keep all this from Rhyader-don't let a soul alive know of what has passed between us.'

"How charmingly you look to-night, dear Lord Festiniog,' said a voice, which made them both start to their feet, with an exclamation of terror from the lady, and a loud oath from the gentleman.

There, behind them, stood old Madame Mantalent, charmingly dressed and smiling; they were absolutely dumb with utter

horror.

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'I have been listening to you two for the last five minutes,' she said, and have heard every word you uttered. I am a most unscrupulous listener; I learnt the habit at my magazin in Paris, where, to tell the truth, I made money by it. The instant I heard Marie's voice in the passage, I pulled my old rheumatic bones upstairs, and here

I am. You, Lord Festiniog, look as though you wished that I was anywhere else.'

'Madam, I have not that power of concealing my thoughts, which is possessed in such an eminent degree by your charming nation, and by no member of it more than yourself. I wish, madam, you had been at (he was going to say Jericho, but substituted)-Paris before you had heard what you

have.'

'My lord,' said the old woman, with a strange indescribable radiance in her face, which utterly puzzled and surprised Lord Festiniog; my lord, try to recall what I have heard.'

"You have heard me confess my own dishonour, madam.'

'Ay!' cried the old woman, and I have heard my daughter vindicate hers, and so, what is yours to me? My own long-suffering

Marie, take your mother's blessing, and try to forgive her for ever distrusting you.'

They were between the door and him, and so Lord Festiniog was obliged to escape to the window, against which he leant while there was silence in the room, broken only by a few sobs.

CHAPTER XIV.

LORD FESTINIOG'S COURTSHIP.

'Now, my dear people,' said Madame Mantalent, sinking quietly on the sofa, 'we three had better put our heads together over this business. This paper must be got hold of and burnt. I have managed a few things in my time, and I fancy that you could not have a better adviser.'

'Madam, certainly not!' said Lord Fes

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tiniog, but you must perceive, from what I have let fall, that my honour is in your hands. I can move no further in the matter.

My hands are clean about it (which was

a fiction). I cannot tell what I shall

do.'

'There is one thing you will not do,' said Madame Mantalent; 'you will not act, or speak to Lord Rhyader, or any other human being, until you have consulted with us. You will promise that?'

Lord Festiniog thought for a little; at last he said :—Yes, I will promise that, I think that I can say that much.'

'To be sure,' said Madame Mantalent; and come to us to-morrow morning. We will do nothing until we see you, you may depend upon that.'

So Lord Festiniog went.

He knew that he was partly consenting to a dishonourable action. He most entirely thought that his son Rhyader would have gone at once to the other family, and told the whole truth to their utter ruin. Yet he could not determine what to do. As he