grateful fellow?"

"Why, what do you know of him?"

"He owed his first seat in Parliament to the votes of two near relations
of mine, and when I called upon him some time ago, in his office, he
absolutely ordered me out of the room. Hang his impertinence; if ever I
can pay him off, I guess I shan't fail for want of good will!"

"Ordered you out of the room? That's not like Egerton, who is civil, if
formal--at least, to most men. You must have offended him in his weak
point."

"A man whom the public pays so handsomely should have no weak point. What
is Egerton's?"

"Oh, he values himself on being a thorough gentleman--a man of the nicest
honor," said Levy with a sneer. "You must have ruffled his plumes there.
How was it?"

"I forget now," answered Mr. Avenel, who was far too well versed in the
London scale of human dignities since his marriage, not to look back with
a blush at his desire of knighthood. "No use bothering our heads now about
the plumes of an arrogant popinjay. To return to the subject we were
discussing. You must be sure to let me have this money next week."

"Rely upon it."

"And you'll not let my bills get into the market; keep them under lock and
key."

"So we agreed."

"It is but a temporary difficulty--royal mourning, such nonsense--panic in
trade, lest these precious ministers go out. I shall soon float over the
troubled waters."

"By the help of a paper boat," said the Baron, laughing; and the two
gentlemen shook hands and parted.

CHAPTER VI.

Meanwhile Audley Egerton's carriage had deposited him at the door of Lord
Lansmere's house, at Knightsbridge. He asked for the Countess, and was
shown into the drawing-room, which was deserted. Egerton was paler than
usual; and, as the door opened, he wiped the unwonted moisture from his
forehead, and there was a quiver in his firm lip. The Countess, too, on
entering, showed an emotion almost equally unusual to her self-control.
She pressed Audley's hand in silence, and seating herself by his side,
seemed to collect her thoughts. At length she said: "It is rarely indeed
that we meet, Mr. Egerton, in spite of your intimacy with Lansmere and
Harley. I go so little into your world, and you will not voluntarily come
to me."

"Madam," replied Egerton, "I might evade your kind reproach by stating
that my hours are not at my disposal; but I answer you with plain truth--it
must be painful to both of us to meet."

The Countess colored and