the
misfortune to go out as his friend! My position is a most painful and
critical one."

"I should suppose that no one will understand how to deal with such
embarrassments better than your Lordship."

"Thanks for the good opinion; the speech I take to be a compliment,
however you meant it. I believe I am not altogether unskilled in such
affairs, and it is precisely because such is the case that I am here
now. Onslow, in other hands than mine, is a ruined man. The story, tell
it how you will, comes to this: that, having gone out to meet a man he
had grossly insulted, he wanders away from the rendezvous, and is found
some hours after at the foot of the cliff, insensible. He may have
fallen, he may have been waylaid,--though everything controverts this
notion; or, lastly, he may have done the act himself. There will be
advocates for each view of the case; but it is essential, for his honor
and reputation, that one story should be authenticated. Now, I am quite
ready to stand godfather to such a version, taking all the consequences,
however serious, on myself."

"This is very kind, very generous, indeed, my Lord," said Grounsell,
suddenly warming into an admiration of one he was always prejudiced
against.

"Oh, I'm a regular John Bull!" said the Viscount, at once assuming the
burden of that canticle, which helped him in all moments of hypocrisy.
"Always stand by the old stock,--nothing like them, sir. The Anglo-Saxon
blood will carry all before it yet; never suffer a rascally foreigner
to put his foot on one of your countrymen. Have him out, sir; parade the
fellow at once: that's my plan."

"I like your spirit!" cried Grounsell, enthusiastically.

"To be sure you do, old cock!" exclaimed Norwood, clapping him
familiarly on the shoulder. "Depend upon it, _I_ 'll pull George through
this. _I_ 'll manage the matter cleverly. There must be no mistake about
it; no room for doubt or equivocation, you know. All straightforward,
open, and manly: John Bull every inch of It That's _my_ notion, at
least,----I hope it's yours?"

"Perfectly,--thoroughly so!"

"Well, then, just hand that note to Sir Stafford." Here he placed a
sealed letter in Grounsell's hand. "Tell him what I've just told you.
Let him fairly understand the whole question, and let me have the
contents this evening at the _cafe_ in the Santa Trinita,--say about
nine o'clock; not later than that These fellows always gather about that
hour."

"I'll take care