ave you heard from the Hall lately?"

"Yes--to-day. Only think--the Riccaboccas have disappeared. My mother writes
me word of it--a very odd letter. She seems to suspect that I know where
they are, and reproaches me for 'mystery'--quite enigmatical. But there is
one sentence in her letter--see, here it is in the postscript--which seems
to refer to Beatrice: 'I don't ask you to tell me your secrets, Frank, but
Randal will no doubt have assured you that my first consideration will be
for your own happiness, in any matter in which your heart is really
engaged.' "

"Yes," said Randal, slowly: "no doubt, this refers to Beatrice; but, as I
told you, your mother will not interfere one way or the other--such
interference would weaken her influence with the Squire. Besides, as she
said, she can't _wish_ you to marry a foreigner; though once married, she
would--But how do you stand now with the Marchesa? Has she consented to
accept you?"

"Not quite: indeed, I have not actually proposed. Her manner, though much
softened, has not so far emboldened me; and, besides, before a positive
declaration, I certainly must go down to the Hall, and speak at least to
my mother."

"You must judge for yourself, but don't do any thing rash: talk first to
me. Here we are at my office. Good-by; and--and pray believe that, in
whatever you do with Levy, I have no hand in it."

Chapter XI.

Toward the evening, Randal was riding fast on the road to Norwood. The
arrival of Harley, and the conversation that had passed between that
nobleman and Randal, made the latter anxious to ascertain how far
Riccabocca was likely to learn L'Estrange's return to England, and to meet
with him. For he felt that, should the latter come to know that
Riccabocca, in his movements, had gone by Randal's advice, Harley would
find that Randal had spoken to him disingenuously; and, on the other hand,
Riccabocca, placed under the friendly protection of Lord L'Estrange, would
no longer need Randal Leslie to defend him from the machinations of
Peschiera. To a reader happily unaccustomed to dive into the deep and mazy
recesses of a schemer's mind, it might seem that Randal's interest, in
retaining a hold over the exile's confidence, would terminate with the
assurances that had reached him, from more than one quarter, that Violante
might cease to be an heiress if she married himself. "But, perhaps,"
suggests some candid and youthful conjecturer--"perhaps Randal Leslie i