unintentionally or purposely, had left himself free to disown
the rite and desert the bride." While Nora stood stunned and speechless
at a falsehood which, with lawyer-like show, he contrived to make
truth-like to her inexperience, he hurried rapidly on, to re-awake on
her mind the impression of Audley's pride, ambition, and respect for
worldly position. "These are your obstacles," said he; "but I think I
may induce him to repair the wrong, and right you at last." Righted at
last--oh, infamy!

Then Nora's anger burst forth. She believe such a stain on Audley's
honour!

"But where was the honour when he betrayed his friend? Did you not know
that he was entrusted by Lord L'Estrange to plead for him. How did he
fulfil the trust?"

"Plead for L'Estrange!" Nora had not been exactly aware of this,--in the
sudden love preceding those sudden nuptials, so little touching Harley
(beyond Audley's first timid allusions to his suit, and her calm and
cold reply) had been spoken by either.

Levy resumed. He dwelt fully on the trust and the breach of it, and then
said: "In Egerton's world, man holds it far more dishonour to betray
a man than to dupe a woman; and if Egerton could do the one, why doubt
that he would do the other? But do not look at me with those indignant
eyes. Put himself to the test; write to him to say that the suspicions
amidst which you live have become intolerable, that they infect even
yourself, despite your reason, that the secrecy of your nuptials, his
prolonged absence, his brief refusal, on unsatisfactory grounds, to
proclaim your tie, all distract you with a terrible doubt. Ask him, at
least (if he will not yet declare your marriage), to satisfy you that
the rites were legal."

"I will go to him," cried Nora, impetuously.

"Go to him!--in his own house! What a scene, what a scandal! Could he
ever forgive you?"

"At least, then, I will implore him to come here. I can not write such
horrible words; I cannot! I cannot! Go, go!" Levy left her, and hastened
to two or three of Audley's most pressing creditors,--men, in fact,
who went entirely by Levy's own advice. He bade them instantly surround
Audley's country residence with bailiffs. Before Egerton could reach
Nora, he would thus be lodged in a jail. These preparations made, Levy
himself went down to Audley, and arrived, as usual, an hour or two
before the delivery of the post.

And Nora's letter came; and never was Audley's grave brow more dark than