step was heard in the hall, a hand fumbled with
the lock of the door. Miss Vane glanced apprehensively at Hubert.

"He is there," she said--"he is coming in. The London papers will arrive
in half an hour. Hubert, don't leave him to learn the news from the
papers or from his London lawyer."

"What harm if he did?" muttered Hubert; but, before Miss Vane could
reply, the door was opened and the General entered the room.

He was a tall, white-haired man, with a stoop in his shoulders which had
not been perceptible a year before. His finely-cut features strongly
resembled those of his sister, but there was some weakness in the
slightly receding chin, some hint of irresolution in the lines of the
handsome mouth, which could not be found in Leonora Vane's expressive
countenance. The General's eyes were remarkably fine, clear and blue as
sea-water or the sky, but their expression on this occasion was
peculiar. They had a wild, wandering, irresolute look which impressed
Hubert painfully. He rose respectfully from his chair as the old man
came in; but for a moment or two the General gazed at him
unrecognisingly.

"Hubert has come to spend the day with us, Richard," said Miss Vane.

"Hubert? Oh, yes, Hubert Lepel!" murmured the General, as if recalling a
forgotten name. "Florence Lepel's brother--a cousin of ours, I believe?
Glad to see you, Hubert," said the General, suddenly awakening,
apparently from a dream. "Did you come down this morning? From London or
from Whitminster?"

"From London, sir."

"Oh, yes--from London! I thought perhaps that you had been"--the
General's voice sank to a husky whisper--"to see that fellow get his
deserts. Hush--don't speak of it before Leonora; ladies should not hear
about these things, you know!" He caught Hubert by the sleeve and drew
him aside. "The execution was to be this morning; did you not know?" he
said, fixing his wild eyes upon the young man's paling face. "Eight
o'clock was the hour; it must be over by now. Well, well--the Lord have
mercy upon his sinful soul!"

"Amen!" Hubert muttered between his closed teeth. Then he seemed to make
a violent effort to control himself--to assume command over his
kinsman's disordered mind. "Come, sir," he said--"you must not talk like
that. Think no more of that wretched man. You know there was a chance--a
loophole. Some people were not convinced that he was guilty. There have
been petitions signed by hundreds of people, I believe, to the Ho