f his
strongest motives in visiting America was to effect this purpose; but he
earnestly desired to conceal from Maurice the step he projected,
trusting to his own skill in under-hand management for the smoothing
away of difficulties before there was a necessity for explanation.

Maurice accompanied the count, his mother, and Bertha to Washington, and
there bidding them adieu returned to Charleston.

His preparatory studies being now completed, he was received as junior
partner by the gentleman who had initiated him into the mysteries of his
profession.

It chanced that Mr. Lorrillard had large possessions in certain iron
mines in Pennsylvania, which gave promise of yielding an immense profit.
He had conceived a high esteem for the young viscount, and, with a view
of promoting his interests, represented to him the advantage of
purchasing a few shares, which could at that moment be favorably
secured. Maurice had no funds at his command; but Mr. Lorrillard
suggested that the viscount could easily procure the ten thousand
dollars needful by a mortgage upon his Maryland estate, and even offered
to give him a letter to Mr. Emerson,--a personal friend residing in
Washington,--who, as the estate was wholly unembarrassed, would
willingly loan the money upon this security. It was hardly possible for
Maurice to have resided so long in America without being slightly bitten
by the national mania for speculation, and he gladly accepted the offer
of his principal, and retraced his steps to Washington.

CHAPTER XX.

THE INCOGNITA.

Maurice arrived in Washington without having apprised his father of his
purposed visit. Count Tristan received him with ill-concealed
embarrassment; but the young viscount was too ingenuous himself, and
therefore too unsuspicious of others, for him to attribute his father's
discomposure to any source but surprise at his unexpected appearance. If
Maurice noted an absence of pleasure in the count's constrained
greeting, he was too much accustomed to the formal and undemonstrative
manners of the aristocracy to dwell upon the lack of warmth.

The count had taken up his residence at Brown's hotel. He chanced to be
sitting alone when his son was ushered into the drawing-room. The
opportunity was a favorable one for Maurice to communicate to his father
the object of his visit.

After the first salutations were over, he inquired, rather abruptly,
"Have you seen Mr. Hilson? What does he say in rega