anything of the kind, sir. What relations have you made over this matter with Mrs. Arnaud and Madame Mantalent?'

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They were very brief, Rhyader. I think that I was not to blame. very much. You should not be angry with me, just now.' Lord Festiniog looked peculiarly troubled.

'You have,' said Lord Rhyader,' entered into some compact with those two women about this Italian woman's paper. I and George Arnaud will have nothing to do with it. I, for my part, curse it.'

'Rhyader!' said Lord Festiniog, drawing himself up, do not curse your father's actions.'

'Why not, my lord?' said Lord Rhyader.

CHAPTER XIX.

TEMPTED ONCE TOO OFTEN.

'So Barri is dead!' said George Arnaud. I am most deeply sorry. I risked my life for him, and I could do no more. Lord Rhyader, you will bear me out in that fact.'

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Certainly. Barri dead? Yes! Well! God afflicts us sorely. Why, heaven help us, all the property would have gone to you, George Arnaud.'

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My dear Rhyader,' said Lord Festiniog, have you no other word to say when I tell you of the death of your son?'

say or write down. But I fancy the boy is better out of the world than in it.'

'Why?' said Lord Festiniog.

you: do

Because he would be a beggar like the rest of us. He will be an angel in heaven.' Do you mean to give up everything, sir?' said Lord Festiniog, turning on George Arnaud savagely. 'I ask do you mean to do it and retire once more into the original beggary from which you were rescued? Are you going to follow that ass, noodle, and prig of a son of mine in his curses, or are you going to behave like a man?'

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Let us come outside and talk, Lord Festiniog,' said George Arnaud.

They went out into the shop, among the dresses, and Lord Festiniog said :

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My dear George Arnaud: I want to put a matter before you, and to put it without temper. I lost my temper just now, with

my son, and I apologise for it. There is no doubt that your putative father was a great scoundrel, and that long after he was married he behaved very badly to your mother. Now, he got possession of a certain document, which would disinherit the whole of us, and the woman Carlina has it in her possession. Under these circumstances, I ask you, as a moral young man, what is to be done?'

George Arnaud, that most moral, excellent, and admirable young man, sat down in a chair in the shop at No. 17, and thought. At last he spoke.

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My lord,' he said, 'I have thought through the matter once more' (had he?) and I think that on the whole I would buy the document from the woman. I think that it would be best.'

Lord Festiniog spoke again.

George Arnaud,' he said, 'do you see

this? Neither Rhyader nor myself will ever marry again. You will take my title and my estates without any dispute. It is in your interest that the paper should be got hold of and destroyed, as much as any one else's. Do you agree to its being done?'

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Rhyader might object.'

'Fudge,' said Lord Festiniog.

I am

not going to consult that noodle. You have got to decide whether you will be a beggar or a peer. I know that the woman is coming here directly. Say the word.

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self?'

Why does not your lordship say it

your

'Because it is a matter of entire indifference to me, personally. There will be a grand lawsuit, but plenty of money to keep me comfortably. As for Rhyader, I don't care for him very much. I have liked you better lately. Come, decide.