th Levy was forced to break to Audley the intelligence of Nora's
flight. He gave his own colour to it. Doubtless she had gone to seek
her own relations, and, by their advice, take steps to make her marriage
publicly known. This idea changed Audley's first shock into deep and
stern resentment. His mind so little comprehended Nora's, and was ever
so disposed to what is called the common-sense view of things, that he
saw no other mode to account for her flight and her silence. Odious to
Egerton as such a proceeding would be, he was far too proud to take
any steps to guard against it. "Let her do her worst," said he, coldly,
masking emotion with his usual self-command; "it will be but a nine
days' wonder to the world, a fiercer rush of my creditors on their
hunted prey"

"And a challenge from Lord L'Estrange."

"So be it," answered Egerton, suddenly placing his hand at his heart.

"What is the matter? Are you ill?"

"A strange sensation here. My father died of a complaint of the heart,
and I myself was once told to guard, through life, against excess of
emotion. I smiled at such a warning then. Let us sit down to business."

But when Levy had gone, and solitude reclosed round that Man of the
Iron Mask, there grew upon him more and more the sense of a mighty loss.
Nora's sweet loving face started from the shadows of the forlorn walls.
Her docile, yielding temper, her generous, self-immolating spirit, came
back to his memory, to refute the idea that wronged her. His love, that
had been suspended for awhile by busy cares, but which, if without much
refining sentiment, was still the master passion of his soul, flowed
back into all his thoughts,--circumfused the very atmosphere with a
fearful, softening charm. He escaped under cover of the night from
the watch of the bailiffs. He arrived in London. He himself sought
everywhere he could think of for his missing bride. Lady Jane Horton was
confined to her bed, dying fast, incapable even to receive and reply to
his letter. He secretly sent down to Lansmere to ascertain if Nora had
gone to her parents. She was not there. The Avenels believed her still
with Lady Jane Horton.

He now grew most seriously alarmed; and in the midst of that alarm, Levy
secretly contrived that he should be arrested for debt; but he was not
detained in confinement many days. Before the disgrace got wind, the
writs were discharged, Levy baffled. He was free. Lord L'Estrange had
learned from Audley's se