All this was very well, and the earl smiled and grew cheerful; but the countess, watching the haggard, handsome face beside her, saw that Leycester was absorbed and pre-occupied. He passed dish after dish, and the Margaux stood beside him almost untouched. She was still anxious and fearful, and as she rose she threw a glance at the earl, half of entreaty, half of command, that he would not "say anything." "It is nice to get back to the old wine," said Charlie, leaning back in his chair, and eying his glass with complacent approval. "Whisky and water is a fine drink, but one tires of it; now this----" and he reached the claret jug expressively. The earl talked of politics and the coming hunting season, and still Leycester was silent, eying the white cloth and fingering the stem of his wine glass. "Will you hunt this year, Leycester?" said the earl, addressing him at last. He looked up gravely. "I don't know, sir; only a day a week if I do." "We shall go to Leicestershire, of course," said the earl. "I shall have to be up for the season, but you can take charge if you will." Leycester inclined his head. "Will you see to the horses?" asked the earl. Leycester thought a moment. "I shall only want two," he said; "the rest will be sold." "Do you mean the stud?" asked the earl, with a faint air of surprise. "Yes," said Leycester, quietly. "I shall sell them all. I shall not race again." The earl understood him; the old wild life was to come to an end. But he put in a word. "Is that wise?" he said. "I think so," said Leycester. "Quite enough money has been spent. Yes, I shall sell." "Very well," assented the earl, who could not but agree with the remark respecting money. "After all, I imagine one tires of the turf. I always thought it a great bore." "So it is--so it is," said Lord Charles, cheerfully. "Everything is a bore." The earl smiled. "Not everything," he said. "Leycester, you are not touching the wine," he added, graciously. Leycester filled his glass and drank it, and then, to Charles' surprise, refilled it, not once only, but twice and thrice, as if he had suddenly become thirsty. Presently the earl, after vainly pushing the decanter to them, rose, and they followed him into the drawing-room. The countess sat at her tea-table, and beside her was Lenore. She was rather paler than usual, and the beautiful eyes were of a deep violet under the long sweeping lashes. She was exquisitely dressed, but there was not a single jewel about her; a spray of white orchid nestled on her bosom and shone in her golden hair, showing the exquisite delicacy of the fair face and throat. Leycester glanced at her, but took his cup of tea without a word, and Lord Charles made all the conversation, as at the dinner-table.