h Snodge, who has a great deal of voice and a great deal of
jealousy, will join too--head the Vipont interest in the Commons--and
speak to the country--speak every night--and all night, too, if
required. Yes; Darrell must take the peerage--devote himself for a year
or two to this great measure--to the consolidation of his fame--to the
redemption of the House of Vipont--and to the Salvation of the Empire;
and then, if he please, 'solve senescentem'--that is, he may retire from
harness, and browse upon laurels for the rest of his days!"

Colonel Morley delivered himself of this long address without
interruption from a listener interested in every word that related to
Guy Darrell, and in every hope that could reunite him to the healthful
activities of life.

It was now Lady Montfort's turn to speak; though, after subjects so
momentous as the Crisis and its speculative consequences, private
affairs, relating to a poor little girl like Sophy--nay, the mere
private affairs of Darrell himself, seemed a pitiful bathos. Lady
Montfort, however, after a few words of womanly comment upon the only
part of the Colonel's discourse which touched her heart, hastened on to
describe her interview with Arabella, and the melaneboly condition of
Darrell's once formidable son-in-law. For that last, the Colonel evinced
no more compassionate feeling than any true Englishman, at the time I am
writing, would demonstrate for a murderous Sepoy tied to the mouth of a
cannon.

"A very good riddance," said the Colonel, dryly. "Great relief to
Darrell, and to every one else whom that monster tormented and preyed
on; and with his life will vanish the only remaining obstacle in
righting poor Willy's good name. I hope to live to collect, from all
parts of the country, Willy's old friends and give them a supper, at
which I suppose I must not get drunk; though I should rather like it,
than not! But I interrupt you! go on."

Lady Montfort proceeded to state the substance of the papers she had
perused in reference to the mystery which had been the cause of so much
disquietude and bitterness.

The Colonel stretched out his hand eagerly for the documents--thus
quoted. He hurried his eye rapidly over the contents of the first paper
he lit on, and then said, pulling out his watch: "Well, I have half an
hour yet to spare in discussing these matters with you--may I order your
coachman to drive round the Regent's Park?--better than keeping it thus
at my door,