delivering a charge. "Some say that
she is a natural daughter of Sir Stafford's; some aver that she is
the last of a distinguished family whose fortune was embezzled by the
Onslows; others assert that she is a half-sister of Lady Hester's own;
but who ought to know the truth better than you, my Lord?"

"I know absolutely nothing. She joined them in Germany; but where, when,
and how, I never heard."

"I 'll soon be able to inform you, my Lord, on every detail of the
matter," said she, proudly. "Our kind friend, yonder, Mr. Foglass, has
undertaken to discover everything. Mr. F., will you touch his arm forme,
Martha?" and, the gentleman being aroused to consciousness, now arose,
and approached Mrs. Ricketts's chair, "may I be permitted to take a
glance at your note-book?" This speech was accompanied by a pantomimic
gesture which he quickly understood. "I wish to show you, my Lord," said
she, addressing the Viscount, "that we proceed most methodically in our
searches after title, as I sometimes call it ha, ha, ha! Now, here is
the precious little volume, and this will explain the degree of accuracy
such an investigation demands. This comes of living abroad, my Lord,"
added she, with a smile. "One never can be too cautious, never too
guarded in one's intimacies. The number of dubious people one meets
with, the equivocal characters that somehow obtain a footing in society
here, I really must ask you to decipher these ingenious hieroglyphics
yourself." And she handed the book to his Lordship.

He took it courteously at the spot she opened it; and as his eyes fell
upon the page, a slight very slight flush rose to his cheek, while
he continued to read the lines before him more than once over. "Very
explicit, certainly!" said he, while a smile of strange meaning curled
his lip; and then, closing the book, he returned it to the lady's hand;
not, however, before he had adroitly torn out the page he had been
looking at, and which contained the following words: "Norwood's affair
the precise story of the N. M. business if cut in England, and scratched
at the 'Whip.'"

"I cannot sufficiently commend either your caution or your tact, Mrs.
Ricketts," said he, bowing urbanely. "Without a little scrutiny of this
kind our salons would be overrun with blacklegs and bad characters!"

It was now late, late enough for Lady Hester, and the Viscount rose
to take his leave. He was perfectly satisfied with the results of his
visit. He had secr