always visit his daughter, but would endeavour to do so in her
husband's absence, and was unwilling even to dine there. "We shall be
better friends down at Brotherton," he said to her. "He is always angry
with me after discussing this affair of his brother's; and I am not
quite sure that he likes seeing me here." This he had said on a
previous occasion, and now the two men met in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, not
having even gone there together.

At this meeting the lawyer told them a strange story, and one which to
the Dean was most unsatisfactory,--one which he resolutely determined
to disbelieve. "The Marquis," said Mr. Battle, "had certainly gone
through two marriage ceremonies with the Italian lady, one before the
death and one after the death of her first reputed husband. And as
certainly the so-called Popenjoy had been born before the second
ceremony." So much the Dean believed very easily, and the information
tallied altogether with his own views. If this was so, the so-called
Popenjoy could not be a real Popenjoy, and his daughter would be
Marchioness of Brotherton when this wicked ape of a marquis should die;
and her son, should she have one, would be the future marquis. But then
there came the remainder of the lawyer's story. Mr. Battle was
inclined, from all that he had learned, to believe that the Marchioness
had never really been married at all to the man whose name she had
first borne, and that the second marriage had been celebrated merely to
save appearances.

"What appearances!" exclaimed the Dean. Mr. Battle shrugged his
shoulders. Lord George sat in gloomy silence. "I don't believe a word
of it," said the Dean.

Then the lawyer went on with his story. This lady had been betrothed
early in life to the Marchese Luigi; but the man had become
insane--partially insane and by fits and starts. For some reason, not
as yet understood, which might probably never be understood, the lady's
family had thought it expedient that the lady should bear the name of
the man to whom she was to be married. She had done so for some years
and had been in possession of some income belonging to him. But Mr.
Battle was of opinion that she had never been Luigi's wife. Further
enquiries might possibly be made, and might add to further results. But
they would be very expensive. A good deal of money had already been
spent. "What did Lord George wish?"

"I think we have done enough," said Lord George, slowly,--thinking also
that he h