iet and agreeable, until late one
night, after I had gone to bed, I heard a low but hurried knock at the
door of my room. I arose, hastily threw on a few garments, and opened
the door, when to my astonishment in rushed Lady Hawley, in her
night-dress, and threw herself into a chair, breathless with
agitation. Almost instantly the thought flashed through my mind that
her intrigue had been discovered; cautiously closing the door, I
advanced towards her ladyship, and in a respectful manner inquired why
she had honored me with a visit so unexpected, and what might be the
cause of her evident agitation, at the same time assuring her of my
assistance, should she require it. She fixed her proud, beautiful eyes
upon my face, and said, in a voice trembling with emotion,--

"'Good heavens, Simpson, only think of it, my foolish affair with
Captain St. Clair is discovered!'

"'Is it possible, your ladyship?' I cried, 'and may I ask who--'

"'His lordship's valet, Lagrange, saw me, half an hour ago, conducting
the Captain to the private stair-case which leads to the garden,'
replied her ladyship, shuddering, and shading her face with her hands.

"'And might not your ladyship purchase his silence?' I asked. She
replied,--

"'I have just come from his room; you know how obstinate he is,--how
entirely devoted to his lordship,--how blindly honest and faithful
he has ever been,--how singularly averse to receiving presents from
any source whatever, fearing it might have the appearance of bribery.
I went to his room, and offered him a hundred guineas if he would
solemnly swear never to reveal what he had seen. In a tone of cold
indifference he said, 'I must do my duty to his lordship, to whom I am
bound by the strongest ties of gratitude, even at the sacrifice of
your ladyship's honor.' I entreated him, almost on my knees, to give
the required promise; I offered to double, nay, treble the sum that I
had named, but no; he turned from me, almost with disdain, (the
low-born menial!) and requested me to retire, as I must be aware of
the impropriety of such a visit, at such an hour. Perceiving the
uselessness of attempting to bribe him to secrecy, I left him, cursing
him for his obstinacy, and came direct to you. Heavens!' added her
ladyship, drawing her robe over her partially denuded bosom, 'how
desperate the fear of exposure has made me, that in this indecent
atti