"You know my opinion of this man already. He never moves without a plan; and a plan, with him, is ever a treachery."

"He avoids me strangely; we rarely meet now,--never by any chance alone.

And even before others there is a forced gayety in his manner that all his artifice cannot pa.s.s off for real."

"Have you thwarted him in anything?"

"Not that I know of."

"Have you refused him any favor that he sought for?"

"Never."

"Is he your debtor for what he ought, but never means, to pay?"

"Not even that. What I may have given him has been always without any reserve or thought of rest.i.tution."

"Are your affections directed towards the same object?"

As she said this, the ease in which she commenced gradually left her, and her cheek grew flushed ere she finished.

"I cannot tell. There are no confidences between us; besides, a very bankrupt in love could not envy my solvency. Mine is a heart that cannot threaten dangerous rivalry!"

"You cannot be certain of that!" said she, as if thinking aloud.

Fortunately, Cashel did not hear the words, but stood in deep revery for some seconds.

"There! the second bell has rung; I must leave you. My Lord comes down to dinner to-day. It is by his orders that I am thus showily dressed.

Linton has been filling his mind with stories of some emba.s.sy he is to have, and we are already rehearsing 'our excellencies!' I have but time to say, Be on your guard; Linton is no common enemy, nor does it need an injury to make him one."

"It is very rude of me, I know, to interrupt so interesting a _tete-a-tete_, but Mr. Cashel's cook has feelings also at stake."

These words were spoken by Lord Kilgoff, who, in a tone of no small irritation, now joined them.

"I was speaking of your mission, my Lord."

"Which you forgot, of course, was not to be mentioned,--even to so sincere a well-wisher as Mr. Cashel."

"In any case, my Lord, it remains safe in my keeping."

"Very possibly, sir; but it is a poor earnest Lady Kilgoff gives of her fitness as the wife of a 'diplomatist.'"

Cashel gave his arm to Lady Kilgoff, without speaking, and sis Lordship followed them slowly towards the dining-room. Linton stood at the door as they entered, and his wan features grew flushed as the haughty beauty moved past him with the very coldest of recognitions.

"What an admirable taste is your Lordship's!" said he to the old peer; "Lady Kilgoff's diamonds are disposed with an elegance that bespeaks the guiding skill of a consummate artist."

"Ha! you perceive it, then!" said he, smiling. "I own to you, the festooning the robe with bouquets of brilliants was a fancy of mine, and has, I think, a very pretty effect."

"Storr told me that he had not one person in his employment could equal your Lordship in the harmonious arrangement of gems. He mentioned a bracelet, if I remember aright, made from your own designs, as the most beautifully chaste ornament he had ever seen."

"You must p.r.o.nounce for yourself, sir," said the old lord, with a smile of elated vanity; and so, taking Linton's arm, he approached where Lady Kilgoff was seated in a group of ladies.

"Will you oblige me, madam," said he, with a courteous bow, "by showing Mr. Linton your ruby and opal bracelet, which I had the poor merit of designing?"

"I am unfortunate enough not to have it here," replied she, with a confusion which made the blood mount to her temples.

"I am grieved, madam, it should not enjoy the honor of your preference,"

said Lord Kilgoff, with an air of pique. "Will you order your maid to fetch it?"

"I 've not got it, my Lord," said she, coloring still deeper.

"Not got it, madam! You do not mean to imply--"

"Only that it is slightly broken,--a few stones have fallen out, and I have sent it to be repaired."

"To be repaired, madam; and without my knowledge I To whom, pray?"

"That man in Dublin; I forget his name."

"Your Ladyship means Leonard, I presume," interposed Linton, with an air of courtesy, while, plainer than any words, his glance said, "My revenge is coming!"

"Leonard!" exclaimed Lord Kilgoff, with a look of horror. "Give Leonard that bracelet! the mould of which I refused to the Princess of Hohenhoffingen, and which I made Storr destroy in my own presence!"

"You perceive, my Lord," cried Lady Janet, "her Ladyship is less exclusive than you are."

"And generous enough to admire what may belong to another," added Linton, but in a tone only audible by Lady Kilgoff.

"We have got a few minutes before dinner, madam. I must beg you will employ them in writing to Mr. Leonard to return the bracelet at once.

Say it was a mistake on your part,--an inadvertence,--and done without my knowledge. Caution the man, too, about appropriating any portion of the design, and remind him that articles of _virtu_ are protected by the Act of copyright."

"We had better delay the postboy, my Lord," said Linton; "he starts at seven precisely."

"Do so, sir."

"Dinner!" cried the butler, flinging wide the folding-doors.

"Could we delay that pleasant summons a few minutes, Mr. Cashel?" said Lord Kilgoff.

"It will not be necessary on my account, sir; I 'll write to-morrow."

And this she said with an air of haughty defiance that never failed to subdue the old peer's petulance; and then, accepting Cashel's arm, moved on without a word.

"Where is it? that's the question!" whispered Mrs. White to Lady Janet.

"Take you two to one it's not at Leonard's," said Frobisher.

"Give you an even fifty, Linton knows all about it," replied Upton.

"And ten to two that he 'll never tell!" chimed in Miss Meek; and so they took their places at the table.