nother,
handsomer, more graceful, more brilliant than this viscount; but that
other was unknown, untitled, and unnamed in the world. The viscount was
so engaged with his beautiful companion that it was some time before he
observed that the company was dropping off and the room was half empty.
He then led Miss Merlin back to her party, took a slight leave of them
all, bowed to the President, and departed.

Judge Merlin, who had only waited for his daughter, now arose to go. His
party made their adieus and left the saloon. As so many of the guests
had already gone, they found the halls and anterooms comparatively free
of crowds, and easily made their way to the gentlemen's cloakroom and
the ladies' dressing room, and thence to the entrance hall. Mr.
Middleton went out to call the carriage, which was near at hand. And the
whole party entered and drove homeward. The sky had not cleared, the
drizzle still continued; but the lamps gleamed brightly through the
raindrops, and the Avenue was as gay at midnight as it had been at
midday. As the carriage rolled along, Judge Merlin and Mr. and Mrs.
Middleton discussed the reception, the President, the company, and
especially the young English viscount.

"He is the son and heir of the Earl of Hurstmonceux, whose estates lie
somewhere in the rich county of Sussex. The title did not come to the
present earl in the direct line of descent. The late earl died
childless, at a very advanced age; and the title fell to his distant
relation, Lord Banff, the father of this young man, whose estates lie
away up in the north of Scotland somewhere. Thus the Scottish Lord Banff
became Earl of Hurstmonceux, and his eldest son, our new acquaintance,
took the second title in the family, and became Lord Vincent," said
Judge Merlin.

"The English minister gave you this information?" inquired Mr.
Middleton.

"Yes, he did; I suppose he thought it but right to put me in possession
of all such facts in relation to a young foreigner whom he had been
instrumental in introducing to my family. But, by the way,
Middleton--Hurstmonceux? Was not that the title of the young dowager
countess whom Brudenell married, and parted with, years ago?"

"Yes; and I suppose that she was the widow of that very old man, the
late Earl of Hurstmonceux, who died childless; in fact, she must have
been."

"I wonder whatever became of her?"

"I do not know; I know nothing whatever about the last Countess of
Hurstmonceux; but