Let us see. 'Married secondly, April 1st,
1846, Lady Augusta Victoria, eldest daughter of the Earl of Banff.'
Ah, ha! that was it! He divorced my beloved mother for the same season
that the tryant Henry VIII. divorced Queen Catherine, because he was in
love with another woman whom he wished to marry!"

(The study of history teaches as much knowledge of the world as does
personal experience.)

"But here again," continued the youth. "He divorced my dear mother
on the 13th of February, married his Anne Boylen on the 1st of
April--appropriate day--and I was born on the 15th of the same month!
Yes! my angel mother and my infant self branded with infamy two months
before my birth, and by the very man whom nature and law should have
constrained to be our protector! Will I ever forgive it? No! When I do,
may Heaven never forgive me!"

As the boy made this vow he laid down the "Royal and Noble Stud-Book,"
and took up the bulky letter that his mother had entrusted to him to be
delivered to the Duke of Hereward. He studied it a moment, then had a
little struggle with his sense of right, and finally murmuring:

"Forgive me, gentle mother; but having discovered so much of your secret,
I must know it all, even for _your_ sake, and for the love and
respect I bear you."

He broke the seal and read the whole of the historical letter from
beginning to end.

Then he carefully re-folded and re-sealed the letter, so as to leave no
trace of the violence that has been done in opening it.

Then he sat for a long time with his elbows on the table before him, and
his head bowed upon his hands while tear after tear rolled slowly down
his cheeks for the sad fate of that young, broken hearted mother who had
perished in her early prime.

The next day, as we have seen, he went to Hereward House and presented
his mother's letter to the duke. He had watched his grace while the
latter was reading the letter. He had foolishly expected to see some
sign of remorse, some demonstration of affection. But he had been
disappointed. He had been received only as the son of some humble
deceased friend, consigned to the great duke's care. His tender mood
had changed to a vindictive one, and he had sworn to be restored to his
rights, or to devote his life to effect the ruin and extermination of the
house of Hereward.

CHAPTER XLIII.

THE DUKE'S WARD.

The next morning, at the appointed hour, the Duke of Hereward drove to
Langham's, and sent up