ed you think
it odd that I haven't received you with open arms. My boy is as much to
me as ever was your daughter to you."

"Perhaps so, my lord. The question is not whether he is beloved, but
whether he is Lord Popenjoy."

"He is Lord Popenjoy. He is a poor weakling, and I doubt whether he may
enjoy the triumph long, but he is Lord Popenjoy. You must know it
yourself, Dean."

"I know nothing of the kind," said the Dean, furiously.

"Then you must be a very self-willed man. When this began George was
joined with you in the unnatural inquiry. He at any rate has been
convinced."

"It may be he has submitted himself to his brother's influence."

"Not in the least. George is not very clever, but he has at any rate
had wit enough to submit to the influence of his own legal adviser,--or
rather to the influence of your legal adviser. Your own man, Mr.
Battle, is convinced. You are going on with this in opposition even to
him. What the devil is it you want? I am not dead, and may outlive at
any rate you. Your girl hasn't got a child, and doesn't seem likely to
have one. You happen to have married her into a noble family, and now,
upon my word, it seems to me that you are a little off your head with
downright pride."

"Was it for this you sent for me?"

"Well;--yes it was. I thought it might be as well to argue it out. It
isn't likely that there should be much love between us, but we needn't
cut each other's throats. It is costing us both a d----d lot of money;
but I should think that my purse must be longer than yours."

"We will try it, my lord."

"You intend to go on with this persecution then?"

"The Countess Luigi was presumably a married woman when she bore that
name, and I look upon it as a sacred duty to ascertain whether she was
so or not."

"Sacred!" said the Marquis, with a sneer.

"Yes;--sacred. There can be no more sacred duty than that which a
father owes to his child."

"Ah!" Then the Marquis paused and looked at the Dean before he went on
speaking. He looked so long that the Dean was preparing to take his hat
in his hand ready for a start. He showed that he was going to move, and
then the Marquis went on speaking. "Sacred! Ah!--and such a child!"

"She is one of whom I am proud as a father, and you should be proud as
a sister-in-law."

"Oh, of course. So I am. The Germains were never so honoured before. As
for her birth I care nothing about that. Had she behaved herself, I
should have though