ou think?' inquired Colonel Madison, of the
Life Guards, a man about town, and an inveterate gossip, who knew
everybody, and everybody's family history, down to the peccadilloes of
people's great grandmothers.

'You will have an opportunity of judging,' replied his lordship, coolly.
'She's to be here this evening.'

'But do you think she'll show?' asked the Colonel. 'The mail must have
brought the news to her, as well as to other people--supposing she knew
nothing about it beforehand. She must know that the storm has burst. Do
you think she'll----'

'Come out in the thunder and lightning?' interrupted Lord Denver; 'I'm
sure she will. She has the pride of Lucifer and the courage of a lion.
Five to one in ponies that she is here before the clock strikes seven!'

'I think you are right. I knew her mother, Constance Talmash. Pluck was
a family characteristic of the Talmashes. Wicked as devils, and brave as
lions. Old Talmash, the grandfather, shot his valet in a paroxysm of
_delirium tremens_,' said Colonel Madison. 'She's a splendid woman, and
she won't flinch. I'd rather back her than bet against her.'

'Lady Maulevrier!' announced the groom of the chambers; and Lady Denyer
moved at least three paces forward to meet her guest.

The lady who entered, with slow and stately movements and proudly
balanced head, might have served for a model as Juno or the Empress
Livia. She was still in the bloom of youth, at most seven-and-twenty,
but she had all the calm assurance of middle-age. No dowager, hardened
by the varied experiences of a quarter of a century in the great world,
could have faced society with more perfect coolness and self-possession.
She was beautiful, and she let the world see that she was conscious of
her beauty, and the power that went along with it. She was clever, and
she used her cleverness with unfailing tact and unscrupulous audacity.
She had won her place in the world as an acknowledged beauty, and one of
the leaders of fashion. Two years ago she had been the glory and delight
of Anglo-Indian society in the city of Madras, ruling that remote and
limited kingdom with a despotic power. Then all of a sudden she was
ordered, or she ordered her physician to order her, an immediate
departure from that perilous climate, and she came back to England with
her three-year-old son, two Ayahs, and four European servants, leaving
her husband, Lord Maulevrier, Governor of the Madras Presidency, to
finish the term of