piece of all--a
magnificent white mantilla--in the possession of a rival leader of
fashion, who refused to say where she had got it, or how.

She set her emissaries at work, however--for every great London lady
has a dozen devoted, unpaid _attaches_, ready to do any little
commission of this kind--and the lace was traced back to Colonel
Wilders.

"My dear," she said, one morning, to her lord, "I am afraid Colonel
Wilders is very intimate with that Madame Cyprienne."

"Our eccentric Cousin Bill! You don't say so? Well, there's no fool
like an old fool," said Lord Essendine, who was a very matter-of-fact,
plain-spoken peer.

"I always thought she was an adventuress," cried Lady Essendine,
angrily.

"Then why did you take her up so hotly? But for you, no one would ever
have heard of the woman, least of all Cousin Bill."

"Well, I have done with her now. I shall drop her."

"The mischief's done. Unless I am much mistaken, she won't drop Cousin
Bill."

Lord Essendine, who was, perhaps, behind the scenes, was not wrong in
his estimate of the influence Madame Cyprienne exercised. Before six
months were out, Colonel Wilders came, with rather a sheepish air, to
the head of the house, and informed him of his approaching marriage to
the Countess de Saint Clair.

"That's a new title to me, Bill. Foreign, I suppose?" Lord Essendine
had the usual contempt of the respectable Briton for titles not
mentioned in Debrett or Burke.

"It's French, I fancy; and for the moment it is in abeyance. Madame
Cyprienne tells me--"

"Gracious powers, William Wilders! have you fallen into that woman's
clutches?"

"I must ask you, Lord Essendine, to speak more respectfully of the
lady I propose to make my wife."

"You had better not! I warn you while there is yet time."

"What do you know against her?" asked the colonel, hotly.

"What do you know of or for her?" replied the peer, quickly. "I tell
you, man, it's a disgrace to the family. Lady Essendine will be
furious. If I had any authority over you I would forbid the marriage.
In any case," he went on, "do not look for any countenance or support
from me."

"I hope we shall be able to get on without your assistance, Lord
Essendine. I thought it my duty to inform you of my marriage, and I
think I might have been better received."

"Stay, you idiot; don't go off in a huff. I don't like the match, I
tell you frankly; but I don't want to quarrel. Is there anything I can
do for you