."

"I knew he had refused," said Isaura, with a low bitter laugh.

"How? who told you?"

"My own good sense told me. One may have good sense, though one is a
poor scribbler."

"Don't talk in that way; it is beneath you to angle for compliments."

"Compliments, ah! And so Mr. Vane has refused to come to Paris; never
mind, he will come next year. I shall not be in Paris then. Did Colonel
Morley see Mr. Vane?"

"Oh, yes; two or three times."

"He is well?"

"Quite well, I believe--at least Frank did not say to the contrary; but,
from what I hear, he is not the person I took him for. Many people told
Frank that he is much changed since he came into his fortune--is grown
very stingy, quite miserly indeed; declines even a seat in Parliament
because of the expense. It is astonishing how money does spoil a man."

"He had come into his fortune when he was here. Money had not spoiled
him then."

Isaura paused, pressing her hands tightly together; then she suddenly
rose to her feet, the colour on her cheek mantling and receding
rapidly, and fixing on her startled visitor eyes no longer dim, but
with something half fierce, half imploring in the passion of their gaze,
said: "Your husband spoke of me to Mr. Vane: I know he did. What did Mr.
Vane answer? Do not evade my question. The truth! the truth! I only ask
the truth!"

"Give me your hand; sit here beside me, dearest child."

"Child!--no, I am a woman!--weak as a woman, but strong as a woman
too!--The truth!"

Mrs. Morley had come prepared to carry out the resolution she had formed
and "break" to Isaura "the truth," that which the girl now demanded. But
then she had meant to break the truth in her own gentle, gradual way.
Thus suddenly called upon, her courage failed her. She burst into tears.
Isaura gazed at her dry-eyed.

"Your tears answer me. Mr. Vane has heard that I have been insulted. A
man like him does not stoop to love for a woman who has known an insult.
I do not blame him; I honour him the more--he is right."

"No-no-no!--you insulted! Who dared to insult you? (Mrs. Morley had
never heard the story about the Russian Prince.) Mr. Vane spoke to
Frank, and writes of you to me as of one whom it is impossible not
to admire, to respect; but--I cannot say it--you will have the
truth,--there, read and judge for yourself." And Mrs. Morley drew forth
and thrust into Isaura's hands the letter she had concealed from her
husband. The letter was not very long;