eturn
of post, and there should be no chance of delay, because she meant to
stay two days at Windermere, making that town the center of excursions
through lakeland.

While the son was seeking forgetfulness in classifying a collection of
moths and night flies caught during a week at La Turbie, the father
found occupation in prosecuting diligent inquiries into the social and
financial standing of Peter Vanrenen. As a result, the Earl visited
Lady St. Maur, and, as a further result, Lady St. Maur wrote a very
biting and sarcastic note to "My dear Millicent." Moreover, she
decided not to press her nephew to visit her at present.

Next morning, Medenham was up betimes. He heard the early postman's
knock, and Tomkinson in person brought the letters.

"There's nothink in the name of Fitzroy, my lord," said he, having
been warned in that matter overnight.

Medenham took his packet with the best grace possible, trying to
assure himself that Cynthia had written at a late hour and had missed
the first London mail in consequence. Glancing hurriedly through the
correspondence, however, his glance fell on a letter bearing the
Windermere postmark. It was addressed, in an unfamiliar hand, to
"Viscount Medenham," and the writing was bold, well-formed, and
business-like. Then he read:

SIR--My daughter received a note from you this morning, and
she was about to answer it when I informed her that she was
communicating with a person who had given her an assumed
name. I also asked her, as a favor, to permit me to reply in
her stead. Now, I have this to say--Miss Vanrenen does not
know, and will never know from me, the true nature of the
trick you played on her. You bear the label of a gentleman,
so it is my earnest hope--indeed, my sincere belief--that
you will respect the trust she placed in you, and not expose
her to the idle chatter of clubs and scandal-spreading
drawing-rooms. During two days I have been very bitter
against you. To-day I take a calmer view, and, provided that
neither my daughter nor I ever see or hear of you again, I
shall be willing to credit that you acted more in a spirit
of youthful caprice than from any foul desire to injure the
good repute of one who has done no harm to you or yours.

I am,
Yours truly,
PETER VANRENEN.

Medenham read and reread this h