“Madame,” said Betty, “may I be permitted to ask the ladies a question?” She spoke it low, and in French, and her excellent accent won Madame’s heart at once. Only Madame trusted to Mademoiselle’s discretion not to put mysteries into their minds, or they would be all _tete montee_. So, as discretely as the occasion would permit, Betty asked whether any one had seen or heard Lady Belle speak of having seen any one--a young lady? Half-a-dozen tongues broke out, “We thought it all Lady Belle’s whimsical secrets,” and as many stories were beginning, but Madame’s awful little hand waved silence, as she said, “Speak then, Miss Staunton.” “I know none of Lady Belle’s secrets, ma’am--ask Miss Howard.” Miss Howard looked sulky; and a little eager, black-eyed thing cried, “She said it was an odious girl whom Lady Belamour keeps shut up in a great dungeon of an old house, and is going to send beyond seas, because she married two men at once in disguise.” “Fie, Miss Crawford, you know nothing about it.” “You told me so, yourself, Miss Howard.” “I never said anything so foolish.” “Hush, young ladies,” said Madame. “Miss Howard, if you know anything, I request you to speak.” “It would be a great kindness,” said Betty. “Might I ask the favour of seeing Miss Howard in private?” Madame consented, and Miss Howard followed Betty out of hearing, muttering that Belle would fly at her for betraying her. “I do not like asking you to betray your friend’s confidence,” said Betty. “Oh, as to that, I’m not her friend, and I believe she has talked to a half-a-dozen more.” “I am this poor young lady’s sister,” said Betty. “We are afraid she has fallen into unkind hands; and I should be very thankful if you could help me to find her. Where do you think Lady Belle saw her?” “I thought it was in some old house in Hertfordshire,” said Miss Howard, more readily, “but I am not sure; for it was last Sunday, which she spent with her mamma. She came back and made it a great secret that she had seen the girl that had taken in Sir Amyas Belamour, who was contracted to herself, to marry him and his uncle both at once in disguise, and then had set the house a-fire. Belle had got some one to let her see the girl, and then she went on about her being not pretty.” “What did she say about sending her beyond seas?” “Oh! that Miss Crawford made up. She told me that they were going to find a husband for her such as a low creature like that deserved. And she protests she is to be married to Sir Amyas very soon, and come back here while he makes the grand tour. I hope she won’t. She will have more spiteful ways than ever.” This was all that Betty could extract. She saw Miss Crawford alone, but her tiding melted into the vaguest second-hand hearsay. The inquiry had only produced a fresh anxiety. CHAPTER XXIX. A BLACK BLONDEL.