"Ah! yes," said Lady Alice, flushing to the roots of her grey hair, and looking down on her plate. Here there was silence for the space of a minute or more. "Yes, Monsieur Varbarriere; but you know, even though we cannot always forget, we must forgive." "Champagne, my lady?" inquired the servant over her shoulder. "_No_, thank you," murmured Lady Alice. M. Varbarriere took some and sipped it, wondering how Sir Jekyl contrived to get such wines, and mentally admitting that even in the champagne countries it would task him--M. Varbarriere--to find its equal. And he said-- "Yes, Lady Alice, divine philosophy, but not easy to practise. I fear it is as hard to do one as the other." "And how _is_ Mr. Strangways?" inquired Lady Alice. They were talking very confidentially and in a low tone, as if old Strangways' health was the subject of conspiracy. "Growing old, Lady Alice; he has not spared himself; otherwise well." "And this, you say, is his nephew?" continued the old lady. "And you?" "I am Guy's uncle--his _mother's_ brother." "And his mother, is _she_ living?" "No, poor thing! gone long ago." Lady Alice looked again unexpectedly into M. Varbarriere's face, and there detected the same unreliable expression. "Monsieur Varbarriere," said old Lady Alice a little sternly in his ear, "you will pardon me, but it seems to me that you are trifling, and not quite sincere in all you tell me." In a moment the gravity of all the Chief Justices that ever sat in England was gathered in his massive face. "I am shocked, madam, at your thinking me capable of trifling. How have I showed, I entreat, any evidences of a disposition so contrary to my feelings?" "I tell you frankly--in your countenance, Monsieur Varbarriere; and I observed it before, Monsieur." "Believe me, I entreat, madam, when I assure you, upon the honour of a gentleman, every word I have said is altogether true. Nor would it be easy for me to describe how profound is my sympathy with you." From this time forth Lady Alice saw no return, of that faint but odious look of banter that had at first shocked and then irritated her; and fortified by the solemn assurance he had given, she fell into a habit of referring it to some association unconnected with herself, and tried to make up for her attack upon him by an increased measure of courtesy. Dwelling on those subjects that most interested Lady Alice, he and she grew more and more confidential, and she came, before they left the parlour, to entertain a high opinion of both the wisdom and the philanthropy of M. Varbarriere. CHAPTER XXIX. The Ladies and Gentlemen resume Conversation in the Drawing-room. "Dives, my boy," said the Baronet, taking his stand beside his brother on the hearthrug, when the gentlemen had followed the ladies into the drawing-room, and addressing him comfortably over his shoulder, "the Bishop's coming to-morrow."