“It would do nothing of the sort, _ma mère_. Come, let us be reasonable. If you will leave this matter in my hands, I will endeavour to be the mediator between your sons. Sir Richard has an honest regard for me, I think, and Walter also, when he is himself.” “Poor Walter!” murmured my Lady sighing. “Yes, he is to be pitied,” answered the other drily; “but also, between ourselves--although I shall endeavour, after my lawyer instincts, to make it appear otherwise to his brother--to be somewhat blamed, _ma mère_. Since, then, I am prepared, under the cloak of arbitrator, to be the partisan of your darling----Yes, they are both your darlings, Lady Lisgard, I know, but with a difference.” “Walter is in trouble,” urged my Lady pitifully. “Yes, that is the reason, of course. However, will you put the case unreservedly in my own hands? for if so, although it is not an easy task, I will do my best to make your sons shake hands.” “There is none like you, Arthur, none. Heaven bless you and reward you!” “There may be none like me, _ma mere_, but there are also, I hope, many people a great deal better. And now that we have done with this matter for the present, may I ask, Why letters are directed to another person, under care to me, which I am at the same time directed by telegram to put behind the fire?” “Oh, you got that telegram, did you?” said my Lady quietly. “Mary Forest entreated me so to send it. The fact was, she accepted that person by letter---what was his name?--of whom we spoke together some time ago at the Watersmeet; but afterwards, persuaded by me (acting in accordance with your suggestion, you remember), she decided to refuse him. But the first letter was unfortunately posted before the second was written; and the postmistress at Dalwynch positively refused to give it up, although I drove over there myself to request it.” “Well, upon my life, _ma mère_, but you're a bold woman,” exclaimed the young lawyer laughing. “Why, of course, she wouldn't give it up. She would be stealing the property of the Postmaster-general if she had done so, and you would be the receiver with the guiltiest knowledge.” “Well, at all events, she did not,” pursued my Lady simply. “She would do nothing beyond directing the envelope afresh to your address.” “Honest creature!” interrupted Arthur grimly. “Under these circumstances, I telegraphed to you, knowing that you would be good enough to destroy the letter directly it reached you.” “Yes, _ma mere_, and I did so,” returned Arthur gravely; “but I feared it was not right, and now that you have told me this, I know that it was wrong. You may have had your reasons, dear Lady Lisgard, and doubtless very urgent ones, to wish the destruction of those letters.” “Those letters!” exclaimed my Lady.