ry fine in Lizzie. The Duke of Omnium she had
never seen; but his name had been mentioned to her by Lady Glencora,
and she was quick to use it.

"I can admit of no reference to any one," said Lord Fawn.

"And I then,--what am I to do? I am to be thrown over simply because
your lordship--chooses to throw me over? Your lordship will admit no
reference to any one! Your lordship makes inquiries as long as an
attorney tells you stories against me, but drops them at once when
the attorney is made to understand that he is wrong. Tell me this,
sir. Can you justify yourself,--in your own heart?"

Unfortunately for Lord Fawn, he was not sure that he could justify
himself. The diamonds were gone, and the action was laid aside, and
the general opinion which had prevailed a month or two since, that
Lizzie had been disreputably concerned in stealing her own necklace,
seemed to have been laid aside. Lady Glencora and the duke went for
almost as much with Lord Fawn as they did with Lizzie. No doubt the
misbehaviour down among the rocks was left to him; but he had that
only on the evidence of Andy Gowran,--and even Andy Gowran's evidence
he had declined to receive otherwise than second-hand. Lizzie, too,
was prepared with an answer to this charge,--an answer which she had
already made more than once, though the charge was not positively
brought against her, and which consisted in an assertion that Frank
Greystock was her brother rather than her cousin. Such brotherhood
was not altogether satisfactory to Lord Fawn, when he came once more
to regard Lizzie Eustace as his possible future wife; but still the
assertion was an answer, and one that he could not altogether reject.

It certainly was the case that he had again begun to think what would
be the result of a marriage with Lady Eustace. He must sever himself
altogether from Mrs. Hittaway, and must relax the closeness of his
relations with Fawn Court. He would have a wife respecting whom he
himself had spread evil tidings, and the man whom he most hated
in the world would be his wife's favourite cousin, or, so to
say,--brother. He would, after a fashion, be connected with Mrs.
Carbuncle, Lord George de Bruce Carruthers, and Sir Griffin Tewett,
all of whom he regarded as thoroughly disreputable. And, moreover, at
his own country house at Portray, as in such case it would be, his
own bailiff or steward would be the man who had seen--what he had
seen. These were great objections; but h