y tall, of a good figure, with handsome
features, and a remarkably dark complexion; he was dressed in a rich
semi-oriental military costume, and had a dashing independent air about
him, which Morton thought approached very much to a swagger, but perhaps
at that moment he was not a very unprejudiced judge. Ronald could not
help staring at him in a somewhat marked manner.

"Extraordinary!" he exclaimed to himself, "that I should come
unexpectedly into this ball-room and meet two persona with whose
countenances I am so familiar, and yet not have the slightest notion who
they are. That young man's face I know perfectly well; I must have met
him over and over again, in a very different dress to what he now wears,
and under very different circumstances, and I must have known him
intimately, of that I am certain."

"Do you not dance, Mr Morton?" asked Mrs Edmonstone, seeing him look
about the room, as he was doing, in an abstracted manner, and fancying
that he wished probably to be introduced to a partner. The instant her
voice recalled his scattered senses, "Thank you," he answered; "I so
seldom have had opportunities of doing so that I can scarcely call
myself a dancer; at present I confess that I feel more amusement in
looking on than I should in dancing."

"Can you tell me," said Morton, "who is that young man in the handsome
costume, who is dancing with your friend?"

"I can indeed say very little about him," was the answer. "He is a
Captain Gerardo, I understand,--a foreigner, that is to say, not
English; either a Frenchman, or Spaniard, or Portuguese. He has been
attached to one of the native courts in the East--I do not know which--
and has come here on his travels before returning home. He seems to
have come with several good introductions, especially to natives of high
rank, and must be wealthy, as he is lavish in his expenditure. My
husband, however, is not quite satisfied about him, and is making
inquiries to ascertain whether or not he is an impostor. Numbers come
to this country expecting to find a fine field for the exercise of their
talents. They now and then, however, have to beat a precipitate
retreat. I would not willingly have allowed my sweet friend, Edda, to
dance with him, but he has been introduced to her father, who rather
affects him, and I could not interfere."

"Edda!" repeated Ronald to himself, the name conjuring up a thousand
recollections of his far-distant home, for he had there