an to confess myself gravely mortified by an ingenuity more successful
than my own." The count paused, and his eye lightened with sinister
fire, which ill suited the raillery of his tone and the polished ease of
his bearing. "Ma foi!" he continued, "it is permitted me to speak thus,
since at least I have given proofs of my indifference to danger, and my
good fortune when exposed to it. Within the last six years I have
had the honour to fight nine duels, and the regret to wound five, and
dismiss from the world four, as gallant and worthy gentlemen as ever the
sun shone upon."

"Monster!" faltered the parson.

The squire stared aghast, and mechanically rubbed the shoulder which had
been lacerated by Captain Dashinore's bullet. Randal's pale face grew
yet more pale, and the eye he had fixed upon the count's hardy visage
quailed and fell.

"But," resumed the count, with a graceful wave of the hand, "I have to
thank my Lord L'Estrange for reminding me that a man whose courage is
above suspicion is privileged not only to apologize if he has injured
another, but to accompany apology with atonement. Duke of Serrano, it is
for that purpose that I am here. My Lord, you have signified your wish
to ask me some questions of serious import as regards the duke and his
daughter; I will answer them without reserve."

"Monsieur le Comte," said Harley, "availing myself of your courtesy,
I presume to inquire who informed you that this young lady was a guest
under my father's roof?"

"My informant stands yonder,--Mr. Randal Leslie; and I call upon Baron
Levy to confirm my statement."

"It is true," said the baron, slowly, and as if overmastered by the tone
and mien of an imperious chieftain.

There came a low sound like a hiss from Randal's livid lips.

"And was Mr. Leslie acquainted with your project for securing the person
and hand of your young kinswoman?"

"Certainly,--and Baron Levy knows it." The baron bowed assent. "Permit
me to add--for it is due to a lady nearly related to myself--that it
was, as I have since learned, certain erroneous representations made to
her by Mr. Leslie which alone induced that lady, after my own arguments
had failed, to lend her aid to a project which otherwise she would
have condemned as strongly as, Duke di Serrano, I now with unfeigned
sincerity do myself condemn it."

There was about the count, as he thus spoke, so much of that personal
dignity which, whether natural or artificial, imposes f