t, and Talbot, placing his
arm hurriedly within Mark's, said--

"Let us get away from this, Mark. It is all settled. We meet tomorrow."

Mark turned one look towards Kate, who was just in the act of accepting
Travers' arm to return to the ball-room. Their glances met for a second,
but with how different a meaning!--in _hers_, a world of anxiety and
interest--in _his_, the proud and scornful defiance of one who seemed to
accept of no compromise with fortune.

"So, then, it is your friend Travers, Mark, with whom I am to have the
honour of a rencontre! I'm sorry, for your sake, that it is so."

"And why so?" asked Mark, sternly, for in his present mood he was as
little satisfied with Talbot as with Travers.

"Because if I don't mistake much, you will not have the opportunity of
wiping out your old score with him. I'll shoot him, Mark!" These last
words were uttered between his almost closed teeth, and in a tone of
scarce restrained anger. "Are either of us looking very bloody-minded
or savage, Mark, I wonder? for see how the people are staring and
whispering as we pass!"

The observation was not made without reason, for already the two young
men were regarded on all sides as they passed--the different persons in
their way retiring as they approached.

"How do you do, my lord? I hope I see you well," said Talbot, bowing
familiarly to a venerable old man who stood near, and who as promptly
returned his salute.

"Who is it you bowed to?" said Mark, in a whisper.

"The Chief-Justice, Mark. Not that I know him, or he me; but at this
critical moment such a recognition is a certificate of character, which
will at least last long enough to see us down stairs. There, let me move
on first, and follow me," and as he spoke, he edged his way through a
crowded door, leaving Mark to follow how he could. This was, however a
task of more difficulty than it seemed, for already a number of persons
blocked up the doorway, eager to hear something which a gentleman was
relating to those about him.

"I can only tell you," continued he, "that none seems to know either of
them. As Clangoff has lost the diamond snuff-box the Emperor of Austria
presented him with--he missed it after leaving the card-table--the
presumption is, that we are favoured with somewhat doubtful company."

[Illustration: 326]

"Carysford says," cried another, "that he knows one of them well, and
has often seen him in Paris at the play-houses."

A low whisper