ng-doors, announced him. Advancing two
paces, and bowing low, Colonel Haggerstone said, "Your Ladyship will
pardon the liberty the very great liberty I have taken in my respectful
inquiries for some days past; but although probably not remembered by
Sir Stafford, I once did enjoy the honor of his acquaintance, we met at
Lord Kerrison's, in Scotland."

Lady Onslow cut short this very uninteresting explanation by a bland but
somewhat supercilious smile, that seemed to say, "What possible matter
can it be?" while at the same time she motioned him to be seated.

"May I hope that Sir Stafford continues to improve?" said he, bowing
again.

"He's better to-day," said Lady Onslow, languidly. "Perhaps as well
as anyone can be in this wretched place. You heard, I suppose, of the
series of misfortunes that befell us, and compelled us to return here?"

The colonel looked mildly compassionate and inquisitive. He anticipated
the possible pleasure her Ladyship might feel in a personal narrative,
and he was an accomplished listener. This time, however, he was wrong.
Lady Onslow either did not think the occasion or the audience worth the
trouble of the exertion, and merely said, "We had a break-down somewhere
with an odious name. Sir Stafford would travel by that road through the
Hohlen Thai, where somebody made his famous march. Who was it?"

"Massena, I think," said the colonel, at a haphazard, thinking that at
least the name was ben trovato, just as Sunday-school children father
everything remarkable on John the Baptist.

"Oh dear, no; it was Moreau. We stopped to breakfast at the little inn
where he held his headquarters, and in the garden of which he amused
himself in pistol-shooting, strange, was it not? Are you a good shot,
Colonel?"

"Good among bad ones," said the colonel, modestly.

"Then we must have a match. I am so fond of it! You have pistols, of
course?"

"I am fortunate enough to have a case of Schlessinger's best, and at
your Ladyship's disposal."

"Well, that is agreed upon. You 'll be kind enough to select a suitable
spot in the garden, and if to-morrow be fine By the way what is
to-morrow not Sunday I hope?"

The colonel relieved her anxieties by the assurance that the next day
would be Monday, consequently that the present one was Sunday.

"How strange! One does make sad confusion in these things abroad," said
she, sighing. "I think we are better in England in that respect, don't
you?"

The question