"Is it?" said Lady Bell. "I didn't know. I haven't seen it. I'm ashamed to say that I haven't made a round of inspection of the property yet. My stewards are always bothering me to do so, but I don't seem to have time." "A sovereign cannot be expected to visit the whole of her kingdom," said Stephen, with a smile. Lady Bell sighed. "I often wish the old earl had left me five hundred a year and a cottage somewhere," she said, quietly. "I should have been a happier woman. Oh, here is the claret. Give Mr. Newcombe the Lafitte, Simcox. Mr. Davenant----" "I always follow Jack's suit," said Stephen, rising to open the door for the ladies. "He is an infallible guide in such matters." "Fancy a woman lamenting the extent of her wealth," he said, with something like a sneer, as he went back to the table. "If any girl ought to be happy that girl ought to be. What a chance for some young fellow! My dear Jack, if I had been in your place----" Jack looked up with a tinge of red in his face. "What nonsense. Lady Bell knows better than to be caught by such chaff as I am. Besides, I am more than content. I wouldn't exchange Una for a Duchess, with the riches of Peru in her pockets. What about the commissionership, or whatever it is, Stephen?" "All in good time, my dear Jack. Those sort of things aren't done in a moment; the matter is in hand, and we shall get it, be sure. Meanwhile, if you want any money----" "Thanks, no," said Jack, easily. He had only that morning negotiated a bill with Mr. Moss for another hundred pounds. Stephen smiled evilly behind his pocket handkerchief. He held that bill in his pocketbook at that moment, in company with all Jack's previous ones. CHAPTER XXX. The two men sat beside the fire almost in silence. Jack was trying to get over his reluctance to go to the Hurst, and wondering what would become of him if he did not, and Una left him all alone in town; and Stephen was wondering whether it was time to strike the blow he meditated. Very soon Jack jumped up. "If you've had enough wine, let us join the ladies," he said, and went toward the door. Stephen followed him, but turned back to fetch his pocket handkerchief. Lying beside it, on the table, was a rose which had fallen from the bosom of Una's dress. He took it up, and looked at it with that look which a man bestows on some trifle which has been worn by the woman he loves, and then, as if by an irresistible impulse, raised it to his lips, kissing it passionately, and put it carefully in his bosom. As he did so, he raised his eyes to the glass, which reflected one side of the room, and saw the slight figure of a woman standing in the open door and watching him. The light from the carefully shaded lamp was too dim to allow him to see the face distinctly, but something in the figure caused him to feel a sudden chill. He turned sharply and walked to the door; but the hall was empty and there was no sound of retreating footsteps.