raid!" said Randal, forced into speech, and with a hollow
laugh--"afraid?--I? What of? I was only wondering what Lord L'Estrange
could mean."

"I will dispel that wonder at once. Mr. Hazeldean, your son displeased
you first by his proposals of marriage to the Marchesa di Negra against
your consent; secondly, by a post-obit bond granted to Baron Levy. Did
you understand from Mr. Randal Leslie that he had opposed or favoured
the said marriage,--that he had countenanced or blamed the said
post-obit?"

"Why, of course," cried the squire, "that he had opposed both the one
and the other."

"Is it so, Mr. Leslie?"

"My Lord--I--I--my affection for Frank, and my esteem for his respected
father--I--I--" (He nerved himself, and went on with firm voice)--"Of
course, I did all I could to dissuade Frank from the marriage; and as to
the post-obit, I know nothing about it."

"So much at present for this matter. I pass on to the graver one,
that affects your engagement with the Duke di Serrano's daughter. I
understand from you, Duke, that to save your daughter from the snares
of Count di Peschiera, and in the belief that Mr. Leslie shared in
your dread of the count's designs, you, while in exile and in poverty,
promised to that gentleman your daughter's hand? When the probabilities
of restoration to your principalities seemed well-nigh certain, you
confirmed that promise on learning from Mr. Leslie that he had, however
ineffectively, struggled to preserve your heiress from a perfidious
snare. Is it not so?"

"Certainly. Had I succeeded to a throne, I could not recall the promise
that I had given in penury and banishment; I could not refuse to him who
would have sacrificed worldly ambition in wedding a penniless bride, the
reward of his own generosity. My daughter subscribes to my views."

Violante trembled, and her hands were locked together; but her gaze was
fixed on Harley.

Mr. Dale wiped his eyes, and thought of the poor refugee feeding on
minnows, and preserving himself from debt amongst the shades of the
Casino.

"Your answer becomes you, Duke," resumed Harley. "But should it be
proved that Mr. Leslie, instead of wooing the princess for herself,
actually calculated on the receipt of money for transferring her to
Count Peschiera; instead of saving her from the dangers you dreaded,
actually suggested the snare from which she was delivered,--would you
still deem your honour engaged to--"

"Such a villain? No, surely no