“Ha, do ye, sir—do ye, indeed?” sneered my lord. “Tell him who I am, somebody!” This information being eagerly accorded, the young gentleman appeared to quail, and was about to speak when down the stair sped a young and beautiful woman. “Jasper—O Jasper!” she cried; then, facing the company wide-eyed and pallid with terror, “Gentlemen,” she pleaded, “my Jasper meant no offence—none, indeed——” “Then let him make suitable apology!” quoth my lord grimly. “You hear, Jasper—you hear?” “My lord,” said the pale young gentleman, his lips painfully a-tremble, “I’ll see you damned first!” At this the lady screamed, the company murmured and my lord scowled. “Sir,” quoth he, “have the goodness to send your card to me upstairs! In three weeks or a month, I shall call you to account for your ill-mannered temerity—and your blood be on your own head!” So saying, my Lord Sayle strode up the stair, leaving the unfortunate young gentleman to support his half-swooning companion into an adjacent chamber amid the sympathetic murmurs of the company. It was now that a second carriage drew up before the inn, an extremely dusty vehicle this, and so very plain as to excite no more notice than did the slender, soberly clad person who lightly descended therefrom, a very ordinary-looking person indeed, except perhaps for a certain arrogant tilt of the chin and the brilliance of his long-lashed eyes. Scarce had his foot touched pavement than he was greeted by a tall, square-shouldered man, extremely neat and precise as to attire, who escorted him forthwith into the inn. “Well, Robert,” said Sir John—or rather, Mr. Derwent—when they had found a corner sufficiently sequestered, “I rejoice to be back; these few days of town ha’ sufficed. To your true man o’ sentiment, Rusticity hath a thousand charms, Bob. You agree, I think?” “I do, sir.” “Old Mr. Dumbrell, for instance. He is well, I trust, Robert, and——” “They are, your honour!” “And how go matters at High Dering?” “Fairly quiet, sir.” “You have persevered in the harassing tactics I suggested in regard to our Mr. Sturton?” “With the utmost per-sistence, sir.” “You quite understand that I—ha! I hear a woman weeping, surely?” “Chamber in your rear, sir, door on your right,” answered Robert the Imperturbable; and he briefly recounted the incident of the unfortunate young gentleman. “Perfect!” sighed Sir John. “Not vainly have I driven these weary miles in my Lord Sayle’s dust. Let us relieve the lady’s anxiety at once, Robert!” With a gentle, perfunctory rap, Sir John opened the door in question and beheld the unfortunate young gentleman on his knees beside the settle, striving vainly to comfort her who lay there in tearful misery. “If he kills thee, Jasper—if he should kill thee!” she sobbed. “Nay, dearest—beloved, he may not be so terrible as they say ... he may but wound me——” Here the young gentleman sprang to his feet as Sir John spoke.