"I--I?" cried her husband, firing up. "Hang it all, Laura, do you compare me to that wretched cad?" "No, no, my dear. I mean the degradation of being recognised by such a miserable outcast." "Humph! Poor wretch!" "And I do object, love, to your indulging in casual relief. Be charitable, of course, but give only to the deserving and good. There," she continued, advancing towards him to lay her hands upon his shoulders and kiss him solemnly, "I'm not angry with you, darling, for you will take these lessons to heart, I'm sure. Good-bye, love. Go and study up your Blue Books, and think out your plan of campaign. I shall be back soon to tell you that you may be sure of Mr Browse's vote." "Thank you, my dear," said Sir Hilton, responding dreamily to the chilly caress he received, the lady's lips being just on a level with his forehead. "Here, I'll come to the carriage with you." "No, no, no, love. Get to your Blue Books, and practise your speeches. I'm going to work for and with you, not to be a hindrance. Get to work, I want you to be a modern Cicero or Demosthenes. Good-bye--Good-bye." Lady Lisle solemnly waved a kiss to her husband, and sailed out of the room, leaving the dapper little baronet deep in thought and biting his nails. CHAPTER SIX. THE LADY IN THE CASE. "Blue Books! Blue Books! Confound the Blue Books!" cried Sir Hilton, as he marched up and down the breakfast-room long after he had heard the wheels of the departing victoria and the tramp of the handsome pair of horses die out. "Who's to study Blue Books? Who's to practise speeches with the weight of four thousand pounds on his mind? "Speeches!" he cried angrily, after a few minutes, and he waved his hands wildly. "I want no practice, after making such a Speech as I did to Jack Granton. I must have been mad. I can't go to the course without being found out, and if I could it's too late--too late--too late! "But is it?" he said, after a few minutes' restless walk like that of the lone wolf up and down its cage at the Zoo.