oy!" said Mary.

"Dead!" exclaimed Jack.

"I've just had a telegram from my lawyer in London. Yes; he's out of
the way. Poor little fellow! As sure as I sit here he was not Lord
Popenjoy."

"I never understood anything about it," said Jack.

"But I did. Of course the matter is at rest now. I'm not the man to
grudge any one what belongs to him; but I do not choose that any one
belonging to me should be swindled. If she were to have a son now, he
would be the heir."

"Oh, papa, do not talk in that way."

"Rights are rights, and the truth is the truth. Can any one wish that
such a property and such a title should go to the child of an Italian
woman whom no one has seen or knows?"

"Let it take its chance now, papa."

"Of course it must take its chance; but your chances must be
protected."

"Papa, he was at any rate my nephew."

"I don't know that. In law, I believe, he was no such thing. But he
has gone, and we need think of him no further." He was very triumphant.
There was an air about him as though he had already won the great stake
for which he had been playing. But in the midst of it all he was very
civil to Jack De Baron. "You will stay and dine with us to-day, Captain
De Baron?"

"Oh, do," said Mary.

"We can give you a bed if you will sleep here."

"Thanks. My things are at the hotel, and I will not move them. I will
come and dine if you'll have me."

"We shall be delighted. We can't make company of you, because no one is
coming. I shouldn't wonder if Lord George rode over. He will if he
hears of this. Of course he'll know to-morrow; but perhaps they will
not have telegraphed to him. I should go out to Manor Cross, only I
don't quite like to put my foot in that man's house." Jack could not
but feel that the Dean treated him almost as though he were one of the
family. "I rather think I shall ride out and risk it. You won't mind my
leaving you?" Of course Jack declared that he would not for worlds be
in the way. "Mary will play Badminton with you, if you like it. Perhaps
you can get hold of Miss Pountner and Grey; and make up a game." Mr.
Grey was one of the minor canons, and Miss Pountner was the canon's
daughter.

"We shall do very well, papa. I'm not mad after Badminton, and I dare
say we shall manage without Miss Pountner."

The Dean went off, and in spite of the feud did ride over to Manor
Cross. His mind was so full of the child's death and of the all but
certainty of coming glory which n