es, I
was in love with Lady Mary, and he was as well informed of it as if he
had had spies to watch my dreams. And I saw that in many cases a lover
was a kind of an ostrich, the bird which buries its head in the sands
and thinks it is secure from detection. I wished that my father had
told me more about love, for I have no doubt he knew everything of it,
he had lived so many years in Paris. Father Donovan, of course, could
not have helped me in such instruction. I resolved, any how, to be
more cautious in the future, although I did not exactly see how I
could improve myself. The Earl's insight was pure mystery to me. I
would not be for saying that he practised black magic, but any how, if
he had been at Glandore, I would have had him chased through three
parishes.

However, the Earl was grinning victoriously, and I saw that I must
harden my face to a brave exterior.

"And is it so?" said I. "Is it so?"

"Yes," he said, with his grin.

"And what then?" said I bluntly.

In his enjoyment he had been back again among his cushions.

"'What then? What then?'" he snarled, rearing up swiftly. "Why, then
you are an insolent fool: Begone from me! begone! be--" Here some
spasm overtook him, a spasm more from rage than from the sickness. He
fell back breathless, although his eyes continued to burn at me.

"My lord," said I, bowing, "I will go no poorer than when I came, save
that I have lost part of the respect I once had for you."

I turned and left his chamber. Some few gentlemen yet remained in the
drawing-room as I passed out into the public part of the inn. I went
quietly to a chamber and sat down to think. I was for ever going to
chambers and sitting down to think after these talks with the Earl,
during which he was for ever rearing up in his chair and then falling
back among the cushions.

But here was another tumble over the cliffs, if you like! Here was
genuine disaster. I laid my head in my hands and mused before my
lonely fire, drinking much and visioning my ruin. What the Earl said
was true. There was trouble in the papers for the old nobleman. That
he knew. That I knew. And he knew with his devilish wisdom that I
would lose my head rather than see her in sorrow. Well, I could bide a
time. I would go to London in company with Paddy and Jem Bottles,
since they owned all the money, and if three such rogues could not
devise something, then I would go away and bury myself in a war in
foreign parts, occupying mys