person who
has prevented my son from marrying the lady of his choice, and of mine?"

"Mr. Geoffrey Delamayn, unhappily, has that reason for resenting his
wife's innocent interference with interests of considerable, importance
to him," returned Sir Patrick. "I request your ladyship to consider
whether it is desirable--in view of your son's conduct in the future--to
allow his wife to stand in the doubly perilous relation toward him of
being also a cause of estrangement between his father and himself."

He had put it with scrupulous caution. But Lady Holchester understood
what he had refrained from saving as well as what he had actually said.
She had hitherto remained standing--she now sat down again. There was a
visible impression produced on her at last.

"In Lord Holchester's critical state of health," she answered, "I
decline to take the responsibility of telling him what you have just
told me. My own influence has been uniformly exerted in my son's
favor--as long as my interference could be productive of any good
result. The time for my interference has passed. Lord Holchester has
altered his will this morning. I was not present; and I have not yet
been informed of what has been done. Even if I knew--"

"Your ladyship would naturally decline," said Sir Patrick, "to
communicate the information to a stranger."

"Certainly. At the same time, after what you have said, I do not feel
justified in deciding on this matter entirely by myself. One of Lord
Holchester's executors is now in the house. There can be no impropriety
in your seeing him--if you wish it. You are at liberty to say, from me,
that I leave it entirely to his discretion to decide what ought to be
done."

"I gladly accept your ladyship's proposal."

Lady Holchester rang the bell at her side.

"Take Sir Patrick Lundie to Mr. Marchwood," she said to the servant.

Sir Patrick started. The name was familiar to him, as the name of a
friend.

"Mr. Marchwood of Hurlbeck?" he asked.

"The same."

With that brief answer, Lady Holchester dismissed her visitor. Following
the servant to the other end of the corridor, Sir Patrick was conducted
into a small room--the ante-chamber to the bedroom in which Lord
Holchester lay. The door of communication was closed. A gentleman sat
writing at a table near the window. He rose, and held out his hand, with
a look of surprise, when the servant announced Sir Patrick's name. This
was Mr. Marchwood.

After the first e