he entreated.

'He has taken a fancy for knowing Miss Moffat, and he is just like a child—frets if one crosses his whim. I feel that I ought to make a thousand apologies for preferring such a request; but if you take into consideration the exceptional circumstances of the case, I am sure you will forgive

me.'

Lady Moffat had no objection in the world to knowing Lord Chesunt; quite the contrary. Lords had not been plentiful in her world—indeed, she had never spoken to one in all her life-and the opportunity presented seemed far too good to be lost. She wanted to know people of high degree; she was restlessly anxious to increase the number of her desirable acquaintances. The society she once thought very grand and good she now despised. She desired to go on climbing higher and higher, believing that in some yet loftier sphere she would attain that happiness she had never yet compassed, and feeling if there were not security in the society of the upper ten, safety existed nowhere on the face of the earth.

'I shall be very happy to become acquainted with

Lord Chesunt,' she said; and though there was no elation in her tone or manner, there was a sparkle in her eye, which the Captain read correctly. 'We know his cousin, I think;' which was a bold statement, since she had only spoken twice to that gentleman.

Captain Battersley laughed.

'You mean the clergyman, I suppose,' he said. 'That fact had better, I fancy, be kept discreetly in the background. The mention of his cousin acts upon my friend like a red rag on a turkey cock.'

'Why?' asked Lady Moffat, with charming directness.

'People do not like their next heirs, as a rule, particularly when they themselves happen to be in bad health,' he answered. 'It is annoying to reflect another fellow will come in for a lot of good things if you die. And though Chesunt will not take care of himself, he can't endure the idea of anybody stepping into his shoes when he has to leave them off. Therefore, I venture to suggest that, his cousin being an unpleasant subject, the topic should be avoided.'

'You hear that, Edwina,' said Miss Banks severely.

'Yes, I hear,' answered the girl; and, looking at her, Captain Battersley knew she meant to introduce Mr. Woodham's name the very first opportunity which presented itself.

CHAPTER XI.

AT THE GRAND HOTEL.

THE acquaintance thus begun was not permitted to languish for want of constant intercourse.

Staying at the same hotel, Viscount Chesunt spent a great portion of his time with his new friends; and when he did not feel inclined for their society-for he had moods of evil temper and seasons of terrible depression-Captain Battersley kept the ball moving, and made himself, as Lady Moffat said, 'very agreeable indeed.'

That gallant gentleman admired Sir John's wife immensely. A splendid woman!' he declared to Miss Banks, who was not backward in repeating all his compliments to her hostess. 'Her beauty is imperial,' he said. 'I do not know when I saw any one so handsome! Where did the worthy knight

pick her up ?'

Miss Banks did not answer. She knew the covert

insolence which underlay these figures of speech, and she had no weapon save silence to keep that insolence from finding open expression.

'I beg your pardon,' he apologised; 'do you happen to know where Sir John Moffat met with his wife ?'

'I do not,' answered Miss Banks.

'Yet you have a faculty of finding out most things.'

Again Miss Banks vouchsafed no reply.

There is a mystery, I take it,' he went on.

'I have not the faintest idea. Why should there

be a mystery ?'

'Why should there not ?' he answered.

'What makes you think there is ?' she asked.

'Can't tell; there is something about her I

don't understand. Come, Miss Banks, what is it? We know each other so well, there need not be any secrets between us.'

'There is no secret at all, so far as I am aware,'

she answered.

'Really?' he asked.

And truly,' she replied. She is not very com