t
of property and claiming it as her own, whereas, in truth, she
had not the slightest title to it. It was, in a great measure, in
consequence of the assertions of the Eustace faction, almost in
obedience to their advice, that he had resolved to break off the
match; and now they turned upon him, and John Eustace absolutely went
out of his way to write him a letter which was clearly meant to imply
that he, Lord Fawn, was bound to marry the woman to whom he had once
engaged himself! Lord Fawn felt that he was ill-used, and that a man
might have to undergo a great deal of bad treatment who should strive
to put himself right in the eye of the public.

At last he wrote his letter,--on a Wednesday, which with him had
something of the comfort of a half-holiday, as on that day he was not
required to attend Parliament.

India Office, 28th March, 18--.

MY DEAR LADY EUSTACE,

In accordance with the promise which I made to you when
I did myself the honour of waiting upon you in Hertford
Street, I take up my pen with the view of communicating
to you the result of my deliberations respecting the
engagement of marriage which, no doubt, did exist between
us last summer.

Since that time I have no doubt taken upon myself to say
that that engagement was over; and I am free to admit that
I did so without any assent or agreement on your part to
that effect. Such conduct no doubt requires a valid and
strong defence. My defence is as follows:--

I learned that you were in possession of a large amount
of property, vested in diamonds, which was claimed by the
executors under your late husband's will as belonging to
his estate; and as to which they declared, in the most
positive manner, that you had no right or title to it
whatever. I consulted friends and I consulted lawyers, and
I was led to the conviction that this property certainly
did not belong to you. Had I married you in these
circumstances, I could not but have become a participator
in the lawsuit which I was assured would be commenced. I
could not be a participator with you, because I believed
you to be in the wrong. And I certainly could not
participate with those who would in such case be attacking
my own wife.

In this condition of things I requested you,--as you
must, I think, yourself own, with all deference and
good feeling,--to give up the actual possession of
the prop