s the bills. What! are you going
already?"

"Do you ask such a question? How can I stay? I must go to Norwood,--must
see Violante with my own eyes! Forgive my emotion--I--I--"

Randal snatched at his hat and hurried away. The low scornful laugh of
Harley followed him as he went.

"I have no more doubt of his guilt than Leonard has. Violante at
least shall not be the prize of that thin-lipped knave. What strange
fascination can he possess, that he should thus bind to him the two
men I value most,--Audley Egerton and Alphonso di Serrano? Both so wise
too!--one in books, one in action. And both suspicious men! While I, so
imprudently trustful and frank--Ah, that is the reason; our natures are
antipathetic; cunning, simulation, falsehood, I have no mercy, no pardon
for these. Woe to all hypocrites if I were a grand Inquisitor!"

"Mr. Richard Avenel," said the waiter, throwing open the door.

Harley caught at the arm of the chair on which he sat, and grasped
it nervously, while his eyes became fixed intently on the form of the
gentleman who now advanced into the room. He rose with an effort.

"Mr. Avenel!" he said falteringly. "Did I hear your name aright?
Avenel!"

"Richard Avenel, at your service, my Lord," answered Dick. "My family is
not unknown to you; and I am not ashamed of my family, though my parents
were small Lansmere tradesfolks, and I am--ahem!--a citizen of the
world, and well-to-do!" added Dick, dropping his kid gloves into his
hat, and then placing the hat on the table, with the air of an old
acquaintance who wishes to make himself at home. Lord L'Estrange bowed
and said, as he reseated himself (Dick being firmly seated already),
"You are most welcome, sir; and if there be anything I can do for one of
your name--"

"Thank you, my Lord," interrupted Dick. "I want nothing of any man. A
bold word to say; but I say it. Nevertheless, I should not have presumed
to call on your Lordship, unless, indeed, you had done me the honour
to call first at my house, Eaton Square, No. ---- I should not have
presumed to call if it had not been on business,--public business, I may
say--NATIONAL business!"

Harley bowed again. A faint smile flitted for a moment to his lip, but,
vanishing, gave way to a mournful, absent expression of countenance, as
he scanned the handsome features before him, and, perhaps, masculine and
bold though they were, still discovered something of a family likeness
to one whose beauty had once