Nobelist.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2298, 2 April 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Nobelist.

BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN, Author of "Ship Ahoy," "Dutch the Diver," "The Foundry Belle," &c. The Story: 1860—Strange Lives. [All Rights Reserved.] CHAPTER XXIX. " WHY IS NOT GARLAND HERE ?" There was a gay party at Madame Dorinde's, limited to eight alone and fairly balanced between the sexes. The dinner was good, the supply of wines very liberal, especially as they cost the hostess nothing. But they were a curious collection of guests, such as would have puzzled a student of human nature. Certainly he would have understood the status of Madame Dorinde, a handsome showy woman with plenty of smart repartee on her lips, and an abundance of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds for neck, arms and fingers—the gifts of the admirers of her histronic powers. He would have told you that this would be a bright and gay theatrical career for a few years, and then probably she would drop out of sight. There was a pretty, fair girl with good features and the glow of youth on her cheeks, putting to shame the additions of paint, and who seemed to think it right to laugh loudly and boisterously at everything said to her ; there was Miss Lester, the first burlesque actress of the day; and there was, dark, almost gipsylooking in her rich creamy complexion, whose colour was heightened by the

novelty and excitement of the scene, June, the Gentleman's young wife ; her husband—the Gentleman ; Frank Morrison ; and a couple of languid habitues of the stalls, who told oue another that they were seeing life, completed the party. It was intended to be joyous and full of laisser alter ; but somehow it seemed as if a spirit of discontent had crept in, and from time to time, though there was no open unpleasantly, flashes of annoyance played like the summer lightning which prefaces a storm over the table with its sparkling viands. Madame Dorinde had a great favour to ask of her admirer, Frank Morrisou, and sought to put him in the best of humours; but to her great annoyance she found him distrait, for his attention had, from the first moment, been taken up by June, and his eyes were being constantly turned in her direction, as, after a time, forgetting past troubles and neglect in the gaiety and excitement of the scene, she looked brighter and more animated than she had seemed for weeks.

This annoyed the Gentleman, who was not long in detecting the glances directed by Frank Morrison at the glowing beauty of June, and he was the more annoyed because, just before dinner, he had whispered to the giver of the feast— ' Have the cards on the table as soon as you can.—You propose.' ' There will be no cards to-night, my friend, so you need not expect to win any money,' the hostess had replied; and the young man had bitten his lip, and sat thinking how he could turn the little party to his own account. 'Why, Huish,' Morrison had said, gaily, a little later on, ' what a canting humbug you are. I never thought to meet you at a party like this,' and he smiled significantly at June, whose face became crimson, but directly after of a sallow pallor, as the Gentleman replied politely, but with a vicious ring in his words.

'Yes, it is a wonder, my dear fellow ; but you set me such an example.' The two habitues of the stalls nodded to one another their approbation of the retort, aud Madame Dorinde, to calm what threatened to be one ebullition with another, proposed champagne. As the dinner went on, the elements of discord began to leaven the party with greater effect, and a calm observer would have felt sure that the evening would not pass away without a quarrel. Morrison slighted his hostess more than once, and a redder spot burned in her cheeks right in the centre of a rather unnatural tint, while the gentleman out of sheer bravado, on. seeing how Morrison kept trying to draw June into conversation, directed his to Madame Dorinde.

' By the way, why isn't Garland here?' said Morrison at last. ' I expected to see him here with little Merelle.'

'Better employed perhaps,' saiil Madame Dorinde i.-irtly; and the. young girl with the youiiitul look laughed very heartily. 'I say, Huish,' saiil Morrison, at last, on finding that his attentions to June were resented by her companion, ' I shall see little fair somebody to morrow. You know whom I mean. What tales I might tell.'

'Tell them, then,' 'said the gentleman, sharply ; perhaps I shall retort by telling too.'

' Oh, tut, tut, tut!' cried Dorinde. ' Nobody tells tales out of school.' 'This is not the School for Scandal tben," said one of the habitues of the stalls ; aud the fair young lady laughed

agHiu. ' I say Dorinde," said Morrison at last, rather uneasily, ' why is not Garland here V and as he spoke he directed and offensive look at June.

The Gentleman writhed and bit his lip, biit he said nothing then, only waited his time, and then wrote upon the back of the pretty little card of the menu: - ' Garland thought your little wife Rente would be dull, and has gone to keep her company.' ' Give that to the gentleman opposite' he whispertd to a waiter, slipping a florin into the man's hand. Dor/t say where it came from,'

The man noddod, and the Gentleman turned to chat gaily with Dorinde, then filling his glass slowly, he directed a sidelong {dunce at Morrison, as he took the card, glanced tit its writing, crushed it up in his hand, and closed his eyes, as a spasm ran through his countenance, and he turned pale as death.

No one else noticed it, and he opened his eyes and glunced quickly round to see that the company were all busily conversing:, when, rising quietly, he left the room, walked slowly to the lobby of the great building, where he had left hat and coat, then duly faking them, he walked calmly out of the house. Then he let his excitement have its full bent.

' Hansom !' he shouted, leaping , into the first he saw, ' Eaton-place—double fare—gallop.' The horse dashed off in answer to the sharp ent of the whip, and as it tore along Piccadilly, Frank Morrison strove to get rid of the fumes of the wine he had been drinking, and to think calmly.

' She is too pure and sweet and true a woman. I don't believe it,' he said, grinding his teeth. A woman I am cursed scoundrel enough to neglect. Who could have written that ? Curse him, that John Huish, of course. What a scoundrel he has turned out !'

' Bah. ! what am I railing , at ?' he cried. ' Whom do I call scoundrel! D——n you?' he roared, forcing up the little trap in the roof of the handsom. 'Faster, man, faster.'

There was another lash, of the whip, and the horse galloped furiously.

' Scoundrel indeed ; he is no worse scoundrel than I. He is an open roue, while I stoop to all kinds of beggarly petty subterfuges to conceal the life I lead. I won't believe it though : it is a malicious trick of John Huish's because he was jealous ; and he has fooled me. ' Well,' he muttered, after a pause, ' a good thing too. Pah ! I'm sick of the

whole whole thing—cards, lose, pay— feast a woman who does not cure a sou for me. Heavens ! what a fool I am. John Huish, you have ousted me : take my place and welcome. Ren6e, little woman, I'll come back, and be a good boy now.' He said this with a mocking laugh, and then changed his position impatiently in the cab, growing, in spite of his words, more excited every moment. ' How could Huish know ?' be said, gnawing his nails. ' Impossible ; and besides, Garland is too good and tried a friend. Bah ! suppose he did drop in, what then ? Why he is wiser than I : he prefers the society of a sweet good little woman to that of a set of painted creatures who have not a scrap of reputation big enough to make a bow for their false hair. ' There, I've been fooled,'he exclaimed, as the cab turned down out of Knightbridge, and he neared the tall gaunt double row of .bouses known as Eaton Place. Never mind ; I'll forgive him for fooling me, find I'll try to leavo all this wretched stupid life behind. We'll go abroad for a bit ; or, no, wo'll go yachting : there'll be no temptations there. I'm going to begin afresh. We'll have a new honeymoon, Renuo my little girl. But —but—if that fellow's words were true ?' The gas lamps seemed to spin round as he stopped the cab, and he leaped out to hastily thrust some money in the drier's hand, and then walked sharply down the Piace till he came opposite his .own house,

' Curse it—it can't be true,' he groaned, as he saw the dimly lit drawing-room. If it were true, I should go mad, or go to the bad altogether. Bah! I won't believe it. Garland, old fellow, I beg you pardon,' he muttered. ' Renfe, my child, if heaven will give me strength I'll confess to you like an honest man that I've been a fool and an idiot, and ask you to forgive mo.' He tore at the bell, trembling now with excitement. ' What will she say to me?' he thought as he waited. ' Nothing ! Forgive me without a word. Thank you.' He said the last words sharply to the servant who threw open the door ; then, dragging off his overcoat, and throwing it and his hat to the man, he bounded up the great stone staircase, three steps at a time, ;and trying a control the agitation that made hie side, he threw open the door, closed it hastily, and walked across the faintly lit room into the next, where he could see into the little boudoir with its bright furniture, flower, and graceful hanging lamp, which shed a softened light through the place. The next instant he had entered, and was standing face to face with his young wife, who with flushed face stood trembling before him, supporting herself by one hand upon the chimney piece. ' Renee,' he cried, turning white with rage, as his worst suspicious seemed confirmed, what does this mean ?' ' Frank, Frank!' she cried, stretching out her hands towards him; and she tottered a couple of steps and then reeled and would have fallen, but he caught her and swung her round on to the couch, where he laid her, and stood gazing down for a few moments.

Then, looking dazed, and trembling in every limb, he turned round, his eyes rested on the curtains which shut off the little conservatory, and with two strides he reached them, tore them aside, and then started back, for he was face to face with Captain Garland. It was exactly what he had wound himself up to expect, but his faith in his injured wife was so strong that, as he drew back, he could scarcely believe his eyes, and with a giddy feeling stealing over him, he stood staring wildly at the apparition that he had unveiled. The blood* seemed to fly in a chilling flood to hi» heart, and for a few moments he could neither speak nor move. Then with an electrics rush, it seemed to dart again through every vein in his body, miking his nerves tingle, and he rushed »t tlin mini who had crept like a serpent into Mm E-leu.

' Devil !' ho cried hoarsely ; and he tried to seize his enemy by the throat.

With ii deft movemeut of the arms, though, Garland struck his hands aside, caught them by the wri.-t, gave them a dexeteruu.s twist, and forced the other, stronger man though he was of the two, upon bis knees.

' Fool ! idiot!' he said, in a low voice. •Do you wish to publish it all over Belgravia? ,

' You orawliug deceitful fiend !' cried Frank Morrison, making a savage effort to free himself, and succeeding so that he closed with Garland and a sharp struggle ensued which again went against the youug husbaud, for his adversary was an adept in athletic exercises, and taking advantage of a low ottoman being behind him, Gorland forced him backwards so suddenly that he fell, and in a moment the Captain had him down with his hands in his neck-tie and bis knees in his chest.

' Are you mad ?' he said, panting and trying to recover his breath ; ' what do you waut ?' ' ' Your life, you crawling, lying villain,' gasped Morrison. ' Look here, Morrison, be a man of the world,' said Garland, quietly. 'So far, I don't suppose they have heard anything downstairs, so why make a scene ? If you wish it I'll meet you in Belgium : that is,'he added smiling, 'if yon consider that your honour has suffered.'

' You villain !' pauted Morrison. • Yon have blasted my home.'

'Bah! man,' said the Captain, 'don't go into high sentiment. ]31asted your homo ? Hang it, man, talk sense. What did you care for your home. Where have you been to-night ?'

'Where I pleased,' cried Morrison, glaring up with subdued rage iu his eyes ; but he lowered his voice.

'Exactly,' said Cxptain Garland, carelessly. ' You had your little affair to attend to : why should not Madame have her guest by way of solace in the absence of so true aud faithful a husband ?'

' You villain !' panted Mn-rison again, as he caught the wrists that held him down.

' Villain, if you like to use such strong language mon cher, but for heaven's sake be calm—be a man of the world. We don't live in the old, seutimental Darby and Joan days, my dear fellow, but in times when it is fashionable to follow one's own sweet will. You are like the dog in the manger: obstinate—selfish—brutal. Go to, my dear friend, and enjoy yourself, but let others live and enjoy themselves too.'

For answer Frank Morrison made a desperate struggle to rise, but he was quite helpless under the strong pressure of his opponent's knee.

' For godness' sake, be calm,' said Garland, angrily. ' Hang it man, what did you express in our matter-of-fact world ! You brought me here constantly, and you left us together constantly. Do you forget that we were old lovers before you came between us! There, you are coming to your senses I hope. If not, look here,' he said, loosening his grasp with one hand, and drawing , a little ivory handled Deringer from his pocket. ' I do not care for these brutal struggles, Frank Morrison, and I do not intend to engage in another. I warn you, lam a military man, and accustomed to the use of arms. Now get up if you like.'

He stepped back quickly towards the door, and Frank Morrison sprang up and made as if onoe more to seize his opponent, who, however, held the little pistol before him, backed slowly into the darkened rooms, reached the door, and was gone, Frank Morrison stood motionless till he heard the front door close ; then with a moan of anguish, he turned towards where Benee still lay insensible upon the oouob.

'My punishment!' he groaned ; ' and I believed in her so thoroughly ; I thought her so pure, so sweet that—out upon me, I left her, dog that I was, for garbage. Curse him!' he cried in a paroxysm of rage, ' Curse her, with her smooth white innocent looks. The whole world is blasted with villainy, and there is not one amongst us worthy of a moment's faith.'

'frank—husband,' moaned a voice, and Renee, pale as death, rose up trembling to clasp her hands before him.

He caught them in his, dragged her up savagely, and then swung her down upon her knees.

' And you too, of all women in the world. Curse vou—curse you—may

you ' — 'Frank,my own,' she cried,'hear me,

• Out upon you !' lie cried. ' I'll never look upon your smooth, false face again.' Choking with her wild emotion, she tried to speak—to cling so him, but he tore himself away, and as she fell heavily upon the carpet ho rushed from the house.

CHAPTER XXX. A DOSE OF MEDICINE FOR CLARE. 'Is the erirl mud ?' exclaimed Lady Denver. ' What does she mean ?' 'I mean, mamma,' cried Clare with spirit, ' that I will not—l cannot marry Sir Grantley Witters.' 'Clare, you'll break my heart,'cried her ladyship. ' Tom, this is your fault for bringing that wicked young man to the house.' ' What—Witter.*,' said Tom sneeriugly. ' No, no, no, my boy,' said Lord Anthony, rubbing his leg. ' Yonr mamma means John Huish, aud I—I —I —damme, I can't understand at all about him. I'm sure I—l—l don't think he's such a black devil as he's being pained.' Clare parted a look jof gratitude towards him, and the one or reproach at her brother who stood biting his nails.

' Anthony, will you leave that leg alone,' cried her ladyship. ' You give me the creeps; and if you cannot talk sensibly, hold your tongue. >- Everybody knows, even Tom, if Jbo would only speak, that this man','Pah ! 'I cannot utter his name is degraded to the utmost degree;but he has minagei to play upon a foolish girl's heart, and she is biind to his wickedness.' 1 Mamma,' cried Clare, ' I am not blind; and I will not believe these calumnies.' ' Believe them or not, my word find your papa's are passed to Sir Grantley Wilters. Your trousseau is ordered, and you will be his wife in less than a fortnight now.' Clare turned pale, and glanced at Tom, who stood biting his nails, and then at her father, who grew more wrinkled and rubbed his leg. She then turned to Tryphie whose look was sympathising but meant no health. She felt that she wae alone, and, oven in these nineteenth century days, being as helplessly driveti into marriage with a man she detests as it" iu the days of old chivalry, when knights and barons patronised ironmongery for costume, and carried off captive maidens to their castles to exponse them before shaven friar, or else dispense with his services. ' Clare,' said her ladyship then, ' I wished to spare your feelings, and if you hud been less recalcitrant-."—th;it was a word that her ladyship had been hoarding up for the occasion, and it rather jarred against her second best set of toot!) an she used it ; it was such a hard, stony word, and so threatening to the enamel —' I should have kept this back, but now I must tell you that for your papa's and my own satisfaction, we have had enquiries made as to this—to this—Mr Huish's character by an impartial person, and you s>hall hear from his lips how misguided you have been.'

Clare turned pale, and setting her teeth slio threw her head up and remained defiant and proud,

' After hearing this I trusted that your sense of duty to your parents will teach you to behiive to Sir Grantley Wilters more in accordance with your relative positions. Hβ does not complaui, but I can often see that he is wounded by your studied coldness.' 1 Not he : d d sight too hard.' ' Tom,' said her ladysnip, 'I had hoped that your visit to purer atmosphere taken at the expense of your papa, would have had a more refining influence upon you.' ' So it bus, said Tom, sharply ; ' but if you keep on making use of that worn out cad's name, I must swear, so there.' Her ladyship did not reply, but pointpd to the bell, and Lord Anthony dropped the hand with which he was about to caress his leg, and toddled accross the morn and rang, surreptitiously feeling in one of his pockets directly after, to see if something was safe.

Tryplile Wilder crossed to her cousin and took hand,' whispering a few consolatory words, while her ladyship played the heaving billow a little as she settled herself iu her chair in a mest magisterial manner.

' Robins,' said her ladyship, as the butler entered, 'has that gentleman arrived ?'

' Bpen here five minutes, my lady. He is in his lordspip'.s study.' ' Shew him up, fiohins, and we are at home to no one until be is gone.' The butler bowed, went out, and returned with a tall, rather ungainly man in black, who had something of the appearance of a country carpenter who hiid taken to proaching. He had a habit of buttoning his black coat up tightly, with the eon- qucnoe that it made a great many wriuklf.-s round his body, and though he was fully .six feet high, you felt that these wrinkles were caused by a kind of contraction, his body being of the nature of concertina bellows, and that you might pull him out to a most amazing , extent. He favoured this conceit, too, by beiii? very cartilaginous in the spine, and softly pressing his hands to his breast, and bowing and undulating gently in different directions to the party assembled in the room. ' Hang him !' muttered Tom, scowling at the new comer. 'He looks as if he were in training for a serpent. Who the deuce is he 'i , ' Tom,' whispered his lordship, ' that man makes me feel queer; get some brandy and soda in your room after he is gone. , Tom favoured his father with a peculiar wink, and the old gentleman felt in his pockets once more, to be sure that he had not flung something out with his handerchipf. 'Mr Irkle, I think V said her ladyship, blandly. 'Hurkle, my lady,' said the new arrival, bowing, ' Hurkle arid Slant, Murley Court, Strand.' ' I think we need no preliminaries, Mr Hurkle,' said her ladyship. ' Perhaps you will favour me by reading a few notes from your dairy."

' Thank you, my lady, yes, certainly,' said the new arrival, taking out a large flat; pocket-book, and then fretting , into difficulties with his gloves and hat, setting, the latter down upon a chair, and putting the former in his pocket, then altering his mind, and taking the gloves out of his pocket, dropping one, and putting the other in his hat, which he took up and placed under the chair instead of upon it. Then he had to pick up the stray glove and put it, in his pocket, evidently feeling uneasy directly after because he had not put it in his hat, but not liking to make a fresh alteration.

He now coughed behind the pocketbook very respectfully, opened it, turned over a few leaves, drew out a pencil, and laid it across, so as not to lose the place, coughed again and said : — ' Your ladyship would like me to begin at the begiuning ?'

' Certainly, Mr Hurkle,' said her ladyship with dignity; and then with Clare sitting with her eyes half closed, Tom walking up and down the room, and Lord Anthony looking very much troubled and caressing his leg, the visitor coughed again and began in u low subdued tone indicative of the secresy of his mission.

' Thursday, twelf t. Called into Lady Denver's, Portland Place. Private inquiry. No expense to bo spared.'

' I think you may omit all that part, Mr Hurkle,' said her ladyship, graciously." 'Thank you, my lady. Hem !' said the visitor, going on reading. ' Decided to take up utisu myself, Mr Slaut buiug iu

Paris.—That is the end of that entry, my lady.' ' Thank you,' said her ladyship, bowing, and Tom began to whistle softly and to wonder what the man would say if he kicked his hat across the room like a football.

' Friday, thirteent,' continued the visitor, turning over a leaf. ' Hem !' His cough seemed to be brought on by the fact that he was in the presence of the nobility, and it troubled him slightly as he went on—'Huish, John, Esquire, 150, Duke Street, St. James'. Went out with bull-dog, 10.50. Burlington Arcade, Gardens, Vigo-street, Regent-street, Port-land-place, Upper Gimp-street. Must have got into house there. Missed. Took up clue in Duke-street 2.30. Come back. Admiration Club. Back home at 11.30. — That is the second entry, my lady.' 'Thank you, Mr Hurkle. Proceed,' said her ladyship; and Lord Anthony yawned so loudly that her ladyship turned upon him with a portentous frown. ' Saturday, fourteent. Hem !' said Mr Hurkle. ' Met him in Strand. Followed to Raddle Lane, 27, Thames-street. Stopped two hours. Came out with dark lady. ' Shop in Cheapside. Back to Raddle Lane, 27. Stopped half-an-hour. Came out. Cab to Jermyn-street, Barker's—Barker's is a noted gaming house, my lady. Hem !' said Mr Hurkle, with a bow—" Came out at 3.40. S.C. Cab to Golden Cross Hotel.' ' That is the next entry, my lady.' 'Thank you; go on,' said her ladyship. ' Sunday, Fifteent. Went to Raddle Lane at 3.30. Joined by James Thickbroom, alias the Major, alias Nutty Jemmy, alias the Heavy, and Samuel Balass, nlias Porter, alias the Lawyer, both known to the -police, and served various terms of P.S.' 'May I ask what P.S. is,' said her ladyship, interrupting. ' Does it mean Post Scriptum ?' 'Penal servitude, my lady, , said Mr Hurkle, bowing, and seeming to work his bellows so up and down that if his head had suddenly touched the ceiling, no one would have been surprised. 'To continue. Hem ! Thpse three went to the Barley Mow in Hunter-street, stopped drinking and playiug cards till 9.30. J. Huish cab to Jermjn-street. Barker's. Left there. , ' And on a Sunday !' sighed her ladyship. 'Thfit is the fourt entry, my lady. Hem !' said Mr Hurkle. 'And cheap at the money,' said Tom, scornfully. • I stiy, do you know where I was on Sunday, you sir?' ' Beg pardon, sir,' said Mr Hurkle, undulating. ' You are not a client, and I have no client making inquiries about you.' ' That's a blessing,' said Tom, ' for them and for you.' 'Pray, go on, Mr Hurkle,' said her ladyship. 'Mr Hetley, I must beg that you do do not interrupt.' To address her son as Mr Hetley was in her ladyship's estimation crushing, but Tom did not seem crushed.

' Monday, sixteent, Hem!' said Mr Hurkle. 'Saw Sergeant Smart. Told me they were watchins J. Huish. Member of a swell mob. Well bred, but no money. Able to get in good society. Been turned out of three clubs for cheating at cards. Suspected of being in a robbery, but couldn't be brought home.' ' Good heavens!' cried her ladyship, excitedly. ' Renee's jewels !' 'Hey? I beg your pardon, my lady,' cried Mr Hurkle, pricking up his ears. 'Get out,' cried Tom, savagely. ' Mamma, are you mad ! Here, I say, you sir, get on and finish. This grows interesting.' He glanced across at his sister, who was holding Tryphie's hand, her head erect, lip curling, and a warm flush in her cheeks as she listened to this diary of her lover's doings. 'That is the fift entry, , said Mr Hurkle, glancing from one to the other ; and then, as a dead silence reigned, he went on. ' Tuesday, seventeent. Black. J.H. did not go out—That is the sixt entry, my lady. ' Wednesday, eighteent. Blank. J.H. did not go out—That is the sevnt entry, my lady. 'Thursday, nineteenth Watched at Duke-street. Found J.H. was out. Went to Riddle-lane and watched. C line there at 7.30, in fly. Evening dress. No dog. Fly waited. Came out with dark lady. Driven to Raleigh's Cafe, Regent-street. Dinner given by Madame Dorinde, of the Theatre Royal, Westernia. Company present: Madame Dorinde ; the aforesaid J.H. and lady ; Mademoiselle Ninon and and Miss Lester ; Captain Barton ; Lieutenant Demville, and Mr Frank Morrison., ' Whom ?' cried her ladyship, sharply. 'Mr Frank Morrison, my lady, Hem ! 304, Baton place.' 'I say,' said Tom, grinning savagely. ' You Mr Hurkle. These ladies are all a little fast, eh ?' ' Oh yes, sir, they " 'Mr Hurkle, Mr Hetley,' cried her ladyship indignantly. ' You forget yourselves., ' All right, , said Tom. 'Go on.' 'J. Huish and Frank Morrinon quarrelled about dark lady, — said sharp thing 3to each other. J. Huish wrote on carc l—l have the card,' said Mr Hurkle, picking out a menu that had been crumpled up but was now smoothed out, and he read aloud, —

" Garland thought your little wife Rcitcc would be dull, and h:t,s gone to keep her COIIlpttlllJ.'"

There was a dead silence now, which Mr Hurkle interpreted that he was to go on.

• Card given to Frank Morrison, who turned white and left the table. Got coat and hat. Dropping card on stairs. Took hansom to Eaton Place. Followed, meaning to take up J. Huish on return. Some noise in drawing-room. Captain Garland, of 24th Heavies, came out. More noise in draw-ing-room. F. Morrison rushed out of house. Back to the Cafe. Stopped drinking and playing till closed. J. Huish drank soda-water, and won. F. Morrison slept on premises. J. Huish went back at 2.30 with lady to Raddlelane. 'That, my lady, Hem !' said Mr Hurkle, undulating and threatening to draw himself out ' carries us up to last night.' ' Yes —yes —yes,' cried Lord Anthony, rising in great excitement; ' and—and— and it's, damme, its too much. Tom, Tom, my son, if you don't kick that fellow out of the house, damme, I will, for it's all a piece of—of confounded humbug. I won't have it—l didn't order this to be done—it's—it's—it's—a confounded, damme, it's a cruel insult to me, and my family, and I won't—l won't — Tom, my boy, send that fellow away, or I shall—damme, I shall kill him.'

' Yes, yes, go away,' moaned her lady ship. ' I will write to you, Mr Hurkle.'

The, private inquirer bowed very low, took up his hat and gloves, and, replacing his pocket-book without unbuttoning himself, backed out of the room, as Tom stood with his hands iu his pockets, his little waxed moustache sticking out iu two sharp points, and grinding his teeth, while Lord Anthony limped about the room trembling with excitement.

'Oh !' moaned her ladyship. 'My salts—my drops. Tryphie, this will be the death of me.'

' Serve you right,' said Tom savagely. You brought it on yourself.' ' But I don't believe a word of it,' cried her lordship. ' I—damme —I—damme What's this about Frank too, and my Remie? I—damme—l—l—l—won't believe John Hnish is such a blackguard. Will you Tom. 'I don't know, father,' said Tom, bitterly. ' I've heard strange things of him of late, but I can't take in all this.' ' There, there, my clear, said the old gentleman to Clare. 'Be silent, Anthony, be silent. Tryphie, ring for Justine to help me to my room. My heart is nearly broken now,' she added, in a tone of voice that seemed to indicate that it was only holding together by a little bit of ligament which was ready to go at any moment. Clare, ungrateful girl, you have heard now, and you believe." ' I have heard, Mamma, , said Clare proudly ;' but Ido not believe this about Mr Huish. While if it were true about about Frank, Renee would have been here to tell us, and " She paused for a carriage had stopped at the door, and soon after steps were heard ascending. ' No. no,' cried her ladyship. ' Not at home—not at home.' Just then the door opened, and Renee, closely veiled, tottered into the room, to sink with a moan of anguish into her sister's arms.

(To he continued.)