that had been told of him and of her had been false. No
accusation brought against her had contained one spark of truth. But
there had been things between Lord Ongar and this man which she would
not care to have told openly in England. And though, in his conduct to
her, he had been customarily courteous, and on one occasion had been
generous, still she feared him. She would much rather that he should
have remained in Italy. And though, when all alone in Bolton Street, she
had in her desolation welcomed his sister Sophie, she would have
preferred that Sophie should not have come to her, claiming to renew
their friendship. But with the count she would hold no communion now,
even though he should find his way into the room.

A few minutes passed before the servant returned, and then he brought a
note with him. As the door opened Lady Ongar rose, ready to leave the
room by another passage; but she took the note and read it. It was as
follows: "I cannot understand why you should refuse to see me, and I
feel aggrieved. My present purpose is to say a few words to you on
private matters connected with papers that belonged to Lord Ongar. I
still hope that you will admit me--P." Having read these words while
standing, she made an effort to think what might be the best course for
her to follow. As for Lord Ongar's papers, she did not believe in the
plea. Lord Ongar could have had no papers interesting to her in such a
manner as to make her desirous of seeing this man or of hearing of them
in private. Lord Ongar, though she had nursed him to the hour of his
death, earning her price, had been her bitterest enemy; and though there
had been something about this count that she had respected, she had
known him to be a man of intrigue and afraid of no falsehoods in his
intrigues--a dangerous man, who might perhaps now and again do a
generous thing, but one who would expect payment for his generosity.
Besides, had he not been named openly as her lover? She wrote to him,
therefore, as follows: "Lady Ongar presents her compliments to Count
Pateroff and finds it to be out of her power to see him at present."
This answer the visitor took and walked away from the front door without
showing any disgust to the servant, either by his demeanor or in his
countenance. On that evening she received from him a long letter,
written at the neighboring inn, expostulating with her as to her conduct
toward him, and saying in the last line, that it was "impo