"You want to see the _modus operandi_? How the conjurer is going to perform the wonderful feat? Well, it is very simple. My friend and somewhat cousin, for all his romance, will not care to marry a girl whose name is stained with shame. If I know my dear Jack, he will not care to make an illegitimate child of Gideon Rolfe, the woodman, Mrs. Newcombe." Gideon Rolfe started. "You will tell him?" he said, hoarsely. "Yes," said Stephen; "I shall tell him the truth, of course concealing the proper names, and you must be here to confirm my statement. That is all you have to do. Mind! not a word of my uncle's connection with the matter, or all is lost. You understand?" "Yes, I understand," said Gideon, hoarsely. "I care not by what means so that the marriage is prevented." "Nor I," said Stephen, coolly; "and now we are agreed on that point. When I want you I will write to you. Until then--will you take any refreshment?" Gideon Rolfe waved his hand by way of negative, and Stephen rang the bell. "Show this gentleman out, Slummers. Mind the lower stairs, the gas has been put out. Good-night, good-night." CHAPTER XXXI. It was settled that Mrs. Davenant, Una and Stephen should go to the Hurst in a week's time. Jack had definitely declined to go to the Hurst. He felt that he would rather bear the absence of Una for a week or two than go to the old house, haunted as it was, for him, with so many memories; but lo and behold, a few days after the dinner party, had come a note from Lady Bell's father, asking him to visit Earl's Court. Of course, Jack accepted gladly enough, without a thought of Lady Bell, and only remembering that a good nag would take him from Earl's Court to Hurst in an hour and a half, or less. The week passed rapidly, and with something like restlessness Lady Bell organized all kinds of outings and expeditions, in all of which Jack's services were found to be indispensable. He could not exactly tell how it happened; but he seemed to spend almost as much time with Lady Bell as with Una. Now it was to go and try a horse which Lady Bell wanted to buy; then to select some dogs to take down to Earl's Court; and, again, to buy and send down pony-carriages and dog-carts. There was always something to take him to Park Lane, and though Jack felt inclined to kick at these demands upon his time, which would otherwise have been spent near Una, he could not see his way to refuse. Then he was fond of buying horses, and dogs, and carriages, and used to hold a _levee_ at Spider Court of disreputable-looking men in fustian corduroys, much to Leonard Dagle's disgust. "It seems to me, Jack," he said, "that you have become Lady Bell's grand vizier. Do you choose her dress for her?" "Chaff away, old man," said Jack. "It was only the other day that you were badgering me with being cool to her." "Yes, with a purpose," said Leonard; "but that purpose has disappeared. Have you been to the Square yet this morning?"