The gossips' tongues were busy about the beautiful lady, who had been the cause of the melancholy affair. That she was the daughter of an actor, who was on that very afternoon laid in his hastily-dug grave, was a shock to the feelings of the _elite_ amongst whom Griselda Mainwaring had been considered worthy to be reckoned, by the unwritten laws of social etiquette. The daughter of an actor--a mere playwright--who by hard drinking had reduced himself to poverty, and finally killed himself by his evil habits! What a fall was this for the stately beauty who had held herself a little apart from the crowd, and had often been secretly complained of as one who thought herself mighty good, and vastly superior to many who now could hold their heads with pride and talk of her as their inferior! The religious clique who frequented the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, of which Mrs. Travers was an esteemed member, were filled with horror; and the terrible event was alluded to, or rather made the basis of the sermon, in the Vineyards Chapel that evening. In many hearts there was awakened real sympathy for the stricken mother, and the sad condition of the girl who must feel that she had, even if unwittingly, been the cause of the duel. Lady Betty, when she was told by Mr. Cheyne of what had happened, suddenly recovered from her indisposition, and sent off several three-cornered notes to her friends to say the lamentable occurrence had, of course, separated her from the _unhappy_ girl, to whom she was no real relation, and with whom she was sure the dear departed Mr. Longueville would not wish her to have any further dealings. It was not to be expected that a woman of rank and family could be mixed up with one of low birth who had made herself notorious. Graves, who was commissioned to despatch these notes, one of which was addressed to Lord Basingstoke, handed them to Zach, to whom she said: "There have been letters given to your hand that have never been delivered. Let me tell you that you may deliver these or not, as you choose, you little spy!" And Zach grinned, and said: "Give me a crown, and I'll take them safe enough." "I'd as lief give you a crack on the crown of your head!" said Graves wrathfully; "you little wretch!" CHAPTER XVIII. IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW. It was late on that memorable Sunday evening when Griselda watched her opportunity, and rising from her bed, dressed, and went downstairs. Only the servant was in the house, for the Herschels were gone to the evening service in the Octagon Chapel, and had not yet returned. Griselda let herself quietly out, and, with slow and faltering steps, reached the door of the house, where, as everyone believed, Leslie Travers lay dying of his wounds. It was with a trembling hand that she knocked at the door, which was after a pause opened by old Giles. "I am come," she faltered, "to see Mrs. Travers." Giles shook his head.