range is engaged. I would speak with him."

The servant came back in less than two minutes.

"I find that my Lord is now particularly engaged, since he has given
strict orders that he is not to be disturbed."

"Engaged! on what, whom with?"

"He is in his own room, sir, with a clergyman, who arrived, and dined
here, to-day. I am told that he was formerly curate of Lansmere."

"Lansmere! curate! His name, his name! Not Dale?"

"Yes, sir, that is the name,--the Reverend Mr. Dale."

"Leave me," said Audley, in a faint voice. "Dale! the man who suspected
Harley, who called on me in London, spoke of a child,--my child,--and
sent me to find but another grave! He closeted with Harley,--he!"

Audley sank back on his chair, and literally gasped for breath. Few
men in the world had a more established reputation for the courage that
dignifies manhood, whether the physical courage or the moral. But at
that moment it was not grief, not remorse, that paralyzed Audley,--it
was fear. The brave man saw before him, as a thing visible and menacing,
the aspect of his own treachery,--that crime of a coward; and into
cowardice he was stricken. What had he to dread? Nothing save the
accusing face of an injured friend,--nothing but that. And what more
terrible? The only being, amidst all his pomp of partisans, who survived
to love him, the only being for whom the cold statesman felt the happy,
living, human tenderness of private affection, lost to him forever!
He covered his face with both hands, and sat in suspense of something
awful, as a child sits in the dark, the drops on his brow, and his frame
trembling.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Meanwhile Harley had listened to Mr. Dale's vindication of Leonard with
cold attention.

"Enough," said he, at the close. "Mr. Fairfield (for so we will yet call
him) shall see me to-night; and if apology be due to him, I will make
it. At the same time, it shall be decided whether he continue this
contest or retire. And now, Mr. Dale, it was not to hear how this young
man wooed, or shrunk from wooing, my affianced bride, that I availed
myself of your promise to visit me at this house. We agreed that the
seducer of Nora Avenel deserved chastisement, and I promised that
Nora Avenel's son should find a father. Both these assurances shall be
fulfilled to-morrow. And you, sir," continued Harley, rising, his whole
form gradually enlarged by the dignity of passion, "who wear the garb
appropriated to the hol