It is not only about the
diamonds,--though that was quite enough to break off any engagement.
Have you forgotten what I told you that the man saw at Portray?"

"I don't know that the man spoke the truth."

"But he did."

"And I hate that kind of espionage. It is so very likely that
mistakes should be made."

"When she was sitting in his arms,--and kissing him! If you choose
to do it, Frederic, of course you must. We can't prevent it. You are
free to marry any one you please."

"I'm not talking of marrying her."

"What do you suppose she wants you to go there for? As for political
life, I am quite sure it would be the death of you. If I were you I
wouldn't go near her. You have got out of the scrape, and I would
remain out."

"But I haven't got out," said Lord Fawn.

On the next day, Saturday, he did nothing in the matter. He went
down, as was his custom, to Richmond, and did not once mention
Lizzie's name. Lady Fawn and her daughters never spoke of her
now,--neither of her, nor, in his presence, of poor Lucy Morris. But
on his return to London on the Sunday evening he found another note
from Lizzie. "You will hardly have the hardihood to leave my note
unanswered. Pray let me know when you will come to me." Some answer
must, as he felt, be made to her. For a moment he thought of asking
his mother to call;--but he at once saw that by doing so he might lay
himself open to terrible ridicule. Could he induce Lord Mount Thistle
to be his Mercury? It would, he felt, be quite impossible to make
Lord Mount Thistle understand all the facts of his position. His
sister, Mrs. Hittaway, might have gone, were it not that she herself
was violently opposed to any visit. The more he thought of it the
more convinced he became that, should it be known that he had
received two such notes from a lady and that he had not answered or
noticed them, the world would judge him to have behaved badly. So, at
last, he wrote,--on that Sunday evening,--fixing a somewhat distant
day for his visit to Hertford Street. His note was as follows:--

Lord Fawn presents his compliments to Lady Eustace. In
accordance with the wish expressed in Lady Eustace's two
notes of the 23rd instant and this date, Lord Fawn will
do himself the honour of waiting upon Lady Eustace on
Saturday next, March 3rd, at 12, noon. Lord Fawn had
thought that under circumstances as they now exist, no
further personal interview could lead to the happi