The scene was lovely and stirring withal; but my heart and thoughts were far away from Malta, as we were rowed back between crowded transports, and huge, silent frigates and line-of battle ships, to the _Pride of the Ocean_. My good friend, Jack Studhome, who knew the cause of my too apparent depression, made light of the matter, and endeavoured, in his own fashion, to soothe and console me while we took a whiff together on deck, before turning in for the night. "Consider, Norcliff," said he; "Lady Louisa Loftus, sole heiress of Chillingham Park!" "Ay, there’s the rub, Jack—sole heiress. I would rather that she had not a shilling in the world." "Indeed! Why?" "Our chances were more equal then." "Hear me out. Sole heiress of Lord Chillingham—all save his titles! What should, what could, tempt her—already too, in the face of her engagement with you—to throw herself away on old Slubber, who might be her grandfather? Where would be her gain?" "The title of marchioness, with vast estates," said I bitterly. "In my case, my dear fellow, she would only be Lady Louisa Loftus, wife of a very poor captain of lancers." "But those newspaper rumours are frequently such impertinent falsehoods. Remember that, if their authors get their columns filled, they care little with what it may be, for a newspaper must contain daily the same amount of words, whether it give news or not. So with messieurs the editors, it is anything for the nonce. Their best productions are in the press to-day, and too often, perhaps, we don’t know where to-morrow; so put not your trust in this, Norcliff. And now to bed. We have stable duty at seven, A.M., to-morrow," concluded Studhome. Next morning, Captain Binnacle, who had been on shore at Valetta, brought off with him the mail, which came from London _viâ_ Marseilles, and by it I received a welcome letter from Sir Nigel. It was long and hurried; but was filled chiefly with hunting intelligence. Had Cora written—and why did she not?—I might have had more interesting tidings. He had bought a couple of hunters from Lord Chillingham but feared they wouldn’t do in such a stone-wall county as Fife; and he had secured a new huntsman—such a tip-top fellow! He had hunted all the counties on the Welsh border—could tell the pedigree of a hound at a glance—was perfect in his work, and rode under ten stone. Sir Hubert himself was but a sham when compared to him, and he was sure to figure some day in the columns of _Bell’s Life_. I had full permission to draw for whatever I required; but I scanned the letter in vain for the name of Louisa. Slubber’s was spoken of only twice. Indeed, my hearty old uncle viewed that noble peer of the realm with no small contempt.