pleasing her new admirer. But she was not in
earnest. What did it matter to her if Hugo Luttrell's eyes glowed when
she spoke a kind word to him, or his brow grew black as thunder if she
neglected him for someone else? It never occurred to her to question
whether it was wise to trifle with passions which might be of truly
Southern vehemence and intensity.

Hugo did not leave the house without making--or thinking that he had
made--a discovery. Mr. Stretton did not appear at luncheon, but Hugo
caught sight of him afterwards in the garden--with Elizabeth. To Hugo's
mind, the very attitude assumed by the tutor in speaking to Miss Murray
was a revelation. He was as sure as he was of his own existence that Mr.
Stretton was "in love." Whether the affection was returned by Miss
Murray or not he could not feel so sure.

He made his way, after his visit to the Herons, to Mr. Colquhoun's
office, and was fortunate in finding that gentleman at home.

"Well, Hugo, and how are you?" asked the lawyer, who did not regard Mrs.
Luttrell's nephew with any particular degree of favour. "What brings you
to this part of the world again?"

"My aunt's invitation," said Hugo.

"Ah, yes; your aunt has a hankering after anybody of the name of
Luttrell, at present. It won't last. Don't trust to it, Hugo."

"I cannot say that I know what you mean, Mr. Colquhoun. I suppose I am
at liberty to accept my aunt's repeated and pressing invitation? I came
here to ask you a question. I will not trespass on your time longer than
I can help."

"Ask away, lad," said the old lawyer, not much impressed by Hugo's
stateliness of demeanour. "Ask away. You'll get no lies, at any rate.
And what is it you're wanting now?"

"Have you any reason to suppose that my cousin Brian is not dead?"

"No," said Mr. Colquhoun, shortly. "I haven't. I wish I had. Have you?"

Without replying to this question, Hugo asked another.

"You have no reason to think that there is any other man who would call
himself by that name?"

"No," said Mr. Colquhoun again, "I haven't. And I don't wish I had. But
have you?"

"Yes," said Hugo.

"Come, come, come," said the lawyer, restlessly; "you are joking, young
man. Don't carry a joke too far. What do you mean?"

Again Hugo replied by a question. "Did you ever hear of a place called
San Stefano?" he said, gently.

Old Mr. Colquhoun bounded in his seat. "Good God!" he said, although he
was not a man given to the use of such ejacul