sing cloud of horror swept across Flora's pale face; but after it
broke forth a gleam of strange, ferocious exultation, which stifled the
rising pity in her hearer's breast, and changed it into contempt.

"I don't believe it," she cried, passionately. "It is a trick. She was
quite well two months ago. At least, she said nothing--"

She checked herself, but too late. The practiced duelist laughed grimly
in his mustache, as he might have done on discovering the weak point in
his enemy's ward which laid him open to his rapier.

"You make my task easier," he said; "I came to inquire about a note
which miscarried about the time you speak of. I _will_ know what became
of it, Miss Bellasys, though I wish to spare you unnecessary exposure
and shame."

He had gained a momentary advantage, but it did not profit him much.
There are swordsmen who will not own that they are touched, though their
life-blood is ebbing fast. Flora rose without a sign of yielding or
weakness in her dry eyes, drawing up her magnificent figure proudly.
Ralph could not help thinking how like her father she was just then.

"I will answer, though I deny your right to question me. I have not the
faintest idea of what you refer to. I have seen no note, except such as
were addressed to myself; and you will hardly think that Miss Brandon
would choose me as a _confidante_ or correspondent."

Mohun saw that she would persist to the last, undaunted as Sapphira. So
he rose to leave her, without another word.

"You do not doubt me?" Flora asked, as he turned away after saluting
her. It was a rash question, all things considered, and scarcely worthy
of the accomplished speaker. There is no more useful maxim in diplomacy
than this: _Quieta non movere_.

Ralph faced her directly. "Miss Bellasys, when a lady tells me what I
can not believe, I question--not her word, but--her agent." He was half
way down stairs before she could answer or detain him.

He found out Willis's direction at Guy's hotel, but he had to wait some
time before obtaining it; and other things delayed him _en route_, so
that it was nearly two hours before he reached the modest lodgings, _au
quatrieme_, where the discharged valet was hiding his greatness.

Willis had an extensive connection; this, and his well-known talents,
made him tolerably sure of a situation whenever he chose to seek one. He
had luxurious tastes, and thoroughly appreciated self-indulgence; so he
determined to devote some