dly, and made for the door,
reeling like a drunkard in his walk.

CHAPTER XIX. THE END OF LORD OSTERMORE

In the ante-room communicating with Lord Ostermore's bedroom the
countess was in consultation with Rotherby, who had been summoned by his
mother when my lord was stricken.

Her ladyship occupied the window-seat; Rotherby stood beside
her, leaning slightly against the frame of the open window. Their
conversation was earnest and conducted in a low key, and one would
naturally have conjectured that it had for subject the dangerous
condition of the earl. And so it had--the dangerous condition of the
earl's political, if not physical, affairs. To her ladyship and her son,
the matter of their own future was of greater gravity than the matter
of whether his lordship lived or died--which, whatever it may be, is
not unreasonable. Since the impeachment of my lord and the coming of
the messengers to arrest him, the danger of ruin and beggary were become
more imminent--indeed, they impended, and measures must be concerted
to avert these evils. By comparison with that, the earl's succumbing or
surviving was a trivial matter; and the concern they had manifested in
Sir James' news--when the important, well-nourished physician who had
bled his lordship came to inform them that there was hope--was outward
only, and assumed for pure decorum's sake.

"Whether he lives or dies," said the viscount pertinently, after the
doctor had departed to return to his patient, "the measures to be
taken are the same." And he repeated the substance of their earlier
discussions upon this same topic. "If we can but secure the evidence of
his treason with Caryll," he wound up, "I shall be able to make terms
with Lord Carteret to arrest the proceedings the government may intend,
and thus avert the restitution it would otherwise enforce."

"But if he were to die," said her ladyship, as coldly, horribly
calculating as though he were none of hers, "there would be an end to
this danger. They could not demand restitution of the dead, nor impose
fines upon him."

Rotherby shook his head. "Believe not that, madam," said he. "They can
demand restitution of his heirs and impose their fines upon the estate.
'Twas done in the case of Chancellor Craggs, though he shot himself."

She raised a haggard face to his. "And do you dream that Lord Carteret
would make terms with you?"

"If I can show him--by actual proof--that a conspiracy does exist, that
th