s tones, she
hurriedly exclaimed, as she handed the cigar-case back to Lionel,

"I have unwittingly discovered, Mr. Beauchamp, what you refused to tell
me some little time ago at Hurlingham; and I hope you believe me when I
say that I have never taken any steps to do so; nor, indeed, has any
allusion to it passed my lips since."

"How Mr. Cottrell comes by his knowledge, I cannot say. I think he
must possess a 'familiar' of some sort; but one thing, Miss Bloxam, I
own, puzzles me. Why should you make such a point of my telling you
what Sylla's commission was? I cannot understand it."

"And I cannot tell you. Surely the caprice of my sex is quite enough
to account for it."

Apparently Lionel Beauchamp did not think so; and seating himself by
Miss Bloxam's side, he proceeded to inquire into this instance of a
woman's whimsies with great earnestness of purpose.

It was, of course, quite evident to Mr. Cottrell that Jim Bloxam had
not as yet disclosed to his own people his engagement to Sylla
Chipchase; and so delighted was Mr. Cottrell with the theatrical effect
that he had just produced, that he felt the sooner he diverted himself
by the production of another "situation" the better. He had crossed
over to Lady Mary with no other object than the benevolent design of
giving Blanche and Lionel an opportunity of clearing up their
difference. He accordingly suggested to Lady Mary that they should
take a turn forward and see what was going on in that part of the boat.

"It is not only that I wanted you to see what is going on in the fore
part of the ship, but I want you not to see what is going on aft. I
want to open your eyes to Mrs. Wriothesley's machinations, and to steel
your heart against Lionel Beauchamp's perfidy."

"Lionel Beauchamp's perfidy! Good gracious, Pansey, what do you mean?"

"That I will lay you a small wager Lionel Beauchamp has stolen your
daughter from you before we get back--no, don't interrupt me. Those
foolish young people, finding their courtship was running too smooth,
indulged themselves in the luxury of a mock quarrel--about what, shall
we say?--well, a packet of lemon-drops would about represent the state
of the case. However, as you know, quarrels about nothing sometimes
assume portentous proportions; but I am happy to think that I have just
put things right between those two."

"I only hope what you tell me is true. You know how much I have
Blanche's settlement at heart."