"That, then, accounts for much." "What _can_ you mean, Dalby--pray, be quick?" actually Lord Randolph's heart gave a little quiet jump. "Well then, in a few words, Lady Dora was recently in Yorkshire, and there too Tremenhere was." "This has never been alluded to in my presence," said the listener, uncomfortably. "Nor to one another, _perhaps_," emphasized Dalby. "I think there is a coolness between them _now_." "By Jove! I said as much to Lady Dora, and she denied it rather angrily and haughtily." The other smiled. "It was not so in Yorkshire. Her ladyship was as usual kind, affable, and condescending, and this Tremenhere (mind I am speaking my mind in all candour to your lordship) mistook it, I fear, and acting thereupon, from what transpired, was rather presuming." "How? in what manner?" asked Lord Randolph with _hauteur_. "And how did this occur? were they domiciled in one house?" "No, this made the matter more audacious, he had been driven from this house, and used to enter surreptitiously through the grounds, and intrude upon Lady Dora's privacy." "By George!" cried Lord Randolph, passing his hand through his hair, (like a bird trying to smooth its ruffled feathers,) as if it stood on end with horrified pride; "this comes of mixing in general society, as they do abroad. I set my face against it then, but Lady Lysson liked it, so I gave in; people should keep in their own class." "There certainly are some confoundedly presuming persons," chimed in Dalby, not at all offended at what might have touched his sensitiveness, had he possessed such a thing; but he was, grammatically speaking, "an impersonal," taking nothing to himself. He made a pause here, wishing the other to commence the next facet in the diamond he was cutting, reserving to his own skill to polish each, according to the light required for his scheme; it would be a precious gem worth setting when he had completed it. "Lady Ripley and her daughter were staying at the former's brother's, were they not? I have heard them speak of a homely Yorkshire family of relatives, not known beyond their own grounds." "The same," answered Dalby, well pleased at the other's ignorance of the Formby family--it furthered his plans. "And how did terminate?" "Oh! of course, as you may imagine; Tremenhere was expelled in a summary manner, as her ladyship complained of the annoyance, and now I come to the pith of my tale." Lord Randolph blew forth a long puff of smoke, and drew nearer the fire; he was positively excited. "Remember," said the other in a whisper, "I have your lordship's word that this shall be a profound secret between us, happen what may." "I pledge you my sacred honour."