em in other ways. I believe that Smithson's wife, if she were a
thorough-bred one, could go into any society she liked, and make her
house one of the most popular in London. Perhaps that is what you really
wanted to ask.

'No, it wasn't,' answered Lesbia, carelessly; 'I was only talking for
the sake of talking. A thousand thanks for the cheque, you best of
brothers.'

'It is not worth talking about; but, Lesbia, don't play cards any more.
Believe me, it is not good form.'

'Well, I'll try to keep out of it in future. It is horrid to see one's
sovereigns melting away; but there's a delightful excitement in
winning.'

'No doubt,' answered Maulevrier, with a remorseful sigh.

He spoke as a reformed plunger, and with many a bitter experience of the
race-course and the card-room. Even now, though he had steadied himself
wonderfully, he could not get on without a little mild gambling--half-crown
pool, whist with half-guinea points--but when he condescended to such small
stakes he felt that he had settled down into a respectable middle-aged
player, and had a right to rebuke the follies of youth.

Lesbia flew to the piano and sang one of her little German ballads
directly Maulevrier was gone. She felt as if a burden had been lifted
from her soul, now that she was able to pay Mr. Smithson without waiting
to ask Lady Maulevrier for the money. And as she sang she meditated upon
Maulevrier's remarks about Smithson. He knew nothing to the man's
discredit, except that he had grown rich in a short space of time.
Surely no man ought to be blamed for that. And he thought that Mr.
Smithson's wife might make her house the most popular in London. Lesbia,
in her mind's eye, beheld an imaginary Lady Lesbia Smithson giving
dances in that magnificent mansion, entertaining Royal personages. And
the doorways would be festooned with roses, as she had seen them the
other night at a ball in Grosvenor Square; but the house in Grosvenor
Square was a hovel compared with the Smithsonian Palace.

Lesbia was beginning to be a little tired of Lady Kirkbank and her
surroundings. Life taken _prestissimo_ is apt to pall, Lesbia sighed as
she finished her little song. She was beginning to look upon her
existence as a problem which had been given to her to solve, and the
solution just it present was all dark.

As she rose from the piano a footman came in with two letters on a
salver--bulky letters, such packages as Lesbia had never seen before.
She w