the most
miserable dog on earth I'll go on living as long as I can keep my body
and soul together. I'll have another son yet, if one is to be had for
love or money. They shall have trouble enough before they find
themselves at Manor Cross."

"The Dean'll be dead before that time;--and so shall I," said Mr. De
Baron.

"Poor little boy! You never saw him. They didn't bring him in when you
were over at Manor Cross?"

"No;--I didn't see him."

"They weren't very proud of showing him. He wasn't much to look at.
Upon my soul I don't know whether he was legitimate or not, according
to English fashions." Mr. De Baron stared. "They had something to stand
upon, but,--damn it,--they went about it in such a dirty way! It don't
matter now, you know, but you needn't repeat all this."

"Not a word," said Mr. De Baron, wondering why such a communication
should have been made to him.

"And there was plenty of ground for a good fight. I hardly know whether
she had been married or not. I never could quite find out." Again Mr.
De Baron stared. "It's all over now."

"But if you were to have another son?"

"Oh! we're married now! There were two ceremonies. I believe the Dean
knows quite as much about it as I do;--very likely more. What a rumpus
there has been about a rickety brat who was bound to die."

"Am I to tell them downstairs?"

"Yes;--you might as well tell them. Wait till I'm gone. They'd say I'd
concealed it if I didn't let them know, and I certainly shan't write.
There's no Popenjoy now. If that young woman has a son he can't be
Popenjoy as long as I live. I'll take care of myself. By George I will.
Fancy, if the Dean had killed me. He'd have made his own daughter a
Marchioness."

"But he'd have been hung."

"Then I wish he'd done it. I wonder how it would have gone. There was
nobody there to see, nor to hear. Well;--I believe I'll think of going.
There's a train at two. You'll let me have a carriage; won't you?"

"Certainly."

"Let me get out some back way, and don't say a word about this till I'm
off. I wouldn't have them condoling with me, and rejoicing in their
sleeves, for a thousand pounds. Tell Holdenough, or my sister;--that'll
be enough. Good-bye. If you want ever to see me again, you must come to
Como." Then Mr. De Baron took his leave, and the Marquis prepared for
his departure.

As he was stepping into the carriage at a side door he was greeted by
Mr. Groschut. "So your Lordship is leaving us," sai