supposed, live in his own
country;--unless, indeed, the whole tale was a cock-and-bull story
made up by Persiflage at the Foreign Office. It was just the sort of
thing, he said, that Persiflage would do. He had said not a word as
to carving an income out of the property for the young noble couple
when she left him.

CHAPTER III.

ALL THE WORLD KNOWS IT.

The story was in truth all over London and half over England by
the time that Lady Frances had returned to Hendon Hall. Though
Vivian had made a Foreign Office secret of the affair at Gorse Hall,
nevertheless it had been so commonly talked about during the last
Sunday there, that Hautboy had told it all to poor Walker and to the
Walker ladies. "By Jove, fancy!" Hautboy had said, "to go at once
from a Post Office clerk to a duke! It's like some of those stories
where a man goes to bed as a beggar and gets up as a prince. I wonder
whether he likes it." Hampstead had of course discussed the matter
very freely with his sister, still expressing an opinion that a man
could not do other than take his father's name and his father's
title. Lady Frances having thus become used to the subject was not
surprised to find the following letter from her friend Lady Amaldina
when she reached her home:--

MY DEAREST FANNY,--

I am indeed _delighted_ to be able to congratulate you on
the wonderful and _most romantic_ story which has just
been made known to us. I was never one of those who blamed
you _very much_ because you had given your affections to
a man _so much below_ you in rank. Nevertheless, we all
could not but feel that it was a pity that he should be
_a Post Office clerk!_ Now, indeed, you have reason to be
proud! I have already read up the subject, and I find that
the Ducas di Crinola are supposed to have _the very best
blood_ in Europe. There can be no doubt that one of the
family married a _Bourbon_ before they came to the French
throne. I could send you all the details, only I do not
doubt that you have found it out for yourself already.
Another married _a second cousin of that Maximilian who
married Mary of Burgundy_. One of the ladies of the family
is supposed to have been the wife of the younger brother
of one of the Guises, though it isn't _quite_ certain
whether they were ever married. But that little blot,
my dear, will hardly affect _you_ now. Taking the name
altogether, I don't think