. Look yonder, where Randal Leslie stands, smiling secure,
between the two dangers he has raised up for himself. And as Randal
Leslie himself has invited me to be his judge, and you are aware that
he cited yourself this very day as his witness, here I must expose the
guilty; for here the innocent still live, and need defence."

Harley turned away, and took his place by the table. "I have wished,"
said he, raising his voice, "to connect with the triumph of my earliest
and dearest friend the happiness of others in whose welfare I feel an
interest. To you, Alphonso, Duke of Serrano, I now give this despatch,
received last evening by a special messenger from the Prince Von ------,
announcing your restoration to your lands and honours."

The squire stared with open mouth. "Rickeybockey a duke? Why, Jemima's a
duchess! Bless me, she is actually crying!" And his good heart prompted
him to run to his cousin and cheer her up a bit.

Violante glanced at Harley, and flung herself on her father's breast.
Randal involuntarily rose, and moved to the duke's chair.

"And you, Mr. Randal Leslie," continued Harley, "though you have lost
your election, see before you at this moment such prospects of wealth
and happiness, that I shall only have to offer you congratulations to
which those that greet Mr. Audley Egerton may well appear lukewarm and
insipid, provided you prove that you have not forfeited the right to
claim that promise which the Duke di Serrano has accorded to the
suitor of his daughter's hand. Some doubts resting on my mind, you have
volunteered to dispel them. I have the duke's permission to address to
you a few questions, and I now avail myself of your offer to reply to
them."

"Now,--and here, my Lord?" said Randal, glancing round the room, as if
deprecating the presence of so many witnesses. "Now,--and here. Nor are
those present so strange to your explanations as your question would
imply. Mr. Hazeldean, it so happens that much of what I shall say to Mr.
Leslie concerns your son."

Randal's countenance fell. An uneasy tremor now seized him.

"My son! Frank? Oh, then, of course, Randal will speak out. Speak, my
boy!"

Randal remained silent. The duke looked at his working face, and drew
away his chair.

"Young man, can you hesitate?" said he. "A doubt is expressed which
involves your honour."

"'s death!" cried the squire, also gazing on Randal's cowering eye and
quivering lip, "what are you afraid of?"

"Af