etins to Lady Kew and the Newcome family at Baden, who were all
greatly moved and affected by the accident which had befallen poor
Kew. Lady Kew broke out in wrath, and indignation. We may be sure the
Duchesse d'Ivry offered to condole with her upon Kew's mishap the day
after the news arrived at Baden; and, indeed, came to visit her. The
old lady had just received other disquieting intelligence. She was just
going out, but she bade her servant to inform the Duchess that she was
never more at home to the Duchesse d'Ivry. The message was not delivered
properly, or the person for whom it was intended did not choose to
understand it, for presently, as the Countess was hobbling across
the walk on her way to her daughter's residence, she met the Duchesse
d'Ivry, who saluted her with a demure curtsey and a commonplace
expression of condolence. The Queen of Scots was surrounded by the chief
part of her court, saving of course MM. Castillonnes and Punter absent
on service. "We were speaking of this deplorable affair," said Madame
d'Ivry (which indeed was the truth, although she said it). "How we
pity you, madame!" Blackball and Loder, Cruchecassee and Schlangenbad,
assumed sympathetic countenances.

Trembling on her cane, the old Countess glared out upon Madame d'Ivry.
"I pray you, madame," she said in French, "never again to address me the
word. If I had, like you, assassins in my pay, I would have you killed;
do you hear me?" and she hobbled on her way. The household to which she
went was in terrible agitation; the kind Lady Anne frightened beyond
measure, poor Ethel full of dread, and feeling guilty almost as if she
had been the cause, as indeed she was the occasion, of Kew's misfortune.
And the family had further cause of alarm from the shock which the news
had given to Sir Brian. It has been said that he had had illnesses of
late which caused his friends much anxiety. He had passed two months at
Aix-la-Chapelle, his physicians dreading a paralytic attack; and Madame
d'Ivry's party still sauntering on the walk, the men smoking their
cigars, the women breathing their scandal, now beheld Dr. Finck issuing
from Lady Anne's apartments, and wearing such a face of anxiety, that
the Duchesse asked with some emotion, "Had there been a fresh bulletin
from Kehl?"

"No, there had been no fresh bulletin from Kehl; but two hours since Sir
Brian Newcome had had a paralytic seizure."

"Is he very bad?"

"No," says Dr. Finck, "he is not