Mrs. Ellison crimsoned. "No, Lord Musselburgh," she said. "No. You need have no fear." However, she seemed perturbed—perhaps in her anxiety that her nephew should not miss this great opportunity. Presently she said— "Tell me, what do you know of this old man?—I can’t make him out at all." "I? I know nothing, or next to nothing," he said, lightly, as he gazed abroad on the busy river. "I remember Vin asking me the same question—I suppose out of curiosity about the girl. My recollection of her is that she was extremely pretty—refined-looking—lady-like, in fact—" "She is, indeed," said Mrs. Ellison, with decision, "and that is what makes the situation all the more dangerous—assuming, of course, that there is any ground for one’s natural suspicions. No, Vin is the last man in the world to be captured by any vulgar adventuress; he is at once too fastidious and too proud. But then, you see, he is well known to be the son of a very wealthy man; and there might be a design—" She hesitated for a moment: then she said, half impatiently: "Lord Musselburgh, tell me how you came to know this old man: he could not have sprung out of the earth all of a sudden." He told her, as briefly as might be. "That was all?" she repeated, eyeing him shrewdly. "Yes." "You are sure?" "What do you mean? That is really all I know of the old gentleman: isn’t that what you asked?" "But was that the whole of the interview, if I may be so impertinent as to inquire?" she demanded again. "Ob, yes, it was," Lord Musselburgh said; and then he added, indifferently: "Of course I subscribed something towards the publication of a book he mentioned—he had written to me before about the project." "Oh, there was money?" she said. A slight tinge on Lord Musselburgh’s forehead showed that he had not intended to make this admission. "Oh, nothing—a trifle—it is usual when a book is coming out by subscription." Mrs. Ellison sate silent for a little while: there was plenty going on on the river to interest her companion. Then by-and-bye she said slowly— "Well, I had intended to keep clear of these new friends of Vin’s. I thought it would be more prudent for me to know nothing. It is true, I was introduced to them yesterday afternoon; but I wished that to be all; I thought I would rather withdraw; and let things take their course. But I don’t know that that would be honest and right. Vin is a young man with many fine and noble qualities—perhaps a little too fine and noble for the ordinary work-a-day world; and I think he ought to have the benefit of my sadly-earned experience and callous nature—" Lord Musselburgh laughed: he did not take her too seriously.