reports; and he was about to throw
it down when a paragraph caught his notice which instantly engrossed all
his attention. It was in the 'Morning Post' that he thus read:

'The Marquis of Montfort, the eldest son of the Duke of------, whose
return to England we recently noticed, has resided for several years in
Italy. His lordship is considered one of the most accomplished noblemen
of the day, and was celebrated at Rome for his patronage of the arts.
Lord Montfort will shortly be united to the beautiful Miss Temple, the
only daughter of the Right Honourable Pelham Temple. Miss Temple is
esteemed one of the richest heiresses in England, as she will doubtless
inherit the whole of the immense fortune to which her father so
unexpectedly acceded. Mr. Temple is a widower, and has no son. Mr.
Temple was formerly our minister at several of the German Courts,
where he was distinguished by his abilities and his hospitality to his
travelling countrymen. It is said that the rent-roll of the Yorkshire
estates of the late Sir Temple Devereux is not less than 15,000L. per
annum. The personal property is also very considerable. We understand
that Mr. Temple has purchased the mansion of the Duke of -----, in
Grosvenor-square. Lord Montfort accompanied Mr. Temple and his amiable
daughter to this country.'

What a wild and fiery chaos was the mind of Ferdinand Armine when he
read this paragraph. The wonders it revealed succeeded each other
with such rapidity that for some time he was deprived of the power of
reflection. Henrietta Temple in England! Henrietta Temple one of
the greatest heiresses in the country! Henrietta Temple about to be
immediately married to another! His Henrietta Temple, the Henrietta
Temple whom he adored, and by whom he had been worshipped! The Henrietta
Temple whose beautiful lock of hair was at this very moment on his
heart! The Henrietta Temple for whom he had forfeited fortune, family,
power, almost life!

O Woman, Woman! Put not thy trust in woman! And yet, could he reproach
her? Did she not believe herself trifled with by him, outraged,
deceived, deluded, deserted? And did she, could she love another? Was
there another to whom she had poured forth her heart as to him, and all
that beautiful flow of fascinating and unrivalled emotion? Was there
another to whom she had pledged her pure and passionate soul? Ah, no!
he would not, he could not believe it. Light and false Henrietta could
never be. She had been s