d.

"Ah, Moggridge, one cannot always keep silence, even when one least wants
to be overheard. Have you ever been in love, Moggridge?"

The burly keeper changed countenance a little at this embarrassingly
direct question, and answered diffidently, "Well, sir, to be sure men is
men and woming will be woming."

"The deuce, they will!" replied Mr Beveridge, cordially; "and it's rather
hard to forget 'em, eh?"

"Hindeed it is, sir."

"I remembered this afternoon, but I should like you as a good chap to
forget. You won't mention my moment of weakness, Moggridge?"

"No, sir," said Moggridge, stoutly. "I suppose I hought to report what I
sees, but I won't this time."

"Thank you," said Mr Beveridge, pressing his arm. "I had, you know, a
touch of the sun in India, and I sometimes talk when I shouldn't. Though,
after all, that isn't a very uncommon complaint."

And so it happened that no rumour prejudicial either to his sanity or to
the progress of his friendship with the Lady Alicia reached the ears of
the authorities.

CHAPTER V.

Towards four o'clock on the following afternoon Mr Beveridge and Moggridge
were walking leisurely down the long drive leading from the mansion of
Clankwood to the gate that opened on the humdrum outer world. Finding that
an inelastic matter of yards was all the tether he could hope for, Mr
Beveridge thought it best to take the bull by the horns, and make a
companion of this necessity. So he kept his attendant by his side, and
regaled him for some time with a series of improbable reminiscences and
tolerable cigars, till at last, round a bend of the avenue, a lady on
horseback came into view. As she drew a little nearer he stopped with an
air of great surprise and pleasure.

"I believe, Moggridge, that must be Lady Alicia a Fyre!" he exclaimed.

"It looks huncommon like her, sir," replied Moggridge.

"I must really speak to her. She was"--and Mr Beveridge assumed his
inimitable air of manly sentiment--"she was one of my poor mother's dearest
friends. Do you mind, Moggridge, falling behind a little? In fact, if you
could step behind a tree and wait here for me, it would be pleasanter for
us both. We used to meet under happier circumstances, and, don't you know,
it might distress her to be reminded of my misfortunes."

Such a reasonable request, beseechingly put by so fine a gentleman, could
scarcely be refused. Moggridge retired behind the trees th