"Burst open the door then! Don't you see it is locked on the inside?" And with a violent kick the door of Claudia's boudoir, which certainly was not locked, was thrown open, and Lord Vincent, with inflamed cheeks and blood-shot eyes, strode into the room, followed by Mrs. Dugald, Mrs. MacDonald, and old Cuthbert. "Keep the door, sir! Let no one pass out!" roared the viscount to his butler, who immediately shut the door and placed himself against it. "My lord!" exclaimed Claudia, in indignant amazement, "what is the meaning of this violence?" "It means, my lady, that you are discovered, run to earth, entrapped, cunning vixen as you are!" exclaimed the viscount, with an air of vindictive triumph. Mrs. Dugald laughed scornfully. Mrs. MacDonald turned up her chin contemptuously. Old Cuthbert groaned aloud. Claudia looked from one to the other, and then said: "My lord, you and your friends appear to have been supping on very bad wine; I would counsel you to retire and sleep off its effects." "Ha, ha, my lady! You take things coolly! I compliment you on your self-possession!" sneered the viscount. Her heart nearly bursting with anger, Claudia threw herself into her chair, and with difficulty controlling her emotions, said: "Will your lordship do me the favor to explain your errand in this room, and then retire with your party as speedily as possible?" "Certainly, my lady, that is but reasonable, and is also just what I intended to do," said the viscount, bowing with mock courtesy. And he drew a letter from his pocket and held it in his hand, while he continued to speak, addressing himself now to the whole party assembled in Lady Vincent's boudoir. "It is necessary to premise, friends, that my marriage with this lady was a hasty, ill-advised, and inconsiderate one; unacceptable to my family, unfortunate for myself, humiliating in its results. For some weeks past my suspicions were aroused to the fact that all was not right between the viscountess and another member of my establishment. Cuthbert, keep that door! Let no one rush past!" "Ah, me laird; dinna fash yoursel'! I'll keep it!" groaned the old man, putting his back firmly against the door. "Lord Vincent," exclaimed Claudia haughtily, "I demand that you retract your words. You know them to be as false--as false as-- yourself. They could not be falser than that!"