all the same to you, Senor; and I
should be glad to speak to Lady Lesbia alone.'

'That you shall not do unless she desires it,' answered Montesma.

'No, he shall hear all that you have to say. He shall hear how I answer
you,' said Lesbia.

Lord Hartfield shrugged his shoulders.

'As you please,' he said. 'It will make the disclosure a little more
painful than it need have been; but that cannot be helped.'

CHAPTER XLIV.

'OH, SAD KISSED MOUTH, HOW SORROWFUL IT IS!'

They all went down to the saloon, where Lady Kirkbank sat, looking the
image of despair, which changed to delighted surprise at sight of Lord
Hartfield and his friend.

'Did you give your consent to my sister's elopement with this man, Lady
Kirkbank?' Maulevrier asked, brusquely.

'I give my consent! Good gracious! no. He has eloped with me ever so
much more than with your sister. She knew all about it, I've no doubt:
but the wretch ran away with me in my sleep.'

'I am glad, for your own self-respect, that you had no hand in this
disgraceful business,' replied Maulevrier; and then turning to Lord
Hartfield, he said, 'Hartfield, will you tell my sister who and what
this man is? Will you make her understand what kind of pitfall she has
escaped? Upon my soul, I cannot speak of it.'

'I recognise no right of Lord Hartfield's to interfere with my actions,
and I will hear nothing that he may have to say,' said Lesbia, standing
by her lover's side, with head erect and eyes dark with anger.

'Your sister's husband has the strongest right to control your actions,
Lady Lesbia, when the family honour is at stake,' answered Hartfield,
with grave authority. 'Accept me at least as a member of your family, if
you will not accept me as your disinterested and devoted friend.'

'Friend!' echoed Lesbia, scornfully. 'You might have been my friend
once. Your friendship then would have been of some value to me, if you
had told me the truth, instead of approaching me with a lie upon your
lips. You talk of honour, Lord Hartfield; you, who came to my
grandmother's house as an impostor, under a false name!'

'I went there as a man standing on his own merits, assuming no rank save
that which God gave him among his fellow-men, claiming to be possessed
of no fortune except intellect and industry. If I could not win a wife
with such credentials, it were better for me never to marry at all, Lady
Lesbia. But we have no time to speak of the past. I am here as your