ofore."

"And, of course, you'll keep your word?"

"If you exact it."

"Of course I shall! Hester, this is no time for quibbling. I 've got
into a mess, the worst of all the bad scrapes which have ever befallen
me. A little time and a little management will pull me through but I
must have both; nor is it in such a place, and with such a society as
this, a man need fear investigation. I came here, as formerly one went
to live 'within the rules.' Let me, at least, have the benefit of the
protection for condescending to the locality."

"Sir Stafford, my Lady," said a servant, throwing open the door; and
the old Baronet entered hastily, and, without deigning to notice Lord
Norwood, walked straight up to Lady Hester, and said a few words in a
low voice.

Affecting to occupy himself with the books upon the table, Norwood
watched the dialogue with keen but stealthy glances, and then, as the
other turned suddenly round, said,

"How d' ye do, Sir Stafford? I am glad to see you looking so well."

"I thank you, my Lord; I am perfectly well," said he, with a most
repelling coldness.

"You are surprised to see me in Florence, for certain," said the other,
with a forced laugh.

"Very much surprised to see you here, my Lord," was the abrupt reply.

"Ha! ha! ha! I thought so!" cried Norwood, laughing, and pretending not
to feel the point of the remark. "But, nowadays, one flits about the
world in slippers and dressing-gown, and travelling inflicts no fatigue.
I only left England ten days ago."

"The post comes in seven, my Lord," said Sir Stafford. "I have had
letters this morning, written this day week, and which give the last
events in Town Life up to the very hour."

"Indeed! and what's the news, then?" said he, negligently.

"If your Lordship will favor me with your company for a few minutes,
I may be able to enlighten you," said Sir Stafford, moving towards the
door.

"With the greatest pleasure. Good-bye, Lady Hester," said he, rising.
"You said seven o'clock dinner, I think?"

"Yes," replied she, but in a voice almost inarticulate from shame and
terror.

"Now, Sir Stafford, I 'm at your orders," said the Viscount, gayly,
as he left the room, followed by the old man, whose crimson cheek and
flashing eye bespoke the passion which was struggling within him.

Of the two who now entered Sir Stafford's library, it must be owned that
Lord Norwood was, by many degrees, the more calm and collected. No one,
to have