flung wide, and Marion swept proudly in. Her air and toilet were both
queenlike; and, indeed, her beauty was not less striking than either.
Lord Culduff followed, a soft pleasant smile on his face. It might do
service in many ways, for it was equally ready to mean sweetness or
sarcasm, as occasion called for.

When the ladies had kissed twice, and his Lordship had saluted Lady
Augusta with a profound respect, dashed with a sort of devotion,
Marion's eyes glanced at the stranger, who, though he arose, and only
reseated himself as they sat down, neither lifted his glance nor seemed
to notice them further.

"We are only going through; we start at two o'clock," said she,
hurriedly.

"At one-forty, my Lady," said Lord Culduff, with a faint smile, as
though shocked at being obliged to correct her.

"It was so kind of you to come," said Lady Augusta; "and you only
arrived this morning?"

"We only arrived half an hour ago."

"I must order you some lunch. I'm sure you can eat something."

"My Lady is hungry; she said so as we came along," said Lord Culduff.
"Allow me to ring for you. As for myself, I take Liebig's lozenges and a
spoonful of Curacoa--nothing else--before dinner."

"It's so pleasant to live with people who are 'dieted,'" said Marion,
with a sneering emphasis on the word.

"So I hear from Bramleigh," interposed Lord Culduff, "that this man--I
forget his name--actually broke into the house at Casteilo, and carried
away a quantity of papers."

"My Lord, as your Lordship is so palpably referring to me, and as I am
quite sure you are not aware of my identity, may I hasten to say I am
Count Pracontal de Bramleigh?"

"Oh, dear! have I forgotten to present you?" said Lady Augusta, with a
perfect simplicity of manner.

Marion acknowledged the introduction by the slightest imaginable bow,
and a look of cold defiance; while Lord Culduff smiled blandly, and
professed his regret if he had uttered a word that could occasion pain.

"Love and war are chartered libertines, and why not law?" said the
Viscount. "I take it that all stratagems are available; the great thing
is, they should be successful."

"Count Pracontal declares that he can pledge himself to the result,"
said Lady Augusta. "The case, in fact, as he represents it, is as good
as determined."

"Has a ju