going," replied Lady Catharine. "And we may
drive about, the same way we took the other morn. I will show you the
same spot where he stood and bowed so handsomely, and made so little of
the fight with the robbers the night before, as though 'twere trifling
enough; and made so little of his poverty, as though he were owner of
the king's coin."

"But we shall never see him more," said Mary Connynge.

"To be sure not. But just to show you--see! He stood thus, his hat off,
his eye laughing, I pledge you, as though for some good jest he had. And
'twas 'your pardon, ladies!' he said, as though he were indeed nobleman
himself. See! 'Twas thus."

What pantomime might have followed did not appear, for at that moment
the butler appeared at the door with an admonitory cough. "If you
please, your Ladyship," said he, "there are two persons waiting.
They--that is to say, he--one of them, asks for admission to your
Ladyship."

"What name does he offer, James?"

"Mr. John Law of Lauriston, your Ladyship, is the name he sends. He
says, if your Ladyship please, that he has brought with him something
which your Ladyship left behind, if your Ladyship please."

Lady Catharine and Mary Connynge had both arisen and drawn together, and
they now turned each a swift half glance upon the other.

"Are these gentlemen waiting without the street door?" asked Lady
Catharine.

"No, your Ladyship. That is to say, before I thought, I allowed the tall
one to come within."

"Oh, well then, you see, Mary Connynge," replied Lady Catharine, with
the pink flush rising in her cheek, "it were rude to turn them now from
our door, since they have already been admitted."

"Yes, we will send to the library for your brother," said Mary Connynge,
dimpling at the corners of her mouth.

"No, I think it not needful to do that," replied Lady Catharine, "but we
should perhaps learn what this young man brings, and then we'll see to
it that we chide him so that he'll no more presume upon our kindness. My
brother need not know, and we ourselves will end this forwardness at
once, Mary Connynge, you and I. James, you may bring the gentlemen in."

Enter, therefore, John Law and his brother Will, the former seeming thus
with ease to have made good his promise to win past the door of the Earl
of Banbury.

John Law, as on the morning of the roadside meeting, approached in
advance of his more timid brother, though both bowed deeply as they
entered. He bowed again